CAO MX2 Toro Review

Overview

In a marketplace often defined by exoticism and complexity for its own sake, CAO’s MX2 Toro stands as a quiet monument to focus. Released in 2013, the MX2—short for ‘Mexican by Two’—is a deliberate exercise in terroir maximalism. The conceit is deceptively simple: by employing Mexican San Andrés leaf as both the wrapper and binder, CAO creates a cigar that speaks with a singular, unbroken voice. This is not a cigar of layered surprises or jarring transitions; it is a cigar of deep, concentrated richness, a meditation on what one varietal can do when given center stage. The result is a smoke that feels less like a blend and more like a statement, and one that has earned a devoted following among aficionados who value coherence over cacophony.

Hailing from General Cigar’s STG La Romana factory in the Dominican Republic, the MX2 Toro is a 6 x 52 vitola that wears the hallmark Colorado Maduro wrapper—a dark mahogany brown, slightly toothy under the fingertips and carrying a subtle oily sheen. That wrapper, grown from San Andrés seed in the volcanic soils of Mexico, delivers a signature profile of earthiness that borders on the mineral, tempered by a cocoa sweetness that never tips into cloying. The filler blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers, aged for balance between body and sweetness, provides structure without overwhelming the wrapper’s narrative. At a strength level of medium-full (4/5), the MX2 is assertive but not punishing—a cigar that demands attention without demanding surrender.

The smoking experience is one of steady, confident progression. The first third opens with bold notes of dark cocoa and espresso, underscored by a distinctive earthy mushroom character that is the unmistakable fingerprint of San Andrés tobacco. A light black pepper tingle on the retrohale and dry cedar notes keep the palate engaged, while the sweetness—closer to dark baker’s chocolate than raw sugar—provides a grounding counterpoint. In the second third, the profile deepens: leather and toasted nuts emerge, the cocoa turns more bitter and complex, and occasional flashes of dried fruit sweetness (raisin, date) add welcome nuance. The pepper settles into a warm, integrated spice. By the final third, the cigar delivers its most concentrated expression: espresso and dark roast coffee take the lead, with cedar and leather holding structural tension as the sweetness recedes. The finish is long, slightly bitter, and deeply satisfying—a testament to the tobaccos’ maturity and the blender’s restraint.

Construction is reliably excellent from the La Romana factory. The draw is open and effortless, the burn line even with minimal need for touch-ups, and the ash—firm, light grey—holds for more than an inch before dropping cleanly. The MX2 is not a cigar for rushed moments or impatient hands; its 90-minute journey demands a relaxed setting, ideally after a substantial meal or as part of a weekend evening ritual. It is, in every sense, a benchmark value buy—a cigar that punches well above its $10–$14 price point and offers a focused, authoritative experience that rivals blends twice its cost. For smokers who love the Mexican terroir—earthy, chocolatey, slightly wild—the MX2 is as close to a signature statement as the category offers.