General Gives Back With CAO Honor

Earlier this year, a new product from General Cigar Co. appeared without much fanfare. It was CAO Honor, a 6 1/2 x 52 toro made in similar fashion to the company’s holiday releases of recent years. At the time, it was clear the project would be charitable in some form with proceeds going back to fund military charities.

The effects of that donation can be seen next week.

San Luis Obispo, Calif.-based Amazing Surf Adventures will host the 13th Operation Surf, a weeklong program that helps wounded active duty and veteran service members.

“Over the past several years, we’ve been involved with Operation Surf in small ways, and we wanted to make a push to help out in a much bigger way via CAO Honor,” said Ed McKenna, brand manager for CAO Cigars, in a press release. “The work that the folks at Operation Surf do in helping wounded heroes cope with physical injuries and PTSD through surfing is incredibly impactful, and we are proud to contribute.”

CAO Honor is a 6 1/2 x 52 toro made at STG Estelí in Nicaragua. Information sent to retailers indicates the cigar is inspired by the CAO America blend using dual Ecuadorian Connecticut and broadleaf wrappers over Nicaraguan binder and fillers.

Suggested pricing for the release is $8.50 per cigar or $119 per box.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.