At $11.00 for a box of 10, these have to be one of the best bargains in small cigars today. Packaged in a neat white cardboard box emblazoned with the Ashton logo in black and gold, I was surprised to find these small cigars (3.5″ x 30 ring) to be unbanded, pre-cut and rather rough-looking. The text on the inside cover of the box was also printed upside-down, which didn’t help allay the overall impression of shoddy workmanship which this pack exuded.

However, upon popping one of these guys into my mouth, I found a perfect draw and a pleasing, faint aroma of leathery tobacco. The Señorita takes easily to the flame and produces a lot of white smoke. The overall taste profile is medium-bodied with sweet and creamy flavors dominating up front and some refined leather building as the cigar burns down. Occasional hints of cocoa or coffee come and go but remain little more than faint background notes.

The burn on these little guys is pretty good and problems were always self-correcting, though the ash is ugly and unstable. Overall, however, this is not a bad cigar: the flavor is good enough to smoke on a day-to-day basis, though it’s nothing award-winning. In summary, good size, good taste, good value. 3.5 / 5

The only problem with the C.A.O. Brazilia Minis, which I really enjoyed when I reviewed them last summer, is that they are increasingly hard to find. My B&M no longer carries them and I can’t find mention of them in a cursory search online. Luckily, however, the Nobel Petites seem to be available everywhere. I read about them in a Cigar Aficionado piece a while back, then last year I spied a box at Peretti’s in Boston. They’ve been behind the counter at any number of shops I’ve stopped at in the interim, but for some reason I’d never bought them until a couple weeks ago. When I saw a 20-pack of these ubiquitous cigarillos on sale for $10 at a local cigar bar, I decided to right a wrong and give them a try. I was not disappointed.

Rough-looking but toothy, these smokes have a heady pre-light aroma of pepper. On firing them up, however, the Nobel Petite Brasil is less reminiscent of a Pepín García spice-monster than it is a Padrón maduro: woody, earthy and pungent. If smoked slowly, these cigars retain their balance and leathery notes mix pleasantly with creamier tones to create a rich whole. An excellent accompaniment for a cup of coffee, these small cigars do fine outside the humidor. Even after a couple weeks’ rest on my shelf, they’re as full-bodied as ever.

I actually wonder if the Brazilia Minis were just a re-branding of these smokes. The Nobels are imported by C.A.O. and in every respect bear a striking resemblance to the Brazilia cigarillos. I for one, am happy they do. 5 / 5

Not to be confused with the Cariocas (which are about 4×40 – by my estimate – and come in tins of 5), the C.A.O. Brazilia Minis are cigarette-sized, come in packs of 20 and are, like the larger vitolas in the Brazilia line, a full-flavored treat. Unlike many cigarillos which don’t produce the rich taste many cigar smokers are after, the Brazilias pack a pretty big punch and are not overwhelmed by a strong drink – an aspect I find particularly appealing.

Wrapped in a toothy, thick, rosy wrapper resembling that of their larger cousins, these cigarillos are a bit rough in appearance but alluring nonetheless. The aroma of a freshly-opened pack is also wonderful: earthy and pungent tobacco. Upon lighting, the first few puffs smack of chocolate but never cloy: the sweeter notes are balanced by leather, earth and cedar. Through the heart of the 12-minute smoke, the taste is a hearty blend of these flavors with the occasional addition of a floral note or a whiff of dried fruit. As the cigarillo closes out, spicy cedar tends to dominate. Don’t smoke these too fast: the spice will overpower the nuances which linger all the way down to the nub.

Add to these flavors a white ash which is surprisingly solid and a “real cigar” aroma, and you’ve got a winner. I wish more cigarillos were as full-bodied as the Brazilia Minis, but whether or not other brands follow C.A.O.’s lead in the future, these small cigars will remain one of my reliable favorites. 5 / 5