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