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CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Four years ago, General Cigar Co. launched a limited edition series under its CAO line that was created as a way to highlight blends that utilize tobacco from around the world that the company does not normally use.
Named Arcana—which means mysteries or secrets—the line debuted in 2021 with Mortal Coil, a cigar which included andullo tobacco in the filler. Andullo is a native Dominican that is traditionally fermented by being wrapped with palm tree pods into long rolls called yaguas after the leaves are harvested, instead of the more traditional method of placing the tobacco leaves in large piles.
In 2022, General released the CAO Arcana Firewalker, which included Nicaraguan filler that had undergone an aging process called chincagre, which the company refers to as “an archaic process of primary aging used by local tobacco farmers in Western Nicaragua.”
After the filler tobaccos were grown in the Masatepe region of the country and harvested, the leaves were placed in a large pile called a pilón before being buried deep in volcanic soil for two months. Once that time had passed, the tobacco was removed from the ground and taken to the factory, where it underwent a second round of fermentation for a period of nine months.
One year later, the company released the CAO Thunder Smoke, a 6 1/2 x 52 toro extra that takes its name from Zimbabwe’s iconic Victoria Falls, one of the world’s largest waterfalls. In a native Bantu language, the waterfall is known as Mosi-Oa-Tunya, which translates to the smoke that thunders.
Blend-wise, the Thunder Smoke is made up of a Honduran Olancho San Agustín wrapper and a Mexican San Andrés binder. However, the most unusual part of the cigar is the filler blend, which includes tobacco grown in Cameroon, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Each Thunder Smoke had an MSRP of $12.99 and the cigars are packaged in 20-count boxes. General has stated that the Thunder Smoke was a limited release, though the company did not disclose production numbers.
Earlier this year, the company added a fourth addition to the Arcana line named Stokk, which features a blend that was developed in collaboration with Peter Stokkebye pipe tobacco. The 6 1/2 x 52 belicoso vitola is made with an American broadleaf wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder.
However, the filler blend is actually divided into two parts: the first half features Dominican andullo tobaccos, while the second half uses Cyprian Latakia, a fired-cured tobacco used in pipe blends. In addition, there’s also some Honduran tobacco used throughout the filler and the cigars are made at STG Estelí.
Note: The following shows the various CAO Arcana vitolas. Some of these cigars may have been released after this post was originally published. The list was last updated on Sept. 14, 2025.
CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
- AO Arcana Mortal Coil (6 1/8 x 50) — February 2021 — 5,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (100,000 Total Cigars)
- CAO Arcana Firewalker (6 1/2 x 56) — February 2022 — 5,000 Boxes of 20 Cigars (100,000 Total Cigars)
- CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke (6 1/2 x 52) — September 2024 — Undisclosed
- CAO Arcana Stokk (6 x 52)* — August 2025 — 3,500 Boxes of 20 Cigars (70,000 Total Cigars)
*General listed the Arcana Stokk as 6 1/2 inches, the cigars measured 6 inches.
This is what I wrote in my original review of the Thunder Smoke back in December 2024:
I am probably in the minority when it comes to reviewers on this site, but I actually look forward to trying new cigars with unusual details and the fact that the CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke is made with tobacco grown in South Africa and Zimbabwe certainly qualifies.
However, while some interesting notes showed up in the profile—including a perfumey floral note on the finish of my second cigar and the Fig Newton sweetness that was present on the retrohale in all three cigars—the flavors are not unusual. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
My first cigar had significant issues with construction, which really affected the experience of that cigar, not to mention the overall score. The other two cigars were quite a bit better in just about every aspect and showed how enjoyable the CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke can be.
- Cigar Reviewed: CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: General Cigar Dominicana
- Wrapper: Honduras (Olancho San Agustín)
- Binder: Mexico (San Andrés)
- Filler: Cameroon, South Africa & Zimbabwe
- Length: 6 1/2 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 52
- Shape: Round
- MSRP: $12.99 (Box of 20, $259.80)
- Release Date: September 2024
- Number of Cigars Released: Undisclosed
- Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 1
As was the case with the cigars in my original review, the band of this CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke occupies more than 75 percent of the cigar’s total surface area. Underneath that massive band, I can barely see a dark and mottled brown wrapper with red highlights that is quite toothy to the touch. Interestingly, this cigar has no protruding veins, unlike the first three I smoked, but it has a very similar firmness when squeezed. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Sweet barnyard notes lead the aromas emanating from the wrapper, followed by earth, creamy hay, sourdough bread, generic woodiness, and a slight raisin sweetness. That raisin sweetness is significantly stronger when I put the foot to my nose, and while it is easily the main scent, other aromas of leather, creamy cedar, barnyard, cloves and cinnamon. The cold draw presents a strong combination of cedar and sweet raisins, followed by coffee beans, gritty earth, leather tack, sawdust, and a slight mulch. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
The first half starts out extremely mild, with virtually no discernible pepper or spice, which seems to make a strong espresso flavor pop out even more. Gradually, a combination of creamy oak and charred meatiness takes over the profile, followed by secondary notes that include gritty earth, cloves, creamy almonds, cinnamon, powdery cocoa nibs and a very light floral note. There is a light floral note that comes and goes on the finish, but it is rarely strong enough to significantly impact the overall profile yet. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
The retrohale is chock-full of more raisin sweetness, and while some black pepper is present as well, it is in a very small amount. Flavor is at full, while both the body and strength hit solid medium by the end of the first half. In terms of construction, the burn runs into some trouble early on that necessitates two corrections with my lighter in quick succession during the first third, but there is no dearth of thick, gray smoke, and the draw is giving me no issues so far. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
During the second half, the amount of both spice on my tongue and black pepper on the retrohale increases, and while neither becomes overwhelming, it marks a noticeable shift in the profile. After the burn line passes the halfway mark, a new combination of coffee beans and charred meat emerges as the top flavors soon while additional flavors of cloves, creamy oak, peanuts, earth, dry hay, and cinnamon appear at various points. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
Unfortunately, the floral note from the first half is long gone and does not return, instead, replaced by a light metallic note that comes and goes during the final third. There is a bit more black pepper on the retrohale—and that note continues to increase, especially in the final third—while the amount of raisin sweetness remains about the same compared to the first half. Flavor remains at full, and the body remains at a solid medium, but the strength does increase enough to hit medium-plus. I have to touch up the burn line one final time in the final third, but the smoke production and draw continue to be problem-free. CAO Arcana Thunder Smoke
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