CAO America, Flathead Come Together for New TAA Exclusive

You can call it a box-pressed Landmark or a hybrid between CAO America and Flathead.

Scandinavian Tobacco Group (STG) has announced its 2026 exclusive release for retailers that are members of the Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA). That release is the CAO Flathead American Muscle, which has been taking the CAO America blend and putting it in a format used by the CAO Flathead. The Flathead American Muscle will be offered in a box-pressed 6 x 60 gordo that has the barberpole look of the CAO America, where a lighter wrapper appears as an accent for the darker wrapper. STG says that the wrappers are Connecticut broadleaf and Connecticut shade. Underneath is a Brazilian binder and fillers from the Dominican Republic, Italy, Nicaragua and the U.S.

The CAO America Landmark is a regular production 6 x 60 gordo, however, that cigar is round, not box-pressed.

“CAO’s Flathead and America cigars have always shared a certain attitude,” said Cory Beardsley, brand manager for CAO, in a press release. “American Muscle gave us the opportunity to bring those two worlds together, taking the distinctive CAO America blend and putting it into the signature Flathead format fans know and love. It feels familiar to fans of both lines, but also owns a lane of its own.”

The TAA is a membership group, around 80 retailers and approximately 40 manufacturers, that gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the annual event—the 2026 version takes place this week at Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine, where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program (ESP) banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.

CAO
CAO Flathead American Muscle
Scandinavian Tobacco Group
TAA 2026
Tobacconists’ Association of America Exclusive Series Program