Avo was one of the first “super premium” cigar brands, right alongside Ashton, Dunhill, and Davidoff after making the switch from Cuba to the Dominican Republic. Back in the early 1990s, when a Macanudo cost a couple dollars, these swanky names sold for double or triple. That was big bucks for a cigar back in the day. Remember, a Punch Rothschild was about $1.10 at the time.
But while most super premiums were basically cut from the same mild cloth—Connecticut shade wrapper, Dominican filler, maybe Mexican binder for a teeny bit of zing—the original Avo offered a bolder recipe. It used an unusually dark, chestnut-hued Connecticut wrapper in place of the typical blond leaf, as well as a seemingly richer blend of Dominican fillers. Where the other cigars all tasted primarily of light wood, Avos were richer and spicier. At their best, they were a delight during a time where blandness ruled. We’re talking pre-Ernesto Perez-Carrillio days.
When the company recently refreshed the brand’s look with new boxes and bands, it quietly kicked the blend up another (slight) notch by replacing the wrapper with an even darker, oilier Ecuador-grown, Connecticut seed leaf. What was once a mild- to medium-bodied blend is now solidly medium, and more in line with contemporary tastes. The packaging is still elegant, but more modern, while the cigar remains gorgeous and well-made.
But while most super premiums were basically cut from the same mild cloth—Connecticut shade wrapper, Dominican filler, maybe Mexican binder for a teeny bit of zing—the original Avo offered a bolder recipe. It used an unusually dark, chestnut-hued Connecticut wrapper in place of the typical blond leaf, as well as a seemingly richer blend of Dominican fillers. Where the other cigars all tasted primarily of light wood, Avos were richer and spicier. At their best, they were a delight during a time where blandness ruled. We’re talking pre-Ernesto Perez-Carrillio days.
When the company recently refreshed the brand’s look with new boxes and bands, it quietly kicked the blend up another (slight) notch by replacing the wrapper with an even darker, oilier Ecuador-grown, Connecticut seed leaf. What was once a mild- to medium-bodied blend is now solidly medium, and more in line with contemporary tastes. The packaging is still elegant, but more modern, while the cigar remains gorgeous and well-made.
A tale of two Avos: the old blend features a chestnut-hued Connecticut wrapper leaf, while the new one sports an Ecuadorian sun grown wrapper that looks almost maduro by comparison.
In today’s marketplace, where 6x60 and even 7x70 behemoths are common, it’s easy to forget what a decadent experience a double corona like the Avo No. 3 can be. Back in the day a DC was a pretty conspicuous smoke. Now, it’s relatively slim and elegant by comparison but that doesn’t mean it’s no longer luxurious.
We have to call bullshit on the claim that Avos are made using “rare tobaccos that have been aged for 25 years.” It’s hard to believe that they’ve been salting away thousands of pounds of tobacco with such foresight. That’s kind of like saying a blended scotch contains whiskys aged up to 50 years…sure, maybe 1/10 of a milliliter just to give the claim merit. Common sense should tell you only a portion of the tobaccos are so well aged. No matter though. The cigar is excellent and no such marketing hype is really needed.
We have to call bullshit on the claim that Avos are made using “rare tobaccos that have been aged for 25 years.” It’s hard to believe that they’ve been salting away thousands of pounds of tobacco with such foresight. That’s kind of like saying a blended scotch contains whiskys aged up to 50 years…sure, maybe 1/10 of a milliliter just to give the claim merit. Common sense should tell you only a portion of the tobaccos are so well aged. No matter though. The cigar is excellent and no such marketing hype is really needed.
The new Avo is like a Fuente Opus X Lite. Bold, but not powerful. Leathery, but not intensely so. Rich and smooth and mouth-filling with a near perfect burn and draw. Background notes of cedar, earth and chestnuts intermingle with sweetness and spice. Gone is the occasional papery, chalky character than sometimes afflicted these, which now looks like it was attributable to the old wrapper.
Toward the end of the cigar, the strength ramps up and it begins to verge on medium-full in body. The leathery and earthy character takes center stage along with more spice. If that doesn’t appeal to you, smoke the No. 2 (toro) instead…it’s 1.5 inches shorter and because of that, there’s less opportunity for nicotine to build up in those final inches.
These are made at OK Cigars, right next to the Davidoff factory and part of that company’s brand portfolio. The identically sized Davidoff Double R is $30 and it’s a nice smoke, though milder and far less complex. At $10, the Avo Classic No. 3 is frankly twice as good at one-third the price. Sure, it’s probably unfair to compare the two merely because they’re made by the same company. But the Avo has the same smoothness and sophistication we’ve come to expect from Davidoff at a (relatively) affordable price. It even stacks up against Davidoff Nicaragua, and you know how much we like those.
Highly recommended—a full flavored and luxurious smoking experience without any excess strength. Easy to enjoy anytime. An elegant treat and a decent value considering it's marketed as a luxury brand. The new Avo Classic is clearly better than ever, and just strong enough that we're curious about its aging potential. Stay tuned for a follow up...in a few years.
Toward the end of the cigar, the strength ramps up and it begins to verge on medium-full in body. The leathery and earthy character takes center stage along with more spice. If that doesn’t appeal to you, smoke the No. 2 (toro) instead…it’s 1.5 inches shorter and because of that, there’s less opportunity for nicotine to build up in those final inches.
These are made at OK Cigars, right next to the Davidoff factory and part of that company’s brand portfolio. The identically sized Davidoff Double R is $30 and it’s a nice smoke, though milder and far less complex. At $10, the Avo Classic No. 3 is frankly twice as good at one-third the price. Sure, it’s probably unfair to compare the two merely because they’re made by the same company. But the Avo has the same smoothness and sophistication we’ve come to expect from Davidoff at a (relatively) affordable price. It even stacks up against Davidoff Nicaragua, and you know how much we like those.
Highly recommended—a full flavored and luxurious smoking experience without any excess strength. Easy to enjoy anytime. An elegant treat and a decent value considering it's marketed as a luxury brand. The new Avo Classic is clearly better than ever, and just strong enough that we're curious about its aging potential. Stay tuned for a follow up...in a few years.
THE DETAILS 7.5x50 Dominican Republic W: Ecuador B: Dominican Republic F: Dominican Republic $10 | THE HIGHLIGHTS The epitome of a classy, modern cigar. Bold but not strong. Leathery, rich, earthy, sweet and spicy. A decadent double corona perfect for any time of day. | THE VERDICT CLASSIC EXCELLENT VERY GOOD GOOD ---------------------- SMOKE/HOLD |
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