Vitola: Double Corona
Size: 7.5″ x 50 ring gauge
Price $16.00
Obtained From SmallBatchCigar.com as a review sample
Background
Today I’ll be looking at one of the limited edition cigars Avo will be releasing to celebrate 30 years in the business. This cigar is based on the Classic No. 3 with a “twist”. It is made up of Dominican fillers and binders with a Ecuadorian Marron wrapper. The box that these cigars come in has a pattern similar to the signature Panama hat of the late Avo Uvezian. This cigar is the first LE that has come out after his passing if I’m correct. I’m wondering how much he had to do with the blending of this cigar and what the company will be doing in the future. This cigar comes packed 25 to a box and production is limited to 2,400 of these 25 count boxes. This was my first experience with the cigar.
Prelight
The wrapper is a pale golden color which reminds me of Ecuadorian Connecticut shade wrappers I’ve seen on other cigars. One thing I’ve appreciated about the more recent LE cigars from Avo is that the banding is clear on what the release is and you don’t have to guess. The wrapper also exhibited a good amount of tooth and oils. When I gave it a squeeze there was a some good but no soft spots. Putting my nose to the wrapper I got the aroma of hay with leather and wood from the foot. After clipping it and taking a cold draw, I noted flavors of wood and hay with a good draw.
Flavor
It starts off with a lot less power than recent LE cigars from Avo. I noted flavors of wood, leather, and hay with a slight amount of sweetness and spice on the finish. It was definitely mild strength to start. As I moved into the second third the flavors were pretty similar to the first third of wood, leather, hay, sweetness, saltiness, with a slightly creamy finish. It stayed mild strength as well. The final third was pretty much a repeat of the second third in regards to flavors and strength.
Construction
I didn’t have any problem with with draw or burn throughout. It was also the first LE from Avo in a long time that didn’t rip the wrapper when I took off the band.
Value
While it would be more expensive that something I’d regularly smoke, it isn’t unreasonable for a LE cigar.
Conclusions
Even though I don’t think it is overpriced for what it is, I don’t think I’d be buying more for me to smoke. The mild strength and the flavors weren’t something that I enjoyed. It wasn’t bad but just not for me. However if you like mild cigars this would be right up your alley. If you’d like to try one SmallBatchCigar.com has them in stock right now.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 2.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 7.5/10
