AVO 2015 Limited Edition Review

Each spring AVO Cigars releases a limited edition to honor the March 22nd birthday of its namesake Avo Uvezian, and next year is Avo’s 80th.  It makes one imagine what cigar will come out for that!

This year AVO is introducing a limited edition that will introduce a new line of annual limited edition cigars: the new Improvisational Series.  The Improvisational Series has been blended by Davidoff master blender Henke Kelner.  The first release will be the AVO Classic Covers 2015 Limited Edition, a 6 x 50 Toro and has already arrived from Davidoff to Anthony’s Cigar Emporium.

AVO says the Classic Covers 2015 Limited Edition blend pays tribute to the AVO Classic blend which was the first collaboration between Avo Uvezian and Henke Kelner.  The Classic Blend is filled with rare Dominican and Nicaraguan tobaccos that have been aged for 25 years, according to AVO.  There is ligero from Ometempe, Nicaragua and piloto ligero, San Vicente ligero, hybrid corojo/olor ligero and criollo ligero from the Dominican Republic.  The Classic Blend is smooth and creamy with hints of pepper. The name of the Improvisational Series draws inspiration from the improvised nature of jazz, while the name of the cigar is based off of the idea of covering a song and Avo Uvezian is an accomplished jazz pianist.  The AVO Classic Covers 2015 Limited Edition adds extra boldness and spicy and cocoa notes by “covering” the Classic Blend signature filler with a Mexico San Andrés binder and a proprietary Ecuador 702 wrapper.

Only 3,500 16-count boxes of AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers were produced.

AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers
Made by: Davidoff of Geneva for AVO Cigars
Country of Manufacture: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuador 702
Binder: Mexican San Andres
Filler: Nicaragua and Dominican Republic
Dimensions: 6 x 50 Toro

First Third:

As will all cigars that come out of the premier Tabadom factory in the Dominican Republic (constructing Davidoff, AVO, Griffins), the construction of the AVO 2015 Limited Edition is perfect with minimal veins present on a light brown velvety Ecuadorian 702 wrapper.  Pre-light aromas are very cedary together with a hint of orage peel that will become more prominent as the ciar is smoked.  A bit of toned down green pepper is in the forefront of the initial puffs.  There is no harshness in the first third, a hallmark of well aged cigars able to be smoked immediately.

Second Third:

The woody aromas fade out into more toast aromas and the green pepper fades out into a balanced dryer earth flavor.  The AVO Limited Edition 2015 remains a bit spicy in the background but the spice doesn’t overpower the tongue.  A creamy cashew flavor envelops the palate together with little earth, minerality and salt.  The most pronounced flavor is  a strong roasted espresso while notes of citrus sweetness fade from a subtle aroma into the flavor profile.

 Last Third:

The cigar picks up strength very fast.  The pepper picks up and becomes a more intensified black pepper together with grassy with a dryer leathery flavors.  The AVO Limited Edition 2015 has a sweet tobacco and citrus rind finish with no harshness.

 Final Thoughts:

The AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers is a medium bodied cigar.  It is important to note that the citrus rind sweetness can easily turn bitter and funky if the cigar is drawn too heavily; easy considering the aged tobaccos and great burn characteristics.  The addition in AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers of the San Andres binder and the Ecuadorian 702 wrapper give it a flavor profile much stronger and complex than the milder Avo Classic yet it retains the smoothness throughout but the flavor profile is very different from the AVO Classic Series.

After smoking, the aftertaste is quite pleasant with a cedary and citrus sweet tobacco flavors.  It could be a transition cigar for novices trying to expand their palate into something more fuller bodied that is quite palatable without a huge nicotine hit.  More experienced smokers will appreciate the balance and complexity of this cigar.  The AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers would pair well with a Highland single malt or a fine cognac.

Buy AVO 2015 Limited Edition Classic Covers Now!

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