Every year, Davidoff realses an AVO LE to celebrate what would have been Avo Uvezian’s birthday in March. This has evolved into the Improvisation Series for the last 4 years. The AVO Improvisation LE20 comes in a unique packed consisting of two wooden trays each with seven cigars all inside an acrylic box.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The blend AVO Improvisation LE20 uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Ecuadorian Semillia 151 seco binder, and four Dominican fillers: piloto ligero, piloto viso, San Vicente ligero and San Vicente seco. The cigar comes in one size, a 6 1/2 x 50 toro. Each cigar will cost $16 any only 4,400 boxes were made.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Ecuador – Semillia 151 Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic – San Vicente Ligero / Piloto Ligero / San Vicente Sec, Peru – Piloto Visus
Factory: TABADOM
Blender: Hendrik Kelner
Number of reviewers: 5 – Sean F.(fullermaine) Alan(Eulogy) Matt Cade(CADE) Kevin A.(Kevin A.) Kevin J.(maninblack77)
Price: $16.00
Age: 5 Months
Release Date: March 2020
Contributed by: Davidoff Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 92
“The cigar features an attractive light golden brown wrapper that appears to be well rolled, there’s just a tiny bit of give when squeezed between two fingers. The cigar’s wrapper also has a smooth, velvet-like texture to it which is always intriguing.” –Matt Cade (CADE)
Aroma: 91
“Bread, bakers spice and peanut brittle are the immediate notes that come from the foot of the cigar. Prelight draw has a little bit of grassiness to it, with an undertone of sourdough bread.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“That grassiness alluded to when sniffing the foot is super pronounced on the cold draw. However, upon lighting the cigar on fire the first impression isn’t of grass but rather loads upon loads of black coffee. A medium strength level dose of black pepper immediately shows up on the retrohale as well. Throughout the first third, the profile pretty much remains the same – coffee and pepper. Construction is excellent across all categories.” –Matt Cade (CADE)
“After carefully toasting the foot so I don’t char it, the first several puffs were full of those dry grass and hay notes. Eventually the salted cashew flavors I like in these Connecticut shade cigars made an appearance. Very mild start. Which was expected I guess. Not a lot of flavors present. Burn is straight as an arrow. This is definitely a morning cigar with coffee kind of smoke.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“As this cigar moves along, the spice actually kicks up a notch, with a solid red pepper note on the tongue and in the retrohale. Also joining in on the flavor game is vanilla, sweet cream, and cedar, which, along with the sourdough bread from earlier, is the last note to linger on the palate. The retrohale is still primarily white pepper and cinnamon, although the spice is starting to kick up in the retro as well, with the pepper transitioning to more of a red pepper spice. Burn remains the same and the draw has now opened up to almost perfect.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“Unfortunately the salted nut flavors I got from the first third went away as I got into second third. The only real flavors I got were the dry tobacco and grass flavors. They weren’t bad by any means I was just hoping for some citrus notes or something a little more enjoyable. Something to hold my attention. The retro is very smooth. Lots of creamy smoke that envelops the palate. Let’s see what the last third holds for us.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Flavor: 89
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Very close to the first third in terms of profile, a lot of leather and grass. There’s moments of heavy cream and nuttiness but they inconsistent.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“Here we go! The citrus and salted cashews make their presence known as I finish out the cigar. Was really hoping things would pick up in that area and it didn’t disappoint. Made for a much more enjoyable finish and will help the final score.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 89
“The draw was smooth as a good dream throughout the entire smoking experience.” –Matt Cade (CADE)
Burn: 94
“Slightly wavy from start to finish. I did not have to do any touch ups or relights though.” –Alan (Eulogy)
Construction: 93
“Very well constructed. Draw and burn were perfect. Never cracked on me with happens alot with these lighter shade wrappers and the midwest humidity.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
Overall Strength: Mild-Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 89
“Had to push through to finish smoking. Absolutely horrible tasting notes. Cleansed my pallet a lot to get the taste out of my mouth. A cigar that should’ve been returned to the manufacturer for further testing. Not sure this was a hand rolled stick.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“It is certainly a pleasant cigar but very one dimensional overall. If you enjoy a mild strength cigar with a focus on leather and hay for the profile it will be a solid experience. It’s just a little too one dimensional for me. I would smoke it again but probably with my morning coffee but I don’t see myself seeking more out in the future.” –Alan (Eulogy)
“Two out of three ain’t bad! And this wasn’t a bad cigar despite its failings in the final third. The coffee, cedar, and black pepper all worked well together up until they didn’t. But luckily by then, I had experienced almost an hour of enjoyable cigar smoking so I’m not complaining… much.” –Matt Cade (CADE)
“The cigar started off well, developed nicely, then finished with a slight harshness that wasn’t quite enjoyable. It heated up quite a bit in the final third. Maybe smoking it slower would eliminate this, but I am not 100% sure. All in all a decent smoke. The power behind it as it transitioned through the final two thirds was a bit of a surprise, and may prove too strong for a newer smoker. I was expecting it to stay in the medium range with the sweeter notes from the beginning.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“This is definitely not a cigar that will knock your socks off flavor wise but the flavors present worked well. I’d give it a solid ‘fair.’ Would have scored higher if the second third wasn’t so bland. I probably wouldn’t try this again as I’m a fan of fuller bodied cigars but for milder fans this would be a good choice.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
