Avo #9

Prepare yourself for the perfectly balanced marriage of five different tobaccos that has made Avo one of the most exalted brands on the world market. The Avo line—introduced in 1987—is the result of a collaboration between some of the great cigar masters and a composer, Avo Uvezian (probably best known for writing “Strangers in the Night”). Born in 1926 the son of a family of musicians in Beirut, Avo Uvezian dreamed of becoming a great musician. Avo devoted himself to the piano, eventually studying at the famous Julliard School of Music in New York City. Avo had realized his dream—he had established his career as a musician. In the early 1980s Avo opened a restaurant and piano bar in Puerto Rico and discovered his love for cigars. Around1982 he met the master cigar maker Hendrik Kelner in the Dominican Republic and within six years the first AVO was sold in New York. Creating fine cigars is not unlike musical composition—talent, passion and expertise that must come together to create something that will last through the ages. And like the well-known tunes that live on beyond their composer’s passing, a great cigar line will endure long beyond its makers. Avo is just such a line—destined to be around for many years to come. Kelner and Uvezian started with 100,000 cigars in their first year of operation in 1988 a number that rose sharply to 750,000 in 1991. Today they sell over 2.5 million a year! These beauts are constructed from the very finest premium leaves, including a silky Connecticut shade wrapper and Dominican binder and filler leaves. You can’t miss the excellent construction—well rolled and perfectly dense. Expect a medium-bodied cigar with some spice to it. This spice is gently tamed by a soft creaminess, making this a fairly complex smoke with a bit of bite, yet with the feel of a more mild smoke. Try it with Puerto Rican Anejo Rum.