Out of the Humidor

Avo Limited Edition 2010

Since the launch of the AVO 75th Anniversary in 2001, Avo Uvezian has been producing an annual limited edition cigar to celebrate his birthday on March 22. These are among the most sought-after cigars available due to their small production and unique characteristics. Each year, the cigar is one shape, one blend, and AVO only presents one opportunity to buy. The release roster has been impressive since the limited edition line’s inception, and many of these cigars have become even more valuable due to the after-market demand. Following the successful AVO 75th, we’ve had the pleasure of enjoying the AVO 22, in 2002; AVO 77, in 2003; AVO Legacy, in 2004; and AVO LE-05, in 2005. In 2006, we celebrated Avo’s 80th birthday with the AVO 80th Anniversary, followed by the AVO LE-07, in 2007; AVO Tesoro, in 2008; and AVO Compañero, in 2009. This year, for his 84th birthday, the AVO LE-10 was launched at a cigar dinner at the Madison Avenue boutique of Davidoff of Geneva, which owns and manufacturers the AVO brand.

The AVO Limited Edition 2010 is a Super Robusto format, at five-and-a-half inches with a 55 ring gauge. It features a beautiful Sun Grown wrapper from Ecuador, combined with Dominican Ligero filler tobaccos and a Sumatra binder from Mexico. It is full-bodied, though its strength is not aggressive but rather ever-present. It envelops the palate with rich, complex smoke that is more velvety than creamy. It possesses a wonderful aroma and maintains a welcomed cool smoke—an effect of the thicker ring gauge.

Though absolutely ready to smoke now, it will no doubt be a cigar that will withstand the test of time in a humidor and develop further in aging. The flavors that now seem so obvious and up-front will soften over time, which should leave you with a more subtle smoke, though still intense. Only 6,000 boxes of 10 cigars were made, the most limited production in recent years for an AVO special release. Each box sells for $155 and they will not be available for long.