AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3

For many years, each March would bring a new AVO limited edition. The series began in 2001 with the AVO Limited Edition 75, celebrating brand’s founder Avo Uvezian’s 75th birthday. Since then, the brand, part of the Oettinger Davidoff AG family, released limited editions in all shapes, sizes and strengths each March usually coinciding with a series of events with Uvezian in attendance.

That all changed last year when the brand unveiled a massive makeover of its regular production portfolio, as well as a new series known as Classic Covers. The first release of Classic Covers debuted last April, somewhat coinciding with Uvezian’s 89th birthday, though Davidoff of Geneva USA clarified that Classic Covers was not simply a rebranded version of the AVO birthday series.

At the 2015 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show in July, that became clear when the company showed off the second release in the series, a release probably best known for its packaging: a circular box designed to look like a record. But for 2016—Uvezian’s 90th birthday—the birthday theme returned.

The AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3 is 6 x 54 toro that uses an Ecuadorian habano 2000 claro wrapper, Mexican San Andrés negro binder and a blend of fillers including San Vicente mejorado visos 2 and 14, piloto seco, 10-year-old tobaccos hybrid corojo/olor viso and an 11-year-old criollo seco.

• AVO Classic Covers 2015 Volume 1 (6 x 50) — 3,500 Boxes of 16 Cigars (56,000 Total Cigars)
• AVO Classic Covers 2015 Volume 2 (6 x 54) — 3,500 Boxes of 16 Cigars (56,000 Total Cigars)
• AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3 (6 x 54) — 3,500 Boxes of 18 Cigars (63,000 Total Cigars)

If the Classic Covers Volume 2 was known for looking like a record, Volume 3 is the record player. Because that’s what the box is designed to look like. The cigars are packaged in boxes of 18 that not only mimics a record player, but also serves as an ashtray once the cigars are removed.

• Cigar Reviewed: AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: O.K. Cigars
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Claro
• Binder: Mexican San Andrés Negro
• Filler: Dominican Republic (San Vicente Mejorado 2 & 14, Piloto, Hybrid Corojo/Olor & Criollo)
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 54
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $16.90 (Boxes of 18, $304.20)
• Release Date: March 22, 2016
• Number of Cigars Released: 3,500 Boxes of 18 Cigars (63,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

It looks like an AVO. There’s a deep, vibrant mud-like color with some slight variation in color. While the seams are near flawless, there are quite a few noticeable veins. Aroma out of the cellophane is leather, oatmeal cookie and some hickory barbecue. From the foot, there’s hickory, chocolate and a dominating oatmeal cookies. The dessert-like flavors continue to the cold draw of the AVO which has a defined chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream over some other indiscernible flavors.

Upon lighting the second cigar, it becomes clear there are at least two different profiles going on. One cigar begins with hay, leather and some familiar olor flavors—some identify this as Davidoff’s mushroom signature. Fortunately, that appears to be the exception as the other two samples begin quite differently with a toasty burnt cocoa flavor and some campfire-like woods. There’s not a ton of smoke in the mouth for the first handful of puffs in Classic Covers Volume 3, but it eventually picks up. The draw tightens up, which helps the smoke production. There’s still touches of olor, but the flavor isn’t my issue, it’s the dryness of the blend. There’s a ton of toastiness which masks almost everything behind it, when pushed, I can pick up grassy, hay and hazelnuts. Strength is medium-plus while body and flavor is medium-full.

Into the second third of the AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3 and there are some changes. For a bit, there’s some generic fruit sweetness and black pepper. While the latter remains, the fruit gives way to a bizarre mixture of yellow mustard and bread. Unfortunately, the toastiness continues to overwhelm a lot of what could be underneath things. There’s a peanut butter cookie-like flavor on the finish, something that might be just my brain trying to discern a sweet and dry flavor. Construction remains much the same as does both the strength in body.

The final third of the AVO continues the toasty theme, now more charcoal-like. There’s far more flavors breaking through, but it still requires quite a bit of work to find them. There’s some lemon, black tea, nuttiness, creaminess and hay with a medium black pepper all over the tongue. unfortunately, the profile remains quite dry. I’m able to nub the cigar down pretty far with the pepper remaining at rather pleasant levels, but after two hours and 15 minutes I’ve had enough and need lots more water.

Final Notes

• As noted above, the second cigar was quite different. While it was still scored, for the most part I didn’t mention the flavor notes. It actually was similar in tasting notes, only the toastiness was joined by the very distinct flavor of olor, which probably is not something most will find enjoyable, particularly in that quantity.
• I found all three cigars to be very dry and was drinking water far quicker than my normal pace.
• The inside of the bands feature a quote from Uvezian: It’s not about the legacy you leave. It’s about the one you share.
• We’ve tried to generally avoid the “it’s going to be shame after FDA rules take into effect” narrative, but I think it’s worth nothing here. The creative packaging displayed here is a testament to the relatively recent evolution in the centuries old business of cigars. Whether or not you actually enjoy it, there’s something to be said about manufacturers’ attempts to package cigars in ways outside of a rectangular wooden box. FDA rules won’t prevent this from ever happening again, but they certainly will discourage some manufacturers from investing so heavily in packaging that may or may not make it through the regulatory approval and that’s a shame.
• Davidoff of Geneva USA advertises on halfwheel.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time was two hours and 20 minutes on average.
• Sites sponsors Atlantic Cigar Co., Corona Cigar and JR Cigar all carry the AVO 90th Classic Covers Volume 3.