Avo Classic Maduro Cigar Review

Avo Classic Maduro Look & Feel

• Wrapper Hue: Seal
• Rolling Consistency: Mostly Even
• Spring: Firm
• Aromas: Labdanum, Ground Coffee, Agarwood

Firstly, the Classic Maduro is not a replica of the original blend. Indeed, it’s somewhat different. For instance, it features an American Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, which is an original choice for a maduro cigar.

In terms of look and feel, the wrapper brandishes a rich dark seal brown shade. The roll seems to be relatively consistent but may occasionally pick up a couple of soft spots. Nevertheless, it is not too disconcerting.

For example, the Robusto has no soft spots at all whereas the Toro appears to have a couple on the foot. That being said, they all have a firm spring and a little bit of resistance when you pinch them.

They weren’t quite as oily as I expected. Nevertheless, they are very appetizing and they do have a couple of visible veins on the body and on the foot. Its initial aromas on the body and foot revealed musky labdanum, a distinctive note of ground coffee, and a hint of agarwood oud, which is particularly resinous.

Avo Classic Maduro Review

Firstly, the reviewed cigars were stored in a Boveda Acrylic Humidor with 69% RH Boveda packs for three weeks. Additionally, they were monitored frequently with a Boveda Butler to ensure that the environment was consistent throughout their storage.

Pre-Lighting Experience

• Draw: Mild Resistance
• Aromas: Leather, Cocoa, Cinnamon

As for the pre-light, the Classic Maduros that we test offered a consistently ideal draw thanks to the well-crafted accordion bunching. Similarly, the dry draw delivers aromas that consist of leather, cacao, and a little bit of spicy cinnamon.

1st Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: Malt, Clove, Kirschwasser

In the first third, I initially experienced a creamy, cereal malt. This was followed by a note of cloves that was particularly prevalent in the retro-hale and most interestingly, an accord of Kirschwasser, which is a type of Obstler Schnaps or Eau de Vie distilled cherry fruit brandy.

As a result, it offers a succulent sweet note that was particularly notable and offered additional stimulation on the front of the tongue.

2nd Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: Cocoa Bea, Agarwood, Tonka Bean

Once into the second third, the fruitiness had subsided completely and was replaced by cacao bean. The cacao bean accorded very pleasantly with agarwood, which was the oud mentioned in the aromas of the foot earlier.

Indeed, the second third is particularly gourmand and you may also notice some tonka bean that delicately interacts with the cacao.

Final Third Smoking Experience

• Notes: Leather, Nutmeg, Coffee Bean

Once into the final third, the creaminess of the tonka bean and the cacao had subsided and instead revealed coffee bean, which was particularly robust. Furthermore, a deep leather note characterises the overall profile while a hint of nutmeg can be picked up on the retro-hale.

The Avo Classic Maduro’s flavours are rich but the body isn’t overly intense. Overall, it was quite complex, particularly mild in intensity with a perfectly medium body.

Although most people see a dark maduro cigar, they expect a strong body. This wasn’t at all the case here. Instead, it offers a very smooth mouthfeel that evenly distributes the stimulation across the whole palate with a nice balanced dryness.

As for the life cycle, there was a distinctive evolution between each third as you can see from what I described earlier, as well as a slightly lingering finish and a particularly pleasant residual scent in the room.

Overall Burn

• Ash Backbone: Some Resistance
• Burn Angle: Some Waviness
• Temperature: Cool
• Draw: Mild Resistance
• Final Smoking Time: 75 Minutes

With regards to the burn, it provides a surprisingly excellent ash backbone compared to most Avo Cigars. Indeed, their creations are usually quite flaky and somewhat loose. Similarly, the burn line was impressively straight.

That being said, there were a couple of issues in the first two cigars right at the beginning. However, these corrected themselves or just needed minor touching up for the most part.

As was expected, the draw was nice and consistent throughout the whole smoke and it provided a pleasantly cool burn.

Ideal Pairings With An Avo Classic Maduro Cigar

First of all, in terms of food pairings, I often suggest chargrilled meat with a cigar. However, specifically for the Classic Maduro, I would say recommend veal given that it’s usually a tender, balanced white meat with delicate flavours.

Indeed, it would accord quite nicely with this medium-bodied cigar that is oozing in complexity.

Similarly, I would consider dark chocolate and Argencove produces an excellent option for pairing. Its saffron range features stems of the spice and produces a spicy and gourmand flavour that would accord perfectly with the Avo Classic Maduro’s second third.

And finally, you could opt for candied peanuts or what the French call “chouchou”. their caramelised flavours that would accord well with the nutmeg, the clove and the tonka.

As for beverages, I would opt for a Fine-Champagne cognac despite the VSOP Armagnac in the photo above. Cognac has a greater emphasis on leathery amber notes that would correspond better to the cigar’s muskiness.

Alternatively, perhaps an Islay single malt will be more to your taste. The smoky peat could potentially provide contrast and extend the cigar’s fleeting woody notes.

Finally, consider an espresso coffee with this rather than a latte given the cigar’s profile. I would suggest a double given that it’s a slow-burning cigar.

Overall Experience

The Classic Maduro’s band has a beautiful gold metal finish that contrasts nicely against black colouring. I’m particularly fond of Avo’s bands, even if they can be challenging to remove.

Unfortunately, I don’t have the box, so it’s hard to comment on that. It would have been nice to have had a closer look at one aside from photos on the internet, as it’s one of our review’s considerations.

If you buy a box of 25, the Avo Classic Maduro comes to $9.80 per stick. Otherwise, they’re just around $10 if you buy them as singles. This price point offers excellent value for money for Avo cigars, which tend to be around the $15 to $16 range.

Indeed, it would be certainly a worthwhile cigar to invest in and potentially age in your humidor if you’re a collector.

As for the occasion, this is an extremely versatile cigar. You could have it at a formal event at a premium lounge. Alternatively, you could even enjoy it casually with some friends.

However, it’s a great choice for a special occasion in the evening, such as perhaps the reception of a wedding, a meal with friends or going out into town.

Closing Thoughts

I’m particularly fond of the Avo Classic Maduro. In fact, I’d argue that it’s probably one of my favourite Maduro cigars that is currently on the market.

Personally, most Maduros on the contemporary market these days tend to feature an overly strong body because it’s what a lot of people have come to expect.

However, it’s a nice surprise to enjoy a milder Maduro cigar with an emphasis on complex and subtle nuances instead. It’s particularly gratifying if you smoke it slowly and when it’s carefully paired it with a beverage that corresponds to its flavour profile.

Further Reading

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