
Arguably Avo Cigar‘s best-known blend, the Classic is a cigar that we’ve regularly enjoyed but had yet to review. Until now!
In this article, you will discover the Avo Classic as we review it according to the following considerations:
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Overview
- Brand: Avo Cigars
- Range: Classic
- Reviewed Vitolas: 5 x 50 Robusto & 7.5 x 50 No. 3 Churchill
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic
- Factory: O.K. Cigars, Dominican Republic
- Handmade: Yes
- Body: Mild
- Estimated Smoking Time: 65 Minutes
- Pricing: $9.80 / Single [Shop On CigarPage]
Said to be the brand’s most iconic collaboration between Avo Uvezian and Davidoff’s Henke Kelner, the Classic is relatively recent and was launched in 2000. In 2014, it underwent a facelift alongside the rest of the Avo brand.

Avo Classic Look & Feel
- Wrapper Hue: Caffè Latte
- Rolling Consistency: Mostly Straight
- Spring: Firm
- Aromas: Cacao, Buttercream, Cinnamon
Generally speaking, we have quite a straight role. There are a few minor soft spots, but nothing that is overly disconcerting. The spring is quite firm on the body. Meanwhile, it has a caffè latte hue and quite a distinctive Connecticut appearance.
The sheen isn’t overly oily, although it does reflect the lights somewhat and you may detect a couple of veins on the body. However, it is not overly rustic. Otherwise, the aromas of the foot consist of cacao, buttercream, and cinnamon. Indeed, the Connecticut wrapper certainly playing its role quite strongly here!
Avo Classic Review
As with all our cigar reviews, the Avo Classic was stored in a Boveda acrylic humidor for a period of three weeks with 69% Boveda humidity packs. They were also monitored with a Boveda Butler during this time to make sure that they had properly acclimated.
Learn more about Boveda and how to effectively use it for storing cigars with our full guide.
Pre-Lighting Experience
- Draw: Slightly Loose
- Aromas: Cinnamon, Cocoa, Autumn Leaves
The draw offers good airflow and while there is some resistance, it can feel slightly loose. Furthermore, the aromas are quite mild and they consist of cinnamon as on the foot, cocoa rather than cacao, and autumnal leaves.
1st Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Sarsaparilla, Cacao, Nutmeg
So far, the Classic is a wonderfully emblematic cigar that represents a Hanke Kelner’s blending identity.
The first third consists of rich notes that are largely aromatic and bordering on herbaceous. One of the most intriguing dominant notes is sarsaparilla root, which is one of the key ingredients in root beer. Indeed it’s almost medicinal in its aromatic quality.
There are also notes of cacao much like those that were smelled on the foot before it was lit as well as a nutmeg instead of cinnamon. Therefore, an element of spice is present, too. Overall, the mouthfeel is incredibly creamy in texture as opposed to the flavour profile.
Finally, the burn starts well but you may experience some slight waviness about half way through the first third.
2nd Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Honey, Cinnamon, Sandalwood
At about a quarter of the way through the second third, you may eventually start to experience a slight transition. Indeed, the Classic develops slightly in body and there is a slight evolution in flavour.
Meanwhile, the burn line has corrected itself somewhat. It’s still a little bit wavy, but it’s perfectly acceptable.
In terms of the flavour profile, the second third of the classic Robusto starts to open up a more succulent and caramelised character. In this case, the sarsaparilla root note has transitioned to an acacia honey aroma, which has been accompanied by cinnamon as an alternative to the aforementioned nutmeg.
There is also a slightly woody property as well as developed in the second third, which I find reminiscent of sandalwood.
Final Third Smoking Experience
- Notes: Cedar, Pepper, Oak
Instead of the aromatic characteristics of the first and second thirds, we now have something that is largely a woody accord of cedar and aak. There’s also a slight pepper note that can be detected in the retrohale.
Although deeper in flavour, it’s not much stronger in body. Nevertheless, it’s a much more sombre and verbose experience compared to the first two thirds. Generally speaking, while the cigar isn’t overly complex, it does have a wide variety of notes from different aromatic families that play a role in contributing to the cigar’s flavour.
That being said, its mouth feel is incredibly smooth and the creaminess continues throughout each third. Even in the final third, which although is much deeper and flavour, does retain that creamy texture on the tongue.
Meanwhile, its astringency and overall palate stimulation are very balanced. The lifecycle is perhaps not incredibly developed. That being said you do you have distinctive notes in each third, for example, the sarsaparilla in the first third, the honey in the second third, and the woody accord in the final third.
As for the finish, it lingers for a couple of minutes and you’ll still enjoy the woody accord before it leaves a general tobacco flavour.
And finally, the residual scent in the room is quite pleasant. In fact, mild cigars like this and the Davidoff Signature line are some of my preferred cigars for smoking indoors. They leave a more fragrant scent in the room rather than anything that is potentially offensive or acrid.
Overall Burn
- Ash Backbone: Mostly Strong
- Burn Angle: Mostly Straight
- Temperature: Cool
- Draw: Ideal
- Final Smoking Time: 65 Minutes
When it comes to the burn of the cigar, the draw is consistent throughout the whole experience. It doesn’t contract to expand. Meanwhile, the burn angle remains relatively consistent throughout the whole smoke. In fact, it’s quite straight and needs few touch-ups as it tends to sufficiently correct itself.
The temperature of the cigar only starts to warm up near the nub. Otherwise, it provides you a nice, cool smoke. And then when it comes to the ash backbone, it has a brushed steel colour, which holds on for about a third of the cigar at a time.
Overall Experience
I’m very fond of Avo’s facelifted band style. Its matte paper, though, can be a little bit difficult to remove as sometimes it’s overzealously glued on. Therefore, it either shreds to bits or sometimes can even remove some of the wrapper.
Nevertheless, the Avo Classics sampled for this review didn’t have any of those issues. In fact, they came off quite easily. Therefore, if you like to collect bands, you should be able to preseve them.
Meanwhile, the box has a varnished pine colour for a veneered wood appearance, which is quite understated and quite elegant. The logo is proudly displayed in the centre on both the top and underside of the lid.
When it comes to the value of the cigar, the Robusto should cost you around $9.80 for a single and you can probably knock a dollar off if you buy a whole box. Consequently, you’d be looking at about $176 for a box of 20.
The No. 3 Churchills will probably cost around $12 to $13 each whereas the No. 2 is somewhere between at around $11.
When it comes to the occasion of the cigar, it’s wonderfully versatile and can be used for a wide variety of special moments.,You can also enjoy this as a very pleasant morning smoke with a morning coffee. In this light, it could be compared to the aforementioned Davidoff Signature or even a Brick House Double Connecticut.
Otherwise, you could also consider it as a digestif after lunch in the early afternoon. Indeed, it would go quite nicely with coffee just to digest, especially after having a hearty meal.
That being said, it is also a great cigar for special events. For example, it would go down a treat at a wedding, a birthday party, or even a bachelor party thanks to its elegant presentation. It’s also quite accessible for people who don’t normally smoke cigars thanks to its mild yet aromatic flavours.
Avo Classic Cigar Pairings
I find the Avo Classic to be a cigar that pairs very nicely with luxurious accompaniments. Therefore, I apologise in advance for becoming a little snooty!
For instance, oysters and fois gras are delicate yet quite full in flavour. If you were to have it alongside or before the cigar, their flavours would marry quite nicely. Alternatively, if you just want a savoury snack, you can also consider peanuts.
Finally, French fries is another recommendation. The reason is that they also pair well champagne, which would accord equally well with the cigar.
In terms of champagne, opt for a pure chardonnay blanc de blanc as it will have a greater quantity of yeasty biscuit flavour that would go well with the cigar. A pinot noir dominant blend would go well, too, but the character will be very different.
On a similar theme, consider also pairing the cigar with a Sauternes or sweet sémillon wine. These sweet, full-bodied, and opulent wines will extend the cigar’s creaminess. That being said, these tend to be expensive, so consider a chenin blanc from the Loire Valley or Vouvray in particular if you want something a little more affordable.
And, of course, you could always consider sarsaparilla or root beer given that this was the dominant note in the first third. Meanwhile, if you want to instead complement the creaminess of the cigar, why not go for a nice cappuccino or latte coffee?
Closing Thoughts
The Avo Classic carries its namesake well as an iconic and reliable cigar that corresponds to most budgets. If you’re somebody who enjoys mild Davidoff cigars but can’t quite justify the price tag, it’s a good compromise. Furthermore, it’s also an excellent cigar for beginners!
"A flavourful yet mild cigar that is equally versatile for many occasions and will please a spectrum of palates."
Further Reading
If you enjoyed reading this cigar review, feel fry to check out more related content:
As an avid Davidoff fan, the AVO Classics have grown to be one of my favorite cigars, given they have a very similar profile to some of the White Label Davidoffs. You’re correct, one can enjoy this cigar with virtually anything.