Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)
AVO Cigars has announced it is bringing the AVO Improvisation Series to a close with the release of the AVO Improvisation 2022 – aka The Final Improvisation. This year’s release will be different in that it will feature two blends packaged together for the first time. It is scheduled to be released in time for the late brand founder Avo Uvezian’s birthday on March 22.
Since 2001, AVO Cigars has released a limited edition cigar to coincide with Uvezian’s birthday. In 2015, the company changed the direction of the annual limited edition cigar, putting the annual releases under the AVO Improvisation Series. These were not just limited cigar brands, but drew inspiration from other things ranging from other AVO blends to specific tobaccos to cigar molds, to music. This is the tenth Improvisation-themed release.
The two blends were inspired by the layout of the white and black keys of the piano.
The Improvisation 2022 White features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with binder and filler from the Dominican Republic. Meanwhile, the Improvisation 2022 Black also features an Ecuadorian wrapper, but contains binder from Mexico and filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic. Both the Improvisation 2022 White and Black lines come in one size – a 5 1/2 x55 Robusto Extra, which is the same size as the AVO LE10. The cigars are packaged in 22-count boxes, consisting of 11 cigars of each blend. The cigars are arranged in alternating fashion to represent the layout of piano keys. A total of 1,500 boxes is being allocated for the United States. Pricing is set at $16.00 per cigar.
“The AVO Improvisation 2022 packaging memorializes both the luxury and musical inspiration of the AVO Lines. The box utilizes black and gold color themes to reflect the two most commonly observed colors in a symphony. Additionally we see the contrasting nature of these two blends reflected to the surface with this box design,” says Edward Simon, Chief Marketing Officer at Oettinger Davidoff. The ‘Closing Improvisation’ showcases two distinct yet complimentary blends to pair with various occasions, times of the day, and flavor and intensity preferences of the aficionado.”
AVO Improvisation 2022 Black
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Dominican, Dominican Republic
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: O.K. Cigars
Robusto Extra: 5 1/2 x 55
The cigar is quite dark and has a nice feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were dry cocoa, citrus peel, light brown sugar, and black coffee. There was black pepper rated at 7. There's not a lot of sweetness in the cigar at this point.
At the first third (22 minutes) the cigar still lacks significant sweetness to go along with the dark notes. I had cocoa, light brown sugar, light citrus peel, and black coffee. The cigar is medium bodied, leaning a little toward medium to full. The finish is cocoa with average lingering black pepper. If the cigar had more sweetness to go along with these dark notes it would be good. I rated the first third 89.
Moving through the second third (58 minutes) the citrus peel and elevated brown sugar took the lead pushing the cocoa to a secondary roll. The black coffee still holds a firm base. The black pepper is still pretty good. The finish is hints of citrus peel and brown sugar with cocoa and average lingering black pepper. The cigar is now medium to full bodied. I got a longer burn time in the middle section than I did with the White version. No idea why. The cigar made some improvements so I raised the score to 91.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 17 minutes. In the final third the cigar changed again but this time it wasn't a good change. The citrus peel and brown sugar have left the building. They are gone. What's left are light cocoa notes and a massive amount of black coffee. The cigar is still medium to full bodied. The finish is a little cocoa and a lot of black coffee with good lingering black pepper. In what is one of the biggest changes (drops) from the second third to the final third I rated the final third 84. Not much appeals to me. I mean, I love straight black coffee if I'm drinking it but my cigar has to have more. Of the two I liked the White better. It's not great but it's the better of the two.
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