AVO Improvisation Limited Edition 2019 is the third iteration of the Improvisation Series. This year’s slogan is “break the mold” and that is underlined by the packaging, which is inspired by cigar molds that are used to box-press cigars. Surprisingly enough only the cigars released for the US are box-pressed, while the ones for the European market are not. The blend is identical for both.
Visually, the cigar appears a little rugged. That is mainly do to some veins on the wrapper that haven’t been “ironed out” completely. The bronze finish on the bands nicely offsets the Colorado Maduro shade of the wrapper. Filling is even, but the draw is a little to open.
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Size: 52 x 152 mm (6″)
- Wrapper: Ecuador
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Peru
- Price: €16
AVO Improvisation Limited Edition 2019: unlit, the cold draw brings note of barnyard, leather and wood to the palate. Once lit, the cigar starts out with wood and spices.
In the first third, the wood and mix of spices are the main flavors, followed by barnyard and earth. An underlying bitterness is also present. In some puffs it works in favor of the profile and in others against it. Strength is almost immediatly medium – full (4/5).
In the second third, the bitterness luckely makes room for pleasent cocoa sweetness. Wood is still the main flavor and is now joined by earth, leather and spices (mainly cinnamon). The burn has been wonky for the first half of the smoke and needs to be touched up now. Strength is not at pronounced as in the first third and has settled into a medium level (3/5).
Wood is still the main flavor, in the last third, with spices and cocoa still present as well. A creamy nut component is also added to the profile. Strength returns to being medium – full (4/5).
Overall, the AVO Improvisation Limited Edition 2019 has room to improve and is going to be a good cigar in the future. 2 out of 3 thirds show the potential of the blend, but the unbalanced first third underlines the fact, that it still needs some rest in the humidor.
Rating: 89