Assessment Updates will be posted on this web-site to: 1) Assess “pre-review” cigars that were not given a rating or score (typically pre-release cigars); 2) Provide numeric ratings to cigars previously assessed prior to the implementation of the numeric scoring system; 3) Provide a re-assessment and re-score of a previously assessed/score cigars. Today, we re-assess the Avo Limited Edition 2013 – The Dominant 13th with the version included in the Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler. This was a cigar we originally assessed back in April, 2013.
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| Avo Limited Edition 2013 – The Dominant 13th |
Wrapper: Habano 2000 Ecuador
Binder: Yamasa (Dominican)
Filler: Dominican (Piloto, Habano-seed Viso, San Vincente Ligero, Corojo/Olor Ligero), Peruvian Viso
Toro: 6 x 52
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (O.K.Cigars)
The Avo Limited Edition series is a favorite among cigar enthusiasts. The series was launched in 2001 and has followed each year with a different limited production release is done in a different size and a different blend. The releases are timed around brand ambassador Avo Uvezian’s birthday (March). Just prior to the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show a sampler of all of the releases (minus the 2005) called Avo’s Greatest Hits was announced. Today we start a series where we will look at these cigars in detail. Assessed cigars will be covered in Assessment Updates while un-assessed cigars in the series will have full reviews. We will start today with the Avo Limited Edition 2013 – The Dominant 13th and go backwards. At the end of the series, we will revisit the Avo Limited Edition 2014 – Avo 88.
In terms of the cigars included in the package some have had their blends reconstructed using the same tobaccos (The LE05 was not included because this the reconstruction of the blend could not be done to Master Blender Henke Kelner’s satisfaction). It has not been disclosed whether or not the Avo Dominant 13th is a hold-over from last year, or if it has been reconstructed.
The Dominant 13 is another cigar that pays tribute to brand ambassador Avo Uvezian’s musical roots as it refers to the Dominant 13th chord. The 13th is also symbolic of the year (2013) and the 13th limited edition release of the series. The blend is a multi-national one as it features a Habano Ecuador wrapper and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Peru. Perhaps the most interesting feature is the incorporation of the Davidoff (the Avo brand’s parent company) proprietary Yamasa region (Dominican Republic) binder. The cigar was released in a 6 x 52 Toro.
I found the Avo Dominant 13th in the Greatest Hits Sampler to still be a complex and flavorful smoke. The flavors delivered are chocolate, earth, black pepper, cream, toasted nut, and some trademark Davidoff grassy herbal notes. I found the chocolate notes to be a big difference as when I smoked this last year, these notes were more of a black coffee flavor. The chocolate flavors are more prevalent in the first half, and there is some spice to close out the experience.
I also found the strength and body to be dialed back with the Avo’s Greatest Hits version. This was more of a medium strength cigar. The flavors are medium to full-bodied and hit full-bodied on the last third.
This is a cigar that finished as the Cigar Coop #20 Cigar of the Year for 2013. While the version in the Avo’s Greatest Hits sampler scored slightly lower, this was due to changes in the scoring system. In reality, this version smoked as good, if not better than the original.
Summary
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: High
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full (1st 2/3), Full (Last Third)
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: 4.0 – Box Worthy
Score: 93 (Previous Score: 94 *)
* Note: Scored using previous scoring system
References
Original Assessment: Avo Limited Edition 2013 Dominant 13
News: Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler Features Limited Editions
Price: $15.00 (2013 release), Sampler Price: ($224.00)
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 50 – “A Heavy Show”
Stogie Feed: Avo Dominant 13th
