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 2012 La Trompeta with the version included in the Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler. This was a cigar we originally assessed back in April, 2012.
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| Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta |
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Special Sun Grown “Seleccion 702” (Ecuadorian Sumatra)
Binder: Dominican Piloto
Filler: Dominican Criollo Ligero, Piloto, Cubano Viso, San Vicente Ligero, Domincan Olor Ligero,Peruvian Seco
Torpedo: 6 1/2 x 54
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
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 take a look at the 2012 limited edition release, the Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta.
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| Avo Greatest Hits – Packaging |
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| Avo Greatest Hits – Closed Box |
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 Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta is a hold-over from 2012, or if it has been reconstructed.
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| Avo Greatest Hits – Contents |
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| Avo Greatest Hits – Close Up |
The Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta pays homage to Uvezian’s roots in the music name. La Trompeta translates (from Spanish) to trumpet. The Avo Limited Edition 2012 was designed with a trumpet in mind. The vitola is shaped like a torpedo, and there are three small circular cigar leaf cut-outs are placed on the wrapper leaf to resemble trumpet keys.
The blend consists of the famed Davidoff Seleccion 702 wrapper. This is a hybrid wrapper from three different Ecuadorian Cuban seeds. This wrapper has been seen on Davidoff releases such a Davidoff Limited Edition 2009 Seleccion 702 and the Avo Heritage. The remainder of the blend consists of a Dominican Piloto binder and a mix of Dominican fillers and some Peruvian seco.
La Trompeta started out with some black pepper that quickly gave way to notes of grass, hay, and coffee. I found the coffee and black pepper to be the dominant flavors in the first third with the grass and hay secondary. As the cigar progressed it took on more grassy characteristics with the coffee notes diminishing. By the last third, the coffee was gone and the profile of the cigar was grassy and peppery. I found while most of the flavors matured, this cigar lacked some of the sweetness I got when I smoked this back in 2012 and this combined with some scoring changes resulted in a lower score.
For whatever reason (age or reconstructed blend), I found this version of the Avo La Trompeta to be fuller in terms of strength and body. I assessed this as being a medium to full strength and full-bodied smoke. I also found this time around the construction, burn, and draw were most improved.
Summary
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium to Full
Body: Full
Assessment: 3.0 – The Fiver
Score: 89 (Previous Score: 92 *)
* Note: Scored using previous scoring system
References
Original Assessment: Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta (Avo LE12)
News: Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler Features Limited Editions
Price: $15.50 (2012 release), Sampler Price: ($224.00)
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 14 , Episode 127
Stogie Feed: Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta (Part of Avo’s Greatest Hits Sampler)
