Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we used to term “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata in the Robusto size. This is a cigar we most recently assessed in the Robusto size back in March, 2017.

Wrapper: Habano 2000 Clara (Ecuador)
Binder: Negro San Andreas (Mexico)
Filler: Estelí Ligero (Nicaragua). Condega Visus (Nicaragua), Yamasa Visus, Piloto and San Vicente Ligero (Dominican Republic)
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic (Occidental Kelner)
Toro: 6 x 54

In 2016, the AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata became the second line to be released under the AVO Syncro umbrella.  In 2015, the first AVO Syncro Nicaragua made its debut. This introduced the first regular production AVO line to be box-pressed and incorporate Nicaraguan tobacco. The AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata brings a whole new Nicaraguan-centric blend in a rounded format. Earlier this year, the Fogata line was extended to include a Tubo offering in a 6 x 54 Toro. It’s this size that seemed to be the “Midas” for the Fogata as this was my favorite size to date.

The Fogata consists of an Ecuadorian Habano 2000 Clara wrapper over a San Andres binder. The fillers are a mix of Nicaraguan and Dominican tobacco. While the original box-pressed AVO Syncro Nicaragua focused around Ometepe tobacco from Nicaragua, the Fogata focuses on tobacco from Nicaragua’s Estelí and Condega regions. The blend also incorporates high priming ligeros from the Dominican Republic.

Flavor-wise, the AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata Robusto delivered a mix of chocolate, cedar, mineral, orange rind, black pepper, and some grassy notes. Like my previous experience with the Robusto, I found the chocolate notes to be prominent. What I liked about the Toro Tubo is that the orange rind seemed to offset some of the mineral notes. As the cigar experienced progressed, the cedar notes became more prominent. Like my previous experiences with the Fogata, the Toro Tubo delivered a medium strength, medium-bodied smoke.

Overall, I just found the blend really came together in the Toro size . This is a great cigar for the novice or experienced cigar enthusiast. As for myself, I’d smoke this again – and it’s worth picking up multiples to have around.

Summary

Key Flavors: Chocolate, Cedar, Orange Rind, Mineral, Black Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium+
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Very Good

Rating

Assessment: 3.5-Box Split
Score:91

References

Previous Assessment: AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata Robusto
News: AVO Syncro Nicaragua Fogata Announced
Price: $11.90
Source: AVO Cigars
Brand Reference: AVO

Photo Credits: Cigar Coop