Avo Syncro South America Ritmo

So here I am, not at IPCPR, wishing I was at IPCPR...

But that doesn't mean I can't enjoy a good cigar, and if my experience with other Avo Uvezian cigars is any indicator, the Syncro South America Ritmo is sure to be great. I don't want to waste time, so I'm going to fire up some tango on my Spotify and get right to it.

Cigar: Avo Syncro South America Ritmo

Vitola: Toro (6” x 54)

Price: ~$13/stick

Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Mexico
Filler: Nicaragua, Brazil, Peru, Honduras
Body: Medium

Rating (out of 10): 9.0

Appearance:
Neatly box-pressed with very light veins and completely invisible seams, this Syncro line features the classic “AVO” monogram on a band with a teal, blue, and golden yellow color scheme, and a small secondary band with the name “Ritmo” on it.

The wrapper is a smooth, medium-dark brown in color, with a very thin layer of oil.

Construction:
This is the expert construction I expect out of Avo Uvezian sticks. Straight perfection, from cap to foot.

Aroma:
The barrel gives a woody and nutty aroma, and the foot smells distinctly of raisins.

First Third:
I'm using my punch cut in place of my XO cutter tonight; the flatter cap is more suited to punching than guillotine-cutting. I get a perfect cut with something of a firm draw; not a slight resistance, but also not ultra-tight. The cold draw tastes of cedar and almonds, and I think I'm getting a little bit of that raisin underneath. Not sure yet.

Avo Uvezian cigars have a distinctly musical theme to them (in my tribute to Avo when he passed, I noted that he was a musician first, and a cigar-maker second); to that end, when I sit down to smoke an Avo, I like to take the opportunity to expand my musical tastes at the same time. Tonight, I have my Spotify providing me with recommendations for tango tracks. I might have to look into dance lessons, because this stuff is pretty exciting.

But let's get this thing lit, yeah?

Ooohh... Immediately there's a definite cedar tone, with subtle notes of coffee, cocoa, and cinnamon underneath. It's extremely smooth, and quite tasty.

Some definite sweet tobacco notes working their way in and out, too.

Kind of a sweet, nutty aftertaste.

The burn isn't the most even; I've found it pretty tough to maintain an even burn on most box-pressed sticks. That said, the ash column is firm and solid, and a nice, even white in color, save where I had to touch up the burn.

The hot ash column just dropped on my bare knee. This is why I try to remember to ash often. FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF OOOOOWWWWWWWWWWW.

Second Third:
I'm getting the faintest hint of spice as we start into the second half. The cedar remains primary, though, and the coffee picks up a bit as well.

Leaning more and more towards looking up tango lessons nearby. No partner, though, and you know what they say about how many it takes to tango...

About halfway, there's a somewhat more even burn. No sign of the raisin notes that were present early on. Mostly cedar, still, but it's also beginning to take on a real wheat toast kind of flavor.

That wheat toast builds up considerably over the course of the second third...

Final Third:
...and we're just slathering butter on that toast as we move into the last third.

Bit of pepper on the finish. This stick is determined not to let the flame burn out.

The spice really kicks up as the end approaches; it borders on being slightly harsh, but doesn't quite go there. It's dancing a fine, fine line. I'm quite impressed.

Closing Thoughts:
This is an excellent cigar; I think it could have reached closer to a 9.5 if it didn't burn like the box-pressed stick it is. And pairing it to a collection of tango was a fantastic choice, in retrospect. Normally, with an Avo, I'd lean more in the direction of jazz (I generally associate tango more with La Flor Dominicana where cigars are concerned), but it just felt like the right fit for this blend. Not the least bit disappointed.

The only regret I have is that it took me so long to get around to this review!