Avo Maduro – No Stranger This Night

It’s not often that you write about Frank Sinatra when post a cigar review.  But, tonight’s review is of a cigar made by the composer of one of Sinatra’s classics, Stranger in the Night.  That song was beautifully composed by jazz musician and cigar maker extraordinaire Avo Uvezian.  Playing in the jazz clubs Avo was always smoking a cigar and would often give cigars to friends and listeners.  Some years ago, he ventured into the cigar business by working with the legendary Henke Kellner.  This combination consistently produces an excellent stick.

When I first looked at this cigar, it held no surprises.  It looked great.  A nice oily medium brown wrapper surrounds a well built cigar.  There are no soft spots and the cigar feels firm but yielding to the touch.  I punch the end and it lights easily.  The draw is nice and easy.  Before lighting the cigar smells of woods and apples.

When I first light the cigar I get no bitter taste but rather a sweetness.  It seems like a nutty mocha taste filled with creaminess.  As the cigar progresses the flavor mellows a bit toward a chocolate truffle.  The final third of the cigar adds a leather or drier buy still mellow taste.  Overall, this is a medium bodied ‘lunch’ smoke.  The cigar produces lots of smoke and flavor throughout.

This is a well built cigar.  It holds a nice long ash and burns evenly, despite the inattention of watching basketball with friends while smoking.

Avo cigars are not inexpensive.  But, value is not synonymous with price.  The consistency of the quality and flavor makes its value apparent.  For many it’s not an every day cigar, but it should always be considered as a special event smoke.