Cigar Review: Avo Limited Edition 2012 La Trompeta

Over 20 years ago, Avo Uvezian became an unlikely addition to the world of cigars when the Juilliard-trained pianist founded a cigar company. But, in partnership with Hendrik Kelner, he would quickly make an impact on the industry and ink a distribution deal with Davidoff.

Uvezian recently celebrated his 86th birthday with a new cigar called La Trompeta. The release follows in the tradition he started 11 years ago when he introduced a limited edition smoke to celebrate his 75th birthday. (We have previously published reviews of the 2009, 2010, and 2011 Avo Limited Edition cigars, with the 2011 being my favorite.) La Trompeta is available in just one size, a pyramid that measures 6.5 inches long with a ring gauge of 54. Only 100,000 cigars were released worldwide on March 28. Each carries an MSRP of $15.50.

The most striking feature of La Trompeta is a row of three light circles in the dark Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper that’s intended to resemble a trumpet’s keys. The three circles are not cutouts in the wrapper that simply show the Dominican piloto binder; rather, each is affixed on top of the wrapper leaf. At the foot is a cross-section of Dominican ligero and Peruvian seco tobaccos. This foot has a musty, mushroom-like smell that I’ve come to consider a trademark of Hendrik Kelner cigars. Fans of Davidoff, Paul Garmirian, and Avo will know this aroma well.

I find a tight draw after using a double guillotine cutter to clip the cap of the sharply pointed pyramid. Cutting a little further down and at an angle (to increase the surface area) yields a slightly smoother draw. This makes it easier to establish a thorough light across the foot.

Once lit, a flavor of black pepper spice is instantly recognizable and heavily concentrated on the tip of the tongue. There’s also a meaty, char-like taste and some notes of walnut and dry wood. Aside from the mushroom flavor (which I personally love) the other characteristics of the full-strength, medium-body cigar are quite starchy and not as balanced as I had hoped. Some sweetness or creaminess would have gone a long way towards making La Trompeta more memorable.

I also would have preferred much better construction from such a rare, expensive smoke. The burn line tends to meander. The draw never really opens up. The smoke production is on the low end. And, most concerning, La Trompeta requires several re-lights just to keep burning.

All told, La Trompeta isn’t a bad cigar. But I find it hard to justify the price, or to compare it to the 2011 Avo Limited Edition—as that was one of the finest smokes released last year. Personally, I’d much rather have a regular production Davidoff or PG, knowing full well that the balance and complexity will be there and the construction will be solid. That’s my basis for giving La Trompeta a rating no higher than three stogies out of five.

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–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys