Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the AVO Regional South Edition is on the darker side of medium brown and has some raised and knotty veins present. The seams are pretty raised and easily visible while the long, tapered head is decently finished. There are two bands, with the primary carrying the traditional design for the brand but with a color combination of white, black, grey and blue and denotes South on the side. The secondary band is silver and various shades of blue. The aroma from the wrapper is dry wood while the foot brings some breadiness and mellow black pepper. The pre-light draw brings a light, musty cedar with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The AVO Regional South Edition is lovely in appearance. While the tapered head finish could be better if I was a perfectionist, it is a well rolled cigar and firm throughout. The wrapper sports some major veins that are noticeable in appearance and touch, and there is a fine gritty texture as well. The wrapper and foot give off some cedar, pepper and spice aromas.

Pre-light Experience

The AVO Regional South Edition has a tear tab built into the UPC sticker on the cellophane, and is double banded. Examining the cigar, I was noticing some minor lumps visible at points on the wrapper. Aromas included sweet fruit, nuts and faint wood. From the foot, there was light dates, hay and wood.

Pre-light Experience

The AVO Regional South Edition has an even and oily Colorado Maduro wrapper shade. Veins are neatly pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and aggressive Torpedo head is well wrapped. Aromas from the wrapper give hay, cedar and must. Aromas from the foot gives the same with added white pepper. Cold draw gives white pepper, cedar and hay.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted and lightly musty cedar, dry earth and light baking spice. At a half inch in, the baking spice has transitioned to black pepper and is even with the components up front. At an inch in, the mustiness has increased a bit. The retrohale is toasted cedar and light mustiness. At an inch and three quarters, the black pepper has a slight lead over the toasted, musty cedar and dry earth. As the third comes to a close, all of the components are even again. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

The first third begins with cedar and cream notes. There are some barnyard qualities with some spices and lots of black pepper. The black pepper is fairly powerful in my opinion and is the focus of the first third. In terms of strength and body, the cigar smokes around a medium level.

First Third

My first few puffs bring sweet baking spices and lingering wood. Some mustiness takes hold of the center of the profile almost immediately. A bread note joins the retrohale as the first third settles in. As the cigar continues, the post draw baking spices calm down to light plus. Some dryness on the post draw as the cigar reaches the halfway point.

First Third

The first third gives a very approachable flavor profile. Medium in strength and body, with flavors leaning towards a softer and balanced platform. Flavors consist of hay, soft cedar, light cream, honey and toasted nuts. Retrohaling brings out cinnamon spice and a richer cream. The finish has a lingering cedar.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the toasted, musty wood and dry earth are even with a slight lead now over the black pepper. At an inch in, the dry earth has a slight lead. The retrohale is a mix of toasted cedar and dry earth. As the third comes to a close, the dry earth has a larger lead over the toasted, musty cedar while the black pepper is a bit light in the background. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Second Third

The second third shows a continuation of the first third and I am picking up lots of black pepper notes with some cedar and cream. There are some spice and mineral notes on the finish, but this is mostly black pepper. Like before, medium in strength and body.

Second Third

Musty cedar with light plus baking spices and a cedar finish greet me in the second third. Some graham cracker and bread try to push into the retrohale as the cigar settles in. By the bottom half, mild chocolate joins, with citrus to finish the draw.

Second Third

The second third tips the balance such that the softer notes are less noticeable, while at the same time there’s a greater cedar note (now a toasted cedar). I now get very subdued light cream and honey. Essentially, toasted cedar, hay and toasted nuts is the offering. Strength and body are still medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast on the cedar becomes fairly heavy and the mustiness has gone away. It has now swapped places with the dry earth. At a half inch in, the toasted cedar and dry earth are even with some light black pepper still in the background. The retrohale remains toasted cedar and dry earth. At an inch and a half, the heavy toast of the cedar transitions to char. The strength in this third remained at slightly above medium.

Final Third

The final third was right in line with the second third. Lots of black with some cedar, cream and spice notes. Like before, medium in strength and body.

Final Third

The profile is wood forward taking the cigar into the last third. Toasted cedar finishes the draw as it settles in. Some char sits on my tongue tip on the post draw.

Final Third

The final third introduces a metallic note. This note is combined with toasted cedar, hay and toasted nuts. The softness in light cream and honey is nowhere to be seen. Strength and body finishes the same medium.

Burn

The burn line was straight the entire way. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Burn

Very good burn from start to finish. Well constructed cigar.

Burn

The burn was fairly straight to begin, with a minor canoe developing through the first third that self corrected. It was uneven again in the third with a canoe developing. Neither canoe required attention but definitely knocked the burn score.

Burn

Burn performance was solid. Even burn, tight ashes, cool burning temperature and ample smoke production.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The AVO Regional South Edition was pretty average throughout as the first third was a bit out of balance, the second third was a bit too dry earth heavy and the final third had a heavy toast attached to the cedar finishing out as char. Construction was perfect, but there was never anything on the flavor side that really grabbed my attention. This is my first Regional Edition from the brand, and although this region didn’t wow me, I do look forward to trying some others. I don’t really see myself returning to this one.

Draw

Like the burn, the draw was very good throughout.

Overall

The AVO Regional South Edition was an average cigar, but it really should be subpar on many levels. To begin with, AVO is better than this. Same with the Regional North release. I mean, what are you doing? I don’t understand what the point was in releasing this cigar. So many times these companies release cigars like this and wonder why their core brands are not getting attention. Nice construction and draw, solid medium body and strength, but a flavor profile that lacked complexity, depth, transitioning, etc. Shame.

Draw

The draw was at most a 1/2 notch towards the open spectrum which puts it well inside the ideal range of a perfect draw.

Overall

The AVO Regional South Edition was an enjoyable cigar through the first and second thirds with the profile becoming unbalanced through the last third. The profile was markedly different than the North Edition, and did suffer from some minor burn issues. Between the two, I lean towards the North Edition, but both cigars were enjoyable to smoke and review. Total smoking time was a bit quicker than expected at 1 hour and 59 minutes.

Draw

The draw was also perfect, giving the best air flow and resistance.

Overall

The AVO Regional South Edition started off promising and eventually faded to passable. The first third had an easy going and balanced profile, featuring a good mixture of earth, spice and white notes. But as the cigar continuously burned, the profile became too earth and spice driven, and ended with an unwanted metallic note. I look forward to what the North Edition will provide.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.43

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

5.15

Cost/Point

$2.72

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.08

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

5.75

Cost/Point

$2.43

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: AVO Regional South Edition