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Cigars and CD Review - Avo Uvezian: Legacy
(Posted May 4, 2004)
Next issue: June 8, 2004
*** IN THIS ISSUE ***
1. Feature Story: Avo Legacy - A Man and His Cigars and His Music
2. Survey Says: Has your cigar smoking influenced your friends or family?
3. Smoker's Ed (Cigar Terms & Tips): More on Re-freshing cigars; Coffee stirrer cutters
4. Rating Lunatic: Zino Platinum Scepter Stout; Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 4; Ambrosia Nectar; Famous Tucos Oscuros; Padron 3000 Maduro
5. Cigars in the News: Fidel vs. Bin Laden; Govt. Expenses; Chrysler's Art of Driving Tour
6. Site Improvements: Gentlemen, place your cigar bids!
7. Eyes on the Prize: Celebrity and Customer Cigar Sightings
*** FEATURE STORY ***
Avo Legacy - A Man and His Cigars and His Music
When I asked Tom, our Davidoff sales rep, for a Legacy sample to review, he said, "Which one do you want?"
"They all look perfect, I said. It doesn't matter."
"What SONG do you want?" Tom insisted.
That's when I realized each of the 12 cigars in the Avo Legacy box was banded with the title of each of the 12 songs listed on the CD. As a musician myself, who has an affection for blues piano, there could only be one choice: track No. 6, "Cigar Store Boogie."
The stats:
Avo Limited Edition Legacy
Length / Ring / Shape: 5 3/4" x 48 / Corona Extra with a tapered head
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun-Grown Connecticut seed
Filler: Specially fermented, Dominican Piloto Cubano
Binder: Dominican
Presentation: Limited Edition boxes of 12 cello-wrapped cigars (only 6,500 boxes were made for U.S. distribution). The specially designed, wooden lacquered boxes are imprinted with a piano keyboard on the top. Each cigar is banded with the classic Avo band and a second band is printed with the name of one of the 12 songs. The Legacy CD is included as a special gift.
Retail price: $144.00/box
THE FIRST THING that impressed me about this special edition cigar, which celebrates Avo Uvezian's 78th birthday and a remarkable career in music, was the flawless construction. The wrapper was so uniform in color it almost looked like it was dipped in Swiss milk chocolate. It had an attractive oily sheen with nary a vein and the cap, which is part of a tapered head, was seamless. Upon lighting the cigar, which I had with a glass of Port, I detected a very delicately sweet flavor but the overall impression throughout the cigar was a very pleasant and creamy, woody flavor with a sweet aroma. The ash burned very firmly with a grayish color and as it grew, a fine stipple pattern emerged. The ash probably would have held up for at least a couple of inches, but since I had the luxury of smoking this cigar in the house, I ashed sooner, rather than take the risk of it dropping onto the couch. The cigar was packed well and it drew beautifully. As a test, I purposely clipped the cigar as close to the top of the head as possible and the draw improved even more as the cigar burned. By the midpoint the ash acquired a perfectly symmetrical conical shape.
In terms of strength, the cigar smoked with a medium to full flavor, which was dry (in wine tasting terms) and very smooth with subtle notes of cedar and spice on the finish. The overall flavor did not change until the last third of the cigar when it took on much spicier characteristics.
Based on this one cigar, I would not call this a complex smoke, but it was very consistent in taste throughout. I would recommend the Legacy be smoked in the evening or when one has the time to really savor this fine cigar. So, it looks like Avo and Master blender, Hendrik Kelner, have done it again. Like some of the other legendary musical artists of our time, in the Legacy Avo has raised the bar and reinvented himself, achieving an entirely new vision in cigar making.
The Legacy CD
If you remember my interview with Avo from our RTDA 2003 Report, I was treated to a private listening of some of the rough mixes from this CD at the show. Now that the CD has arrived, I listened to it several times and found it to be as relaxing an experience to listen to as smoking one of his cigars.
Born in Beirut in 1926, Avo Uvezian comes from a family of musicians. His father was a composer and conductor of a symphony orchestra and his mother was also a singer. As a young, classically trained pianist, his dream of becoming a professional musician led him to quick success, especially in the Middle East where he performed with a trio called The Lebanon Boys. (These were the days when cities like Beirut, Tehran and Baghdad were friendlier places for Westerners to live and visit.) In 1947 Avo left for the United States to study at the Julliard School in New York City. During the Korean War, Avo served in the U.S. Army as a musician until 1955 and after his service became an integral part of the growing jazz scene in the U.S. and Europe.
In terms of genre, Legacy could be classified as light adult alternative with a distinctively European flavor. Offering a "blend" of musical styles that range from the opening track, "Canto Por La Vida" (Music for Life) with it's Neapolitan-like flavor to "Avo Bossa" a Jobim-inspired piece underpinned by the insouciant phrasings of tenor sax player and arranger, Brian Snapp.
There are also several tribute songs on the album which trace the course of Avo's musical career like "Kreuzlingen," named for the Swiss village where Avo has been a welcome visitor for many years, with it's folksy, oom-pah bass line. "Cigar Store Boogie" emphasizes Avo's fondness for traditional American jazz & blues with its colorful, boogie-woogie stomp. "Karyn" is a serenade to his daughter, Karyn Uvezian. This track is justifiably placed right before "Thinking Of You," wherein Ms. Uvezian supplies her own expressive vocal skills, comparable to the mellifluous tones of smooth-jazz singer, Sade. "Armenia," another song named for a locale close to Avo's heart, is an emotional melody that's reminiscent of French composer, Michel Legrand, in its orchestration. Moreover, it has a very "movie soundtrack" quality to it. The same could be said for most of the material on this CD and in a way, Legacy truly IS the soundtrack of Avo's long and wonderful life.
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*** SURVEY SAYS DEPT. ***
Has YOUR cigar smoking influenced your friends or family to start smoking cigars?
You've probably lost count with how many times you have either been hit up for cigars or offered a good cigar to someone you thought would appreciate one, right? So, did it rub off? Are any of them now bona fide cigar smokers, themselves? Let us know.
Send an email to: and in the SUBJECT line type or copy & paste, "Influenced Yes" or "Influenced No." As
always, your comments are welcome.
Survey Results for April 6th: Do you inhale your cigars?
The result of this survey has been one of the best yet. With 241 votes turned in, it appears the vast majority of you do NOT inhale. I wasn't surprised by this, but there were many responses in which "No" was followed by "at least not intentionally," while others were an emphatic, "HELL NO!"
YES: 39
NO: 202
Here are just some of the pro and con responses that came in:
"Yes, I do inhale. I love to let the smoke drift out through my nose and absorb the flavor of my favorite C.A.O. Cameroon or Maduro cigar." - Stogeyman
"Yes. And I receive quite a bit of flak for it from 'experienced' smokers - or at least those who insist I am wrong. However, I have also found that some of the REAL experienced smokers do not decry my inhaling - their only comment usually is that it should not become a habit like with cigarette inhaling due to medical concerns." - Peggy Redmond
"No. Nobody should inhale a cigar. Cigar smoke is alkaline and the body's pH is acidic, so you choke. If you need to inhale, just smoke cigarettes. They are made from acidic tobacco. A cigar provides enjoyment without the need to inhale, and so much better." - Michael Hamon
"Usually "no", however, if I'm enjoying a very smooth cigar, I may inhale a few times to fully savor the experience. Cigars that typically inhale on occasion include The Griffins Robusto and Macanudo Maduro Hyde Park." - Kevin Laberge
"Only when I feel the need to throw up. I can't imagine the purpose of inhaling." - Nick Novak
"I do not inhale! No, I'm not Bill Clinton" - John Claxon
Cigar Terms & Tips (Collect and trade em'!)
Vuelta Abajo - The valley in Cuba that many believe produces the best cigar tobacco in the world.
Connecticut Wrapper - Keepin' it Real
Q: Does a Connecticut wrapper really come from the state of Connecticut?
- Steve Squarci, Newburgh NY
A: Yes. The wrapper actually comes from the Windsor Valley in the State of
Connecticut, U.S.A. It's the source of the best Connecticut wrapper due to its native origins. However, wrapper grown in other countries from Connecticut seed (e.g. Ecuador), if cured properly, is excellent. But good 'ol U.S. Connecticut Shade is the REAL deal.
Tip: More on Re-Freshing Cigars
In response to the tip last month about blowing through your cigar to re-fresh it came this email from "AGCIAS" (Somewhere near Houston) with a few more tips:
Had to add something to the concept of blowing out through a cigar to "refresh" it. If you have to let a cigar go out for more than a few minutes, blow out through it strongly and knock all the ash off the end (or as much as you can). On re-lighting, blow out as you hold the flame to the end then, once it is hot (and assuming this doesn't start the cigar going), draw in, firing the entire tip in one continuous draw. It avoids most or all of the sour and bitter flavors associated with re-lighting.
- AGCIAS (Somewhere near Houston)
Blowing the foot
One thing that I do is to blow into the foot of a cigar that is under-humidified. I've never heard anyone else do this except for the friends I've told -- all of whom have reported positive results. At a seminar with Henkie Kelner of Davidoff I was reminded that one significant reason that cigars' tastes vary so much is the humidity -- too much and the cigar is sour, too little and the smoke is harsh and flavorless. But common sense and experience indicates that the water in a cigar is concentrated towards the head, as smoked, by the fire at the foot. Since many of the cigars I like (generally the stronger ones) smoke better if a bit dry, I often have smokes that start out a little "tasteless" but build in flavor. So I tried an experiment. I blew into the foot strongly about 4 or 5 times before lighting (adding the humidity of my breath to the foot). And it worked! This shouldn't be done with all cigars but for many it produces a smoke that maintains the same, good, flavor from start to finish. And if you have to smoke a cigar that is too dry, this is an absolute must!
- AGCIAS (Somewhere near Houston)
Clipping Torpedos
Well, I'm sure you've heard this one. Clip the end of a torp to refresh it. Since I first heard this, I have cut my ends a little more toward the head than before (say, a quarter inch). Then, if the cigar's taste begins to go downhill, clip an eighth of an inch off. A double guillotine cutter is really vital for this. Sometimes I do this as often as twice. I am not a huge fan of the torpedo shape, but this works well when I do smoke them.
- AGCIAS (Somewhere near Houston)
Tip: Stir your coffee, then clip your cigar
I noticed that you recently had a survey to see which cutter was the favorite. I have story to tell you. Recently I went down to Miami Beach. After reading all the horror stories about airport security in one of your newsletters recently I decided to leave my cutter and lighter behind. I went to one cigar store and purchased a cheap but effective punch cutter. Unfortunately I lost it. I went to a cigar store where they tried to charge me $6 for a cheap, plastic single-blade cutter than I can get anywhere for no more than $2. Purchase a few cigars and they'll give it away for nothing. I refused to get ripped off but couldn't find the punch cutter. Finally I noticed by the coffee maker was a few stirrers. I used them as a punch cutter and it actually worked well. Though hopefully I won't have to do that again I did find it better than simply biting off the end, which I did once, but wouldn't recommend.
- Anthony Rodriguez
Got A Good Cigar Tip? Send it in and share it with our readers by
sending an email to . Please be
sure to put "CIGAR TIP" in the header field.
*** SHAMELESS SELF-PROMOTION DEPT.***
Have a question about the care and feeding of your cigars or another
cigar-related topic? Send your questions and comments to me at: . I will try to respond as quickly as possible, but some replies may take a few days.
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“Shop-Talk” Archives
Want to catch up on your Famous Smoke "Shop Talk" reading or reference an article, tip, or other bit of information that appeared in a past issue? Go to our Famous Smoke “Shop Talk” archives page.
*** RATING LUNATIC DEPT.***
Customer reviews are selected at random and may be edited for length, not content.
Zino Platunum Scepter Stout (Dom, Rep)
Current Rating: (9.50)
Country: Dominican Republic
Length/Ring: 7 x 38/52
Shape: Torpedo
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun-grown natural
Strength: Full
Quantity: tin of 12 cigars
This was one of the best cigars I have ever had!!! I just returned from a foreign country where I had many Cohibas and this was better!!! - Allan Miller, Oroville, CA
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 4 (Dom. Rep.)
Current Rating: 9.31
Length/Ring: 5 1/8 x 43
Shape: Petite Corona
Wrapper: Cameroon
Strength: Full
Quantity: box of 25 cigars
Now I understand why people fuss over top-notch cigars. I was cruising the Famous site when I stumbled on the Don Carlos #4 coronas in stock. At about $6.50 a stick, this is pricier than my usual smoke, but based on the outstanding ratings and reviews here and on Top 25 Cigar.com, I decided to take the plunge. After letting them rest in the humidor, I dove into them. Whoa! My first impression was like the first time I tried a French Pouilly-Fuisse white wine: clear, crisp and amazing body and complexity. The DC #4 played a symphony on my palate, with streams of spice, pepper, coffee and cocoa alternating and mixing the whole time. It got a bit hot at the end, but maybe that was because my fingers were burning too. Like French wine, this cigar is too expensive for my everyday consumption, but its value is also commensurate with its price. I'll savor every one I smoke; try one--or more--if you have a chance. - Wingsmoke , California
Ambrosia Nectar (Nicaragua)
Current Rating: 8.95
Length/Ring: 5 x 42
Shape: Corona
Wrapper: Connecticut Natural
Strength: Medium
Quantity: 24
As a professional chef, I find the Ambrosia line a delicious, chewable, tastefully spiced and perfumed with a large number of spices, not just cloves and a number of aromatics. I thoroughly enjoy this cigar and find it especially pleasurable with a final cup of good black coffee following a good steak dinner. It is not my every day cigar but reserved for special occasions. I suggest Mr. Diaz try one again. - Joseph T. Garrett, Southern Indiana
Tucos Oscuros (Nicaragua)
Current Rating: 8.23
Length/Ring: 6 x 60
Shape: Toro
Wrapper: Oscuro
Strength: Full
Quantity: box of 10 cigars
Big fat fun stick! The second one I smoked was great. Full bodied, not harsh and nice cocoa and leather aromas. My advice - let them rest before ya' smoke it. Then set aside a long time to savor the leaf. - Leif Nut, Puget Sound, WA
Padron 3000 Maduro (Nicaragua)
Current Rating: 8.18
Length/Ring: 5 1/2 x 52
Shape: Robusto
Wrapper: Maduro
Strength: Full
Quantity: box of 25 cigars
I started a round with a Montecristo Cigar des Artes Beli that I liked very much, while my buddy lit up a Padron 3000 Maduro. Before he lit it I commented on what a handsome stick it was - looks like it definitely means business. I was also a big fan of the shape - a slightly longer robusto that can work for golf or any occasion. I ended up finishing it for him on the back 9, as he had long since given up on it only about third of the way down. After the mild Monty, this was a delicious and much fuller flavored treat. I was puffing away until no lighter in the world was going to help me get any more out of it. Spicy, full, not at all bitter and with a unique taste that I happened to be crazy over. I recommend this to any maduro fan and those who like a fuller-than-medium smoke. - Andy McElroy, San Francisco, CA
AGREE/DISAGREE? Your opinion may be similar or completely different and is also appreciated, so don't be shy. Rate the cigars you smoke on our web site and write a review. What you say can help others make a more informed decision, even you!
*** CIGARS IN THE NEWS ***
Here are just a few of the cigar-related stories that have been reported by the media in the past month:
Out of Washington, DC came a report from U.S. Newswire that the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the Treasury department agency, charged with stopping the transit of illegal funds to terrorist organizations, allocates more employees to tracking Americans for Cuban embargo violations than to investigating where and how Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein get their money, according to an OFAC letter to Congress. In the letter from OFAC to Senators Charles Grassley and Max Baucus of the Senate Finance Committee it was revealed that just four full-time employees were assigned to investigating Osama bin Laden's and Saddam Hussein's wealth while nearly two dozen were working on Cuban embargo violations.
A story from Reuters last month reported that cosmetic surgery, a mounted deer head, designer briefcases, pricey wines and cigars were among goods improperly charged to U.S. government credit cards by employees, according to a government report. The article went on to say that from 1994 to 2003, the GAO said the use of government purchase cards increased from $1 billion to $16 billion. In most instances bills are paid directly by the government.
Yahoo Financial News published a press release issued by Chrysler Corporation, titled, "Chrysler Group Celebrates Cars, Cigars and Cuisine with National Art of Driving Tour; Second-Annual Tour Stops in Chicago, May 15-16." The release announced Chrysler's The Art of Driving tour, which officially kicked off in Los Angeles in March. The Art of Driving offers courses in a few of the finer things beyond automobiles, including pastime and leisure activities synonymous with Chrysler owners and potential owners. On the Chicago stop Food & Wine magazine's Kevin Patricio will demonstrate gourmet cooking, give tips on wine pairings, and offer a sampling of food and wine. Guests can also experience the "art" of authentic cigar rolling and a proper golf swing.
*** FAMOUS-SMOKE.COM HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS ***
Gentlemen, place your cigar bids! It's CigarAuctioneer.com
Smoking cigars - it's more than enjoyable - it's relaxing. Buying cigars, well, that's just humdrum, until NOW.
Presenting CigarAuctioneer.com, the web's newest cigar auction site. CigarAuctioneer will create a cigar buying experience that blends excitement with good, clean, competitive fun.
CigarAuctioneer.com is now holding auctions daily on personal favorite cigars as well as many of the rare, hard-to-find cigars.
There's no fee to join CigarAuctionee and customers already registered at Famous-Smoke.com can start bidding on cigars just by logging on to their account. A new "AUCTIONS" tab now also appears in the menu bar on the www.famous-smoke.com website linking visitors directly to CigarAuctioneer. All new members are required to register before they can place bids.
To help encourage cigar smokers to visit and bid at CigarAuctioneer.com, the site is offering $5 in "funny money" that will be applied to a player's first winning bid through May 31st, 2004.
*** GIVE THAT MAN A CIGAR! DEPT.***
Goings on in our retail store located at
1100 Conroy Place, Easton, PA.
Upcoming In-Store Events
Saturday May 22nd: Bike & Car Show 12pm to 4pm (Rain date: Saturday June 12th)
Friday June 4th: La Gloria Cubana cigars "Roll Off" - 3pm to 6pm
Friday June 25th: C.A.O cigars Tasting - 3pm to 7pm
Call 610-559-8800 for more info and offers associated with these events.
If you live in or near the Lehigh Valley of Pa, and would like to see all deals and events in our Retail Store - click here.
*** EYES ON THE PRIZE DEPT.***
Cigar Sightings
I recently rented a DVD of some of the original Avengers episodes from 1963. In the episode, "The Golden Fleece", Steed (Patrick MacNee - for those who missed one of the '60's greatest series) and Mrs. Gale (Honor Blackman -- replaced the following year with Diana Riggs) discuss a case while Steed puffs a cigar. Given the year and Steed's preference for fine brandy, cars, women, and adventure, one can only assume this was also a fine Cuban cigar. - Gary Smith, Florissant, CO
The movie 1941 with John Belushi Dan Aykroyd John Candy and more... It was a great movie and Belushi's character almost always has a cigar in his mouth.- Dave Mastovich in PA
Strange little movie, called "Morituri", from 1965 with Yul Brenner as the captain of a German steamer trying to go from Tokyo to Bremerhaven during World War II. They've disguised the ship to appear as English. During the voyage, an English frigate begins to bear down on them while Yul is in the wheel house, preparing for the worse, perhaps being run down. He's got a cigar in his mouth, mayhem is breaking out all over his ship, he's holding onto rails with both hands, and suddenly yells out in his commanding voice, "Somebody light my cigar!" Pretty good movie. - Jim Carson
Other Famous Cigar Smokers Caught “Infumare Delecto”
Just to show the proper way to have a Dom Tomas Dominican Select. I didn't know if your other customer know that a good cigar is good for fishing too. - Rick Laws, Athens, AL
These pix came in from professional photographer, Tom Gannam, in St. Louis, MO.
Good friend Cleo lights up a Cohiba that I gave him. Not a big cigar smoker but I'm working on it.
Scott Rovak, St. Louis Cardinals photographer, and friend at his bachelor party. I got him hooked on these things.
Bill Guttweiler, freelance photographer, at fellow shooter's bachelor party.
Dilip Vishwanat, Photographer for the Sporting News, at fellow shooter's bachelor party.
WANTED! Cigar-smoking photos of you and/or your friends. (See next paragraph for details.)
Have You Made A Cigar Sighting Recently?
It can be from a movie, TV show or a celebrity you've seen elsewhere or in-person puffing on a primo. If you can name the brand of the cigar, even better! Or send in a herfing photo of you and your friends to me at and please put "Cigar Sightings" in the subject line. Limit: 1 sighting or photo (preferably, a JPEG) per email.
That's all folks. Until our next issue on June 8th, Happy Smokes!
Gary
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Shop Talk illustration at top of page by Robert Ingram.
Copyright © 2004 Famous Smoke Shop - PA, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Portions or all of this information may be reprinted freely, provided this
link, http://www.famous-smoke.com, remains intact.
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