To any cigar enthusiast eagerly anticipating this year’s special release from Avo, the Avo Limited Edition 2013 commemorative cigar doesn’t disappoint.  Although the tobacco content has changed over the years, the musical theme in recent editions has continued.  Years before he was starting up a new business, founder Avo Uvezian had already seen success as a world-renowned jazz pianist. The “Dominant 13th”, as this year’s special release cigar is known, pays homage to a famous jazz chord that was central to founder Uvezian’s music.

Uvezian is famous for choosing to pay his tobacco producer more than he originally offered, just to ensure an ongoing supply of the highest quality product. The 2013 edition contains a rich mix of tobacco from three different nations. The Habano 2000 wrapper is made in Ecuador, the binder is Dominican, and the fillers are of both Dominican and Peruvian origins. From the carefully designed thematic packaging to the silky smooth appearance of the vein-less wrapper, it is clear even before smoking that the Avo Limited Edition 2013 is a well-crafted product.

Whenever the time is right to enjoy a medium-bodied cigar, the smoker will enjoy a wide variety of flavors with bold and complex blends.  Both careful attention and an adept pallet are required to fully appreciate the ever-changing taste combinations.

Reviewers have noted a peppery taste upon first lighting the cigar, with the spiciness subsiding into hints of oak, coffee, walnut, and earth. Coffee would go on to take over as the dominant flavor, followed by earthy grass notes becoming the primary flavor. Lastly, reviewers dote on the cigar winding down into a wonderful blend of toasted nuts and coffee aromas.

 When the legendary blender passed away in 2010, Pedro Martin cigars became the purview of his daughter Maria. Maria was formerly the national sales manager for Camacho.  She brings the decades of experience the family has in the industry to her father’s work. The company offers six stogies split up into two lines of three sticks each. All six are packed with Nicaraguan binders and fillers, but each come with a different wrapper.

In the Gold line, the Ruby is a Maroon Corojo that is medium to full in strength. Reviewers detected pepper, wood and orange tart in the Ruby’s flavor profile.

The Corojo has, obviously, a Corojo wrapper. It also has strong pepper and wood tastes, in addition to some black cherry.

The Gold is an Ecuadorian Connecticut stick that is medium strength and has pepper, wood, sugar cookie and baking spices in the profile.

The Royal is mild to medium and has a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Reviewers tasted wood, spice, sweetness and graham cracker in this stogie.

The M is medium to full and has a Mexican Maduro wrapper. Leather, chocolate, sweet cherry and baker’s spices are the dominant flavors in the M.

The Fiera is also medium to full and has a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper. It features wood, cocoa and bittersweet chocolate in the flavor profile.

Pedro Martin cigars are well known for their construction. The company puts a lot of effort into replicating the impeccable expertise Maria’s father brought to the industry, and it shows. Encased in each stogie is 80 years of history and knowledge of the industry. With Maria at the head, her father’s work will continue to live on in blends inspired by his work.

The J.C. Newman Cigar Company first showcased the Perla Del Mar cigars at the 2012 IPCPR Trade Show, and they are unlike other sticks offered by the brand. This is a milder smoke and was inspired by an old Cuban stogie with the same name and band artwork. It is Spanish for “pearl of the sea” and evokes the strong range of flavors that Newman’s brand is known for.

The wrapper is an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade, and the binder and filler are both Nicaraguan. It is available in four sizes, including the P (3 3/4 x 56), M (4 3/4 x 52), G (6 1/4 x 54) and TG (6 x 60). The wrapper is light brown and rather silky and smooth. There is some veining, though no visible seams can be found. The band is navy blue, gold, black and white, and features the name of the stogie in gold lettering under a black and white clipper ship at sail.

The first third of the Perla Del Mar cigars starts off with cream, citrus and pepper according to reviews. The cream subsides right away and the pepper and citrus share the dominant role. During the second third, the citrus and pepper are joined by a strong wood flavor. The pepper is constantly dominant while the wood and citrus trade off as the second-strongest flavors. In the last third of the stick, some reviewers also tasted spice and vanilla. The citrus, wood, pepper, spice and vanilla are all present until the finish.

The burn and draw are both considered excellent, and the ash is a perfect salt and pepper. This stogie starts out mild in strength, though it just makes it to medium by the halfway point. The flavors are extremely robust, though, and many aficionados believe the Perla Del Mar cigars are medium to full-bodied.

Anyone with a passing interest in NASCAR will instantly recognize the name and number attached to the Dale Jr. 88 cigars. The massively popular driver is often found with a stogie in his mouth, so his partnership with Ted’s Cigars is a natural one. While some smokers are skeptical of celebrity endorsed stogies, this one features a blend similar to the one that earned high ratings in cigar reviews and publications, so it’s not just a gimmick.

The wrapper is a light brown Connecticut Shade from Ecuador.  It has a few medium veins, but it is smooth and dry to the touch. The band is a stark red, white, and blue—showcasing the driver’s signature and car number. The binder is Dominican, and the filler tobaccos are from the Dominican, Brazil, and Nicaragua. This smoke is only available as a 6 x 50 Toro, as this happens to be Earnhardt’s favorite vitola.

The first third of the Dale Jr. 88 cigars is creamy and floral. Some reviewers also detected coffee and sweetness in the profile. This stick transitions smoothly into the second third, where earth and nutty usurp the floral notes for dominance. In the final third of the stick, the sweetness takes charge, with the floral and earth layers hanging in the background.

Reviewers were extremely happy with the burn because it holds a sharp line that requires little maintenance. The draw was considered loose by some, but as it didn’t affect the stick’s performance, it wasn’t considered a problem. These stogies are mild-bodied and medium in strength, which is perfect for a casual smoke or for a neophyte looking for something with a nice range of flavors.

The country of Nicaragua is lucky to be called the birthplace of Cult Ometepe Cigars.  A tiny factory in this area produces these unique sticks.  The Classic and Fuerte lines are two other creations by this manufacturer.  The flavor has become noted with great importance in regards to this brand. The medium to full bodied stick is splendidly manufactured by Tacasa.

Four different sizes are available that include: Grande Robusto (5.50 x 54), Grande Toro (6 x60), Torpedo (6.25 x 52) and Grande Churchill (7 x 54).  Keep in mind that this stick is available in limited quantities, and the tobacco is even rarer, originating from a volcanic region in Nicaragua.

The binder of this fine stick hails from Ecuador.  Reviewers have noted the solid construction and consistent veining throughout the stogie.  Individual sticks can be purchased for around $8.00, and ornate wooden boxes of 24 are also available.

Reviewers note initial hints of ginger, cedar and leather.  Spicy flavors emerge when the stick is first lit.  The smoke is quite rapid as hints of vanilla and orange citrus emerge.  A red pepper sensation is also experienced by some reviewers. To add to all of these flavors, notes of butter, caramel and tarragon emerge as well.  It is truly an exotic flavor explosion according to some aficionados.

During the second and third stages, spiciness and sweetness prevail.   The overall balance and impressive char line is pleasing to those that have experienced this cigar. Long finishes have also been noted, making this a favorite of many.

Aficionados are quick to point out the exotic flavors and wonderful full to medium bodied strength.  Cult Ometepe Cigars are available in a limited supply and should be purchased before they run out.

The Quesada Heisenberg cigar revels in its mystery.  It is based on the Uncertainty Principle, which states that a particle’s momentum and position can’t both be asserted at the same time. The stick has unknown origins.  The details surrounding its blend, where it was created, and the people who created it are all being intentionally withheld. The idea is to keep people from over-analyzing it, so that they will enjoy the stick for what it is.

It comes in four sizes, with the 5 3/4 x 44/48/55 Cornet Cuadrada being the most unique among them. It translates into “square horn.” That’s what it looks like— a tapered horn that appears box pressed. The wrapper has a coffee brown appearance with some dark marbling and veining present. There is no label apparent to hint at where it came from.

The first third of the Quesada Heisenberg cigar features a flavor profile of pepper, orange and cocoa notes—with some floral taste joining in soon after starting. The orange is the dominant taste, with the pepper, cocoa and floral notes all resting in the background. The second third contains caramel, which is as powerful as the orange, though it comes and goes. The pepper, cocoa and floral layers are all still present in the rear. The final third does away with the caramel and cocoa while strengthening the orange, pepper, and floral tastes. The stick ends both sweet and spicy, and manages to stay in the medium range.  It comes close to full in both body and strength at the nub. This makes it an ideal stick for any humidor from a novice who is ready to try a stogie that is more complex and a little stronger to an aficionado ready for the unexpected.

Released by a long-lived and well-known company, the H Upmann Havoc cigar is a new and excitingly blended stick for Cuban tobacco enthusiasts. The H.Upmann firm was founded in 1844 by a banker who opened a branch in Havana and discovered the market for imported cigars was wide open and inviting. Between the years of 1862 and 1893, the brand won seven medals of excellence from seven different international tobacco exhibitions, which are still lithographed, along with the founder’s signature, into the lid of each box of stogies.

Another interesting fact about this brand is that, just before the 1960’s trade embargo with Cuba, President John F. Kennedy had his secretary scour the town of Washington D.C., snaring some 1,200 cigars before the importation ended.

A product of a business with over 170 years of experience in the luxury cigar smoking industry, the specific H Upmann Havoc cigar leaf blend was created by master craftsman Jose Seijas. It starts with a filler blend of Nicaraguan and Dominican Piloto Cubano tobaccos, which is then bound in a San Andres Criollo ’98 traditional Cuban-style (habano) wrapper and finished with a bold yellow and black label.

Those who have smoked this stogie say it starts with a clean, woodsy aroma and a sweet taste on the lips, followed by an easy draw and a slow, even burn line. It carries a hint of spice and a distinct nuttiness, and the themes of earthy and woody notes hold true during the entire smoke. Smooth and mellow from the first puff to the last draw and powerful without being head-spinning, the H Upmann Havoc cigar is described as medium-bodied, which seems to be an attraction for experienced smokers looking to expand their palates. The cigar line comes in four different sizes, ranging from the Belicoso (6 1/8 X 52), through the Churchill (7 X 57), the Robusto (5 X 54), and the Toro (6 X 54), and is widely available through the internet or local cigar shops.

The Gurkha 125^th Anniversary Cigars will surely raise some eyebrows with its impressive legacy of products that range back to the 19^th century. Beginning with British soldiers in the colonial ages that used these very products and gave them the affectionate name that they hold to this day, they have certainly evolved into an impressive line of products that are still heralded today as some of the top-flight stogies on the market.

Critics find no surprise in the ornate presentation that has always been a mainstay of this particular line, with the signature band and a somewhat muted body. The origins of the wrapper, filler and binder are Brazilian, Nicaraguan and Dominican and sport a streamlined look when compared to early iterations of the product line.

The wrapper contains a small amount of veins throughout its body and has a bit less oil than its counterparts, though the body holds up quite well according to reviewers. The first third of the Gurkha 125^th Anniversary Cigars contains some minty notes, earthy flavors, as well as some hints of sweet cocoa. The flavors are many, but they have been remarked to be quite withdrawn in their potency when compared to previous stogies in this line.

The second third introduces some traditional tobacco flavoring among the previous flavors though it continues to be on the mild side in its delivery of the flavors even as it remains a medium bodied stick. While not as impactful as other products in regards to the force of the flavors during the beginning phases, the final third of the stick brings some nutty flavors and some of the previous tobacco flavors to light. The consensus has been that this distinguished line of products has gained another in the ranks with having exceptional appearance and flavor profiles.

Erik Espinosa and his former partner Eddie Ortega started creating Espinosa cigars in 2004, and in 2012, Erik launched his first factory, known as La Zona, in Esteli, Nicaragua. Most of the sticks produced at the factory are full bodied and geared toward experienced smokers, but Erik has recently released a couple of medium-full bodied blends that are meant to introduce novices to the brand.

La Zona is likely the most gentle of all Espinosa cigars, and is a medium bodied stogie that has Nicaraguan filler and binder. It is wrapped with either a Habano leaf or a Connecticut leaf.

The Murcielago, Spanish for “bat” comes with a Mexican maduro wrapper, and is a medium-bodied smoke that maintains sweet and spicy flavors. The filler is Nicaraguan, but the binder is Mexican, making it the only stick in the brand that uses plants from Mexico.

La Bomba is the strongest product that Erik puts out, and it is likely one of the strongest blends available anywhere. The wrapper is Nicaraguan Habano, and the filler and binder are both from the same country. It is not recommended for novices, as it is reported that only experienced smokers will be able to handle its intensity.

The Blue Label, probably the most lauded among reviewers, is a medium-full bodied stick that features a dark maduro wrapper. The tobaccos used in the blend are aged in a manner that produces sweet tobacco flavors.

The Red Label is also full bodied, and is another that is produced with the seasoned aficionado in mind. It has a Habano wrapper made in Nicaragua, and reviewers found the flavors in this one to be well-balanced, like most other Espinosa cigars.

The Green Label is a full-bodied stick with Habano Oscuro leaf, and all of the tobacco used in the stogie is sourced from Nicaragua. Its hallmark is the high volume of aromatic smoke it emits.

Abraham Flores’ superior craftsmanship is evident in each and every one of his Pinar del Rio Reserva Dominicana Red Cigars. His Tamboril Dominican Republic factory was established in 2004 and the brand has flourished ever since. Their blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Brazilian tobaccos has created medium bodied cigars uncommon to their country. From the excellent rollers Flores acquires to their specialized method of Entubado rolling, the line comes highly recommended amongst those sharing their reviews.

Also known as the PDR 1878 Capa Oscura, this stogie was initially limited in release in 2010 while a full scale introduction took place at the 2011 IPCPR. Its notable exterior is among a small amount of Dominican born Oscuro wrappers. The tobaccos used have endured a unique fermenting and aging method, allowing for a perfect closed foot and pig tail cap. Pinar del Rio Reserva Dominicana Red cigars are sold in groups of 20 and come in numerous gauges including the Corona, Robusto, Double Robusto, Toro, Topedo, Lancero, Churchill, and Double Magnum.

Flores and his PDR brand have received extensive positive feedback regarding this smoke. Right out of the box the skin is described as dark and oily with a double red and silver band. Spicy chocolate is detected in the pre-lit sniff and strengthens upon slicing. Once fired up the spiciness and sweet cocoa is evident with described hints of nuts and rawhide. The second third is said to continue with a balance of sweetness and spice, which is consistently maintained to the end. While the strength intensifies in the final third, the spicy pepper and sweet chocolate are said to persist. The smoke is thick and in mass quantities with a strong grey ash throughout. Aficionados agree that this line-up is proof positive of the premium stogies expected from the PDR brand.