AVO Seasons 2023 Winter - No. 19 Cigar of the Year 2023

While you’re probably more accustomed to the seasonal order of winter, spring, summer, or fall (tell us you’re not singing along with Carole King in your head), AVO Cigars debuted their limited Seasons series in the spring of 2023, being followed up by summer, fall, and winter-themed cigars throughout the year. Each cigar was rolled in a single diadema format, being blended to pair with the mood of the given season.

The AVO Seasons Limited Edition Series 2023 Winter cigar was the final release in the collection, making use of an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and an all-Dominican interior blend. Additionally, the cigars included portions of the Dominican filler that were aged for 14 years. Being themed around winter, the cigar could’ve logically taken a dark route in terms of profile (think about how you suddenly start reaching for the stouts during the winter months). Instead, AVO opted for a Connecticut wrapper that’s described as “flawless and bright as untouched snow.” This is where AVO is at its best, focusing on clean and delicate flavors that seem to effortlessly drift through the nostrils. With a shapely diadema size, the AVO Winter brings out a crisp and concentrated smoke, being floral and aromatic without drifting into cloying or perfume-like territory. Expect a medium (or a tick under) body, having long-lasting complexities of fresh-cut oak, sweet herbs, and plenty of cream.