The AVO Classic No.5 stands as a 6¾"x46 corona grande with Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that's been aging since Clinton's presidency. At $10.30 per stick, this Dominican beauty slides between mild and medium intensity like a smooth operator switching lanes. That silky blonde leaf hides 25-year-old filler tobacco ready to whisper sweet nothings to your palate.
The cold draw serves vanilla wafer on cedar plank. Initial puffs deliver cream soda fizz with toasted almond skins - like sniffing a freshly opened coffee creamer pod. Burn line stays ruler-straight, ash holding firm for two inches.
White pepper sneaks in through the nose on retrohale. Dominican filler reveals its herbal edge - think dried chamomile leaves crushed between fingertips. The smoke texture thickens slightly, clinging to the palate like whole milk versus skim.
Caramelized sugar emerges at the nub, fighting earthy notes resembling damp cedar mulch. No nicotine kick but cumulative sweetness demands palate cleansing. Perfect timing for a dark roast coffee to chase the last inch.
The Ecuadorian wrapper shines like antique varnish with near-invisible seams. Triple cap peels cleanly with any cutter. Draw resistance walks that perfect line between drinking milkshake and breathing through straw - substantial but not laborious.
