The AVO Classic No.2 Tubos arrives in a sleek aluminum tube protecting its 6"x50 Toro shape - what many smokers call "the blonde Davidoff alternative." Priced at $12.20 per stick in boxes of 20, this mild-medium Dominican blend sports an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper aged for 25 years. I found this stick works best with morning coffee, though some say it's good for after lunch too.
First third: Immediate cream and cashew notes with honey undertones. Draw opens up after 5 minutes revealing faint white pepper on the retrohale. Smoke production stays moderate but steady.
Mid-section: Develops coffee bean and toasted cedar core. The sweet twang of Dominican filler tobacco becomes more pronounced, though some find this part slightly floral. Ash holds impressively for about two inches.
Final stretch: Cocoa powder emerges alongside baking spices. Watch for slight saltiness in last third - a common trait in Dominican puros. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the tapered cap.
The tubos packaging kept the double cap crisp even in 65% humidity. Unlike some Connecticuts that develop wrapper veins, the Ecuadorian leaf stayed smooth throughout. Draw required no corrections, though I'd prefer slightly looser airflow for the ring gauge.
