Avo Cigars | Buy Avo Classic, XO, Syncro & Heritage Online

The Avo Cigars Story

Avo Uvezian was an Armenian-American jazz pianist who spent his evenings playing piano at a bar in Puerto Rico during the 1980s, always with a few cigars on top of the piano for anyone who wanted to smoke. He gave them away free until his daughter told him he should sell them instead, and that advice led him to the Dominican Republic and a meeting with Hendrik "Henke" Kelner, the master blender who went on to become chief blender for Davidoff. Together, they created the first Avo cigars in 1987 under the name "Bolero," debuting them as "Avo" in the Davidoff store on Madison Avenue in 1988. Davidoff purchased the distribution rights in 1995 for an estimated $10 million, and production grew from roughly 5,000 cigars in the late 1980s to over 3.2 million by 1997. Avo Uvezian passed away in 2017 at the age of 91, but the brand continues under the same Davidoff factory standards.

Avo Classic — The Original Blend (90 Points, Cigar Aficionado)

The Avo Classic is where the brand began, a mild to medium-bodied cigar built from an Ecuadorian Connecticut Cuba-Seed wrapper over a Dominican binder and Dominican long-filler tobaccos. Cigar Aficionado has rated this line 90 points, and longtime smokers consistently describe it as one of the smoothest, most approachable Dominican cigars available at its price point. The flavor centers on creamy notes of pepper, earth, leather, nuts, and subtle barnyard character, balanced enough for a morning smoke and refined enough for an evening with a cocktail.

Smokenza carries the full Avo Classic range, including the popular Avo Classic No. 2 (6x50 Toro), the Avo Classic Robusto (5x50), the Classic No. 3 (7.5x50 Churchill), and compact formats like the Classic No. 9 and Classic Puritos for a quick smoke.

Avo Classic Maduro

Avo Classic Maduro takes the same Dominican core and wraps it in a twice-fermented Connecticut Broadleaf leaf, producing a richer, darker profile built around chocolate, roasted nuts, and natural sweetness. Available at Smokenza in three sizes: Maduro Robusto, Maduro No. 2, and Maduro No. 3.

Avo XO Cigars — Six Years of Aging

Avo XO represents the most refined expression in the lineup. Dominican long-filler and binder tobaccos are aged for a full six years before being rolled inside a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, delivering a medium-bodied smoke of genuine sophistication with notes of vanilla, toasted almonds, sweet cedar, and dried fruit. Cigar Aficionado rated the Maestoso vitola 87 points.

Every XO size carries a music-themed name, a nod to Avo Uvezian's career as a jazz pianist: the Avo XO Intermezzo (5x50 Robusto, also available in Tubos), the Avo XO Legato (6x54 Toro), the Avo XO Maestoso (7x48 Churchill), and the Avo XO Notturno (5x42 Petit Corona).

Avo Syncro Nicaragua — Beyond the Dominican Tradition

Avo Syncro Nicaragua was a genuine turning point for the brand, introducing Nicaraguan tobacco into the blend for the first time. Spicy Nicaraguan filler leaves are balanced with smoother Dominican tobaccos under an Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, producing a medium-full bodied cigar with more complexity and spice than the Classic or XO lines. Available in Robusto, Toro, and Special Toro, alongside the limited-edition Syncro 10th Anniversary celebrating a decade of this line.

Avo Syncro Ritmo

Avo Syncro Ritmo fuses tobaccos from seven different countries into a spicy-sweet profile with notes of cocoa, coffee, and red pepper, finished with a creamy aftertaste. Available in Robusto, Toro, and Special Toro.

Avo Syncro Caribe

Avo Syncro Caribe blends Dominican and Caribbean tobaccos using what Davidoff calls "natural distribution," a process where each harvested leaf is specifically matched to the size it will be rolled into, ensuring complete harmony at every ring gauge. Available in Robusto, Toro, and Special Toro.

Avo Heritage Cigars — Full-Bodied Tribute (90 Points, Cigar Aficionado)

Avo Heritage is the boldest regular-production line in the catalog, introduced in 2010 as a tribute to the farmers, blenders, and rollers who make premium cigars possible. An oily Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper sits over Dominican Ligero and Seco filler leaves alongside Peruvian Seco tobacco, producing a full-bodied smoke with genuine depth: leather, cedar, dark coffee, and a distinctive apple sweetness. Cigar Aficionado rated the Heritage 90 points.

Available in Robusto, Toro, and Special Toro.

Which Avo Cigar Should You Buy First?

For smokers new to the brand, the Avo Classic Robusto or Avo Classic No. 2 are the most commonly recommended starting points, offering the brand's original, mild-to-medium profile in practical sizes. If you prefer more body, the Avo Heritage Robusto or Avo Syncro Nicaragua Robusto both deliver genuine complexity while keeping the brand's signature construction quality. For the most refined, sophisticated smoke in the collection, the Avo XO Intermezzo is the size most experienced Avo smokers reach for, built from tobaccos aged six full years.

Browse the complete Avo collection above, or explore the full range of premium cigars and tobacco products at Smokenza.

Frequently Asked Questions About Avo Cigars

Who Makes Avo Cigars?

Avo cigars are made by Davidoff. Every cigar in the lineup is handmade at Davidoff's factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, under the same quality standards that govern Davidoff's own branded releases. The brand was created by jazz musician Avo Uvezian in partnership with master blender Hendrik Kelner in 1987, and Davidoff purchased the distribution rights in 1995.

Are Avo Cigars Good?

Yes. Multiple lines carry Cigar Aficionado ratings of 90 points or higher, including the Avo Classic (90 points) and the Avo Heritage (90 points). The brand is specifically considered a less expensive alternative to traditional Davidoff blends, delivering comparable construction quality and flavor refinement at a more accessible price.

Where Are Avo Cigars Made?

All Avo cigars are made in Santiago, Dominican Republic, at Davidoff's factory in the Cibao Valley, one of the most fertile tobacco-growing regions in the Caribbean.

How Much Do Avo Cigars Cost?

Avo cigars at Smokenza range from approximately $3.00 per stick for the compact Classic Puritos up to approximately $17.00 per stick for the Syncro 10th Anniversary limited edition. Most standard Avo vitolas fall in the $7.00 to $10.00 per stick range.

What Is the Difference Between Avo Classic and Avo XO?

Both use an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over Dominican tobacco, but the XO ages its filler and binder for six full years before rolling, producing a more refined, sophisticated profile with vanilla, almond, and dried fruit notes compared to the Classic's simpler, earthier character.