LGC Torpedo No. 1

One of my buddies from Empire Cigars gave me a 15 year old LGC Torpedo No. 2 for the birth of my son.  I couldn’t wait to try this cigar that I had heard so much about.  I was just going to right a review for this old torpedo when I realized this was a good chance to compare the blend Then & Now.  So much has changed in 15 years, including LGC being bought by General Cigar to even in the last year Ernesto leaving La Gloria to start off on his own again.  Is there anyway these cigars can still be similar at all?  We’ll see!

La Gloria Cubana Torpedo No. 1  – Circa 1994

Size: 6 1/2″ x 54

Vitola: Torpedo

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Origin: Miami, FL, US of A

Age: 15 years!

You should see the cellophane from this cigar!  I hope the picture below does it justice!

Well this is one rustic looking cigar.  The cap is very rough looking but is glistening with plume.  The pre-light draw is firm but yielding, but took a flame easily.

The flavors are interesting.  They remind me both of current La Glorias with their unique earthiness  and also Puros Indios cigars which have a distinctive barnyard aromas.

The burn is fairly even  and the ash burns hot leaving more white than black in the salt and pepper ash.

After the first inch or so they flavors begin to develop nicely, leaving an earthy sweetness with a real mustiness in the aroma.  Very tasty!

If I smelled the smoke from this cigar and was not told what it was i would really guess it was made by Rolando Reyes (Cuba Aliados and Puros Indios).  The barnyard aroma has a real throwback appeal but is really only present in the aroma not so much in the taste of the cigar.

This cigar is amazing, it still has tons of flavor after 15 years!  Halfway through there is leather and earth with some hay and coffee.

As I near the end, the flavors intensify and “sweet spot” flavors like licorice and espresso start to make their way on to my tastebuds.

The cigar just gets better and better, those sweet spot flavors intensifying to a crescendo that makes my burn my fingers as i nub this cigar to the end!  Thanks to Atlanta “Sleepy” Mike for the privilege to smoke this wonderful rarity!

Rating: 97 (A)

La Gloria Cubana Torpedo No. 1 Circa 2009

Clearly the rollers at the General Cigar Factory have had a lot of practice with torpedoes as this puppy has a beautiful pointed cap.  The color is identical to it’s grandfather but more even and not as splotchy.

The cigar takes a cut from my PG cutter with no problem and the pre-light draw is waaaay easier.

So far the only thing the two cigars have in common is the shape.  there is a bit of earthiness, but the cigar is a lot spicier and has a rich leather character.

The burn is not entirely even but satisfactory enough.  The finish has a bit of licorice and leather.

The cigar is not that complex and the flavors listed above are fairly consistent throughout the length of the entire cigar.

Rating: 86 (B)

AVO 22

Well, just about all Kelner cigars age well, and this is no exception.  This luscious looking cigar is teeming with oils!  The veins are barely apparent and after the pre-light draw I can tell this is going to draw and hopefully burn perfectly.

This starts out fairly on the mild side.  It is woody and creamy, but not dry.  The finish has hints of leather coffee.

AVO 22

The burn starts out a little crooked, but corrects itself within the first inch and a half.

Halfway through it develops into a creamy coffee cigar with just a hint of cocoa.

This is one of those change-as-you-smoke cigars.  Every puff gives me something different.  I really enjoyed this cigar.  I hope the 787 can live up to its predecessor.

Rating: 93 (A)

AVO 787 Perfecto

So does the 787 live up to it’s namesake?  The 787 perfecto is the same size as the AVO 22, so I thought this would offer the perfect comparison.

This cigar is just a touch darker than the 22, with just a bit more visible veins.  It is also not as firm to the touch as the 22.

As I take a pre-light draw, I notice it has less filler than the 22 as well.

The cigar lights well and gives off a nice initial coffee and cream flavor with some wood thrown in for good measure.  But right away I can tell this is a completely different cigar.

The burn was just fine and the flavor was okay, but the cigar was lacking in complexity of flavor and general oomph.  By “oomph”, I really don’t mean strength, I am referring to the overall depth and richness of flavor.

The only extra flavors I pick up as I finish the cigar is just a touch of cocoa and leather towards the end.  This was pretty disappointing as I smoked this after the 22.

Rating: 87 (B)

Avo Uvezian

Due to the popularity of the 75th Anniversary, Avo decided to create a regular production line similar to the essence of the Signature.  I’ll start with the AVO Signature first.

AVO Signature Double Corona

This is actually one of the AVOs I never really got into.  i prefer the Domaine and could never justify the extra price for the Signature.  But this is the first Double Corona in the line that I have smoked.

The wrapper is incredible.  This Ecuadorian Sun Grown beauty is satiny to the touch with a nice dull sheen and almost no visible veins.  The pre-light draw is easy and it takes a light easily.

At first I notice a difference from some of the smaller Sigs I have smoked.  This is actually very peppery.  But there is a nice woodiness and creaminess present throughout.

There are slight coffee notes after the first inch and just a hint of licorice.  The pepperiness dissipates after a while, but the body and strength are still fairly strong.  Now strong is certainly relative in this case, this is not nearly as spicy as a Tatuaje or anything, but this is definitely the strongest AVO by a mile.

One thing to note is the absence of dryness on the palate, which is often present in a lot of Kelner blended smokes.  This usually is not preferred from the likes of Cigar Aficionado, but I never have found it detracting in any way. The licorice picks up nicely for a pleasant and rewarding finish.

Overall I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, it seems to be a much better cigar in the Double Corona format.  This may not be too big of a surprise as this was the size of the original 75th…

Rating: 90 (A)
AVO 75th Anniversary

Man, I am excited to try this cigar!  Not only is this cigar seven years old, but I have never tried it.  It is a flawless looking as the Signture but more so.  The wrapper has a rich golden hue and I can just see the oils glistening off of the soft silky wrapper.

As I gently clip the cigar, I pray I don’t damage the head.  I take a pre-light draw and it is nice and even.  When I light it however, the draw tightens up for the first half inch but then loosens up for the rest of the smoke.

What is really amazing about this side by side comparison is how amazing Henke Kelner is at blending consistent tasting cigars year after year.  The first 1/3 of this smokes tastes EXACTLY like the newer Signature.

After the first third, I am taken to another level.  All of the richness and complexity I described above in the Signature is double and tripled in the 75th Anniversary.  Loads of creamy smoke deliver licorice, coffee and sweet wood notes.

This cigar still has the strength it had when it was rolled, because it still delivers a nice full-flavored spicy punch.  It is also not as dry as the Signature.  The burn is spot on and I smoke it to the nub.  Clearly this is one of the best cigars I have smoked in a looonng time. I can see why this was made into a regular production cigar.

The Signature DC is a great smoke, but the 75th is on a whole other plane!

Rating: 97 (A+)