AVO XO Intermezzo ND Cigar - 1 Single

Date Added: Sunday 30 November, 2025 by Matt

Having really enjoyed the Avo Classic cigar, I had high hopes for this stick from the Avo XO range, which had been resting for 5 weeks in my humidor (at 68% humidity). I am sad to say I was disappointed.
Firstly the good: the construction was superb, the draw was consistent and even, it required no touch-ups or delights and produced a good quantity of smoke. The cap looked a little roughly applied (but never loosened of lifted), so I opted for a punch cut which worked well.
Now the bad: the taste! Upon lighting I found a persistent bitter aftertaste - I got some of the nuts and wood profiles, but all tainted by what one YouTuber described as "acrid bitter cedar" - and I agree. I persevered with it and the bitterness subsided for a while in the 2nd third before returning in the last third.
I have another XO in the humidor, and will let it rest for now, I hope to leave a more positive review for it in the future.