Avo Campanero Makes NYC Appearance at De La Concha

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed)
Mar 24th 2009 at 3:01PM

A bit ahead of the official tour, New York tobacconist De La Concha hosted an in-store dinner to celebrate the Avo Campanero. More than 20 guests filled the Sixth Ave. store to smoke, dine and savor the cigar legend's latest creation.

The dinner began promptly at 8 PM on March 19, 2009, with more than a dozen customers waiting on the sidewalk long before that. As the doors opened, they filed in, claimed the prized stick and began to smoke one of the most highly anticipated cigars of the year. According to Davidoff New York Sales Manager Brad Hammond, the Campanero is Avo's best limited edition cigar in the past three years – since the Avo 80, released in 2006. This claim was confirmed within the first two inches.

The robust cigar is not for novices of the leaf and would be preferred by experienced smokers. It consists of a Cuban seed, sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper and Dominican binder. The filler is a blend of six different leaves, one of which is Peruvian. The Avo Campanero is incredibly well constructed, burns evenly and delivers a rich, powerful flavor.

Gallery: De La Concha Avo Campanero Dinner

Guests sit at a table during the three-course meal

A guest prepares to enjoy the Avo Campanero

Passed hors d'ouevres were circulated as the band Smoking Oasis played in the background. Guests sipped cocktails centered on Cuca Fresca from Brazil. Seats were claimed as waiters from nearby restaurant Rue 57 gathered dinner orders and quickly brought the evening's meal. Guests were able to choose from herb chicken, steak frites and salmon entrees, and the culinary experience ended with an apple tart.

Following dinner, a box of Avo Campanero cigars was raffled to guests, with entry included in the $145 ticket price (which also covered dinner, an open bar and a total of four cigars, one of which was the limited edition from Avo). One lucky smoker walked away with a box of the Campaneros signed by Avo Uvezian, and eight others one signed ashtrays. Boxes were available at a substantial discount for the event only, and 10 people took advantage of the opportunity. The purchase of a box (signed) also came with two additional cigars (one Campanero, one 7-8-7 robusto) and an ashtray.

The market may be slowing down the enjoyment of some luxuries, but cigar smokers are apparently a resilient bunch. For some, the Avo Campanero dinner was a chance to escape Wall Street-inflicted miseries, while others saw it as a chance to see the usual friends under slightly different circumstances. Whatever the motivation, all were happy to spend a few blissful hours feting Avo's latest milestone: the completion of 83 years on Earth and yet another fantastic limited edition cigar.

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