TOB Magazine

Uvezian found the ideal tobaccos for his cigars. Early on,

Uvezian tested 12 different blends before settling on a blend

that would later become known as the Avo Classic. Uvezian,

remembering the Cuban cigar he had smoked during his

daughter’s christening, also wanted to ensure cigar smokers

could afford to enjoy the cigars that they created.

“I also [asked] Hanky, ‘When you make cigars for me,

what is the price?’ When he gave me the price, I said, ‘No,

I don’t like it. I want to pay you 10 or 20 percent more.’ He

said, ‘What?!’ I said, ‘Hanky, if I bring my cigars only to the

U.S. market, what would be the reason for somebody to buy

an Avo when they haven’t [even] heard of it?’” recounted

Uvezian in the same interview.

AN UNFORGETTABLE LEGACY

Uvezian may be gone, but for those in the tobacco industry

he will be remembered for his unique and sought-after cigars.

Even Davidoff Cigars took over his brand in the mid 1990s;

Uvezian’s vision for a perfectly balanced and harmonized ci-

gar continued to inspire and drive the brand forward. When

speaking of why he decided to sell Avo Cigars to Davidoff,

Uvezian’s response speaks volumes as to why he will be re-

membered for years and decades to come:

“For me, in my life, in my piano playing, in anything that

I do, quality is very important,” said Uvezian. “When I trav-

el, what I hear that pleases me more is, ‘Oh, we love your

cigars. We buy your cigars and we know that consistently it

[sic] is good.’”

Scott Kolesaire, the brand manager of Avo Cigars, com-

mented that “Avo [Uvezian] was my friend, a life mentor and a

person unlike any other. I will miss him dearly.”

Jim Young, president of Davidoff North America, added:

“An evening with Avo was always an unforgettable evening

of great conversation, laughter and warmth. Avo was in-

credibly energized by his engagement with the business and

was constantly bringing new ideas to think about. We shall

miss him deeply.”

All of us will miss Avo Uvezian’s passion for life and en-

during personality. Like the perfect song, Avo Uvezian will

be hard to forget. From his music to the cigars he helped

create, his talent and gifts to the world will continue to en-

tertain and enchant generations to come.

Avo [Uvezian]

was my friend, a

life mentor and a

person unlike any

other. I will miss

him dearly.

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TOBACCO BUSINESS

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