I spent the weekend with two of the nicest guys I've met anywhere in one hell of a long time. Tom and Gary of Avalon cigars in Clarksdale Mississippi have lightining in a bottle and are ready to share it with us. These guys have a true passion for cigars, the blues and great food, how can they miss? The cigars are a collaboration with the El Titan de Bronze of Miami, calle ocho's only truely unique cigar operation IMO. The blend has been tweaked, the sticks have been firmed up a touch and the pecan wood aging process adds a little something special that just kind of makes you're day. It's hard to put you're finger on, but the cigars are just a little different than whats out there. As most of you know, I have a rather large collection of forbidden fruit and nc's , these cigars stand toe to toe with anything that lives in my humidors. These are not cheap cigars with an inflated price and slick marketing, these are the real deal, and are priced accordingly. My first thought on they're pricing structure was "these guys are out of touch, nobody will pay for cigars that they've never heard of", then I smoked a few, and reached for the checkbook. This is quality in every way, the packaging, the story, but most of all the sticks. You never know what will happen, but I would be shocked if these didn't take off like a rocket.(and in my 20 year of this addiction, I've seen a lot come and go) They are that good. Having said all that, I am a Mississippi guy and I love my state and its culture, especially our gift to music, the Blues. On the other hand, I'm a brutally honest person, especially when it comes to cigars, if I don't like one, I will tell you, and I don't care who "you" happen to be. Tom and Gary are the same, they have a genuine enthusiasm for for what they've created and they will except no compromises in they're product or the way they conduct business. A percentage of the company profits will be given to the artist or artists family that is used in the naming of the vitola. These are not manufactured names, these are the real guys who have and are still living the blues. This is not fabricated, no House of Blues creations, no flea market knock-offs, this authentic, the names, the places and the state of mind. Call them, hear the story, and get you're hands on some of these, you will not be sorry. I am in no way affiliated with Avalon cigars, Tom and Gary did not solicit this post, this is from the heart, giving praise to two great fellow Mississipians who have the will and guts to chase a dream.