There’s something special about smoking a high-quality cigar, and it doesn’t have to be a special occasion, like a wedding or birth of a child. While these life events are almost synonymous with cigar smoking, there’s no time I’d rather have a smoke than when out camping. As someone who loves the outdoors, I want to be able to relax with a campfire, while drinking a single malt Scotch. Every camping trip I take a premium cigar for that reason, as I love being able to puff away, while watching the embers burn in total darkness. Its here where you can think about all that you appreciate, and live away from the high speed Internet and electronics for awhile. A Churchill-sized cigar gives you an hour or so of this, and I recently enjoyed a Ashton.
Ashton cigars aren’t cheap, and the 7.5×52 classic cost $9 each. You can get a box at a substantial discount, and there are plenty of online retailers that sell them in bundles of five for less. I was content to buy one of them from my local tobacco store, as I generally smoke cigars that are a lot cheaper. Ashton’s are from the Dominican Republic, which is known for cigars that are more mild, than what you’ll get from Honduras or Nicaragua. They are manufactured by the folks at Fuente, who have earned a reputation for quality, and this stogie doesn’t disappoint in that aspect. The Connecticut Shade Wrapper gives it an extra boost of flavor, without knocking you down for the count.
This cigar would be considered mild to many, but I’d say it leads closer to medium strength. It would be a fine choice for newer smokers, or those who’ve experienced everything from mild Mac’s to full bodied Punch’s. The flavor has notes of coffee and nuts, with some hints of chocolate. The smoke is rich and creamy, and this is due to the tobacco’s proper aging. There are no green tobaccos used in this product, and I just love the smoke volume you can get from this cigar. You can easily pull out large amounts from beginning to end, without having to get blue in the face from lots of effort. It does start out with a bit of pepper at the start, which is good for an eye opening wake up call, but it mellows down with cooling. If you are a new cigar smoker, take pulls every minute or so, to allow this to occur even quicker.
I love the construction of this cigar. It allows for a quick guillotine style of cut, without any mess left from clippings or loose tobacco. The cigar holds up during the entire experience, and this is one that you could put in a shirt pocket, and not have to worry about its durability. I’m a bit of a “biter”, and this cigar took the abuse from my teeth. The Connecticut Shade Wrapper keeps the filler secure, and I just love how its one of those pretty cigars, that you almost don’t want to light up for fear of rendering it ugly. If you want to impress someone with a thoughtful gift, this is one stogie to consider. It would look fantastic presented in a humidor, or with a simple ribbon and card attached to it.
This is a cigar that’s well worth its $9 price. A lot of expensive cigars aren’t much better than cheaper ones, but this one is well ahead of the curve. In fact, this is now my favorite cigar, and I’m willing to pay the high price for this type of experience. This is a fine smoke to enjoy with any type of liquor, and for those of you who want something that’s not too strong in the morning, this would be a great selection. Don’t smoke this one during golf, because you want to enjoy this in a relaxed setting, without having to move around. Thanks to the folks at Ashton, you can rest assured that you are getting your money’s worth.
