NAME: Asylum 13
DATE: 10-28-2020
RATE: 91
PRICE: $7-$8
STRENGTH: 1 2 3 (4) 5
REVIEWER: Aaron M. Paoletta – www.lavegalounge.com
From the first hit to the last, this cigar is without a doubt a full flavored cigar. no I’m going to be 100% honest here, I only bought this cigar because I thought the banding was pretty dope. Which is not something I normally do. But how can you go wrong with a black band that has skulls and Asylum 13 written on it? Now, I have smoked many fine cigars in my day but this one is one of my top 20 and it is not as expensive as you would think.
At first glance the cigar is very eye-catching. From it’s Coco brown wrapper to the dark and enticing yet simple graphics on the label. Also, as a cigar reviewer, I have to be careful when analyzing a cigar because sometimes I find The band to be a gimmick. This band is one of them. And most of us by with our eyes so I understand why some of these bands are designed the way they are and I try not to let that hinder my overall review. But now down to the cigar itself.
Many years ago, Christian Eiroa created the Camacho brand of cigars and conquered Honduras. Today he is setting out to conquer Nicaragua. This is where the asylum brand comes in to play. Asylum 13 Cigars are a nicaraguan Puro. This suits me well considering nicaraguan Cigars are my absolute favorite. Now, I’m not being prejudice towards any other tobacco leaves from any other country, but I can’t help what my palate prefers. But going into the many different cigars that I review, I enter with an open mind and a fresh pallet.
Now this particular cigar has a wonderfully dark nicaraguan habano wrapper that encases a festive blend of aged Cuban seed long fillers grown in the volcanic soil‘s of Nicaragua. some of the best tobacco leaves that I have ever tasted come from volcanic soil‘s. The beauty about growing tobacco in volcanic soil is that it doesn’t need fertilizers because of the compound built into the soil. This is just another treasure given to us by mother earth. Also adding to this is the fact that there is freshwater in and around these areas which adds great a good amount of humidity which is perfect for growing the tobacco leaves.
As you first light up this cigar, your palate explodes with a complex array of flavors. The first third offers notes of a medium bold Coco, a dark espresso bean and a wonderful earthy flavor. This carries very well into the second third which adds some sweet notes of gentle cedar and some slight notes of Baker’s spices. As we roll into the final third, this complex blend of flavors is just intensified with adding a small touch of nutmeg and mild leather. I can’t even say for the price that this is a great cigar. It is just a great cigar in general. I would definitely purchase more of these.