Tweet
On a visit to 1a late last year, I noticed they had the Texas Lancero in stock. I think they've been the topic of conversation on here a few times. Well, I wondered what the fuss was about and then did some research to find some of the extremes in cigar RGs. I came across the Asylum 13 6 x 80 and thought, what the hell, and managed to get my hands on one (and a couple of other similar sized sticks). They are truly odd looking cigars, even if you like bigger ring sizes. All the proportions seem wrong.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090261.237110.jpg
I can't help thinking that it's all a bit daft, but then perhaps that's the point? We can take this whole cigar thing very seriously, but, for me, sometimes it's worth having a laugh and so I decided to smoke one this evening.
The cut was obviously not easy - I doubt many of us have an 80 RG cutter. I certainly don't and I don't really get on with punching. I kind of scraped the cap with my trusty cutter and then finished it off with a few punch holes. It was a mess, so I won't show that off. The draw was good - not too loose despite a decent sized opening. I didn't notice anything exceptional in the smell of the unlit cigar or cold draw. Just plain sweet cigar tobacco.
Lighting up was much easier than I'd expected and, in all honesty, it surprised me from the off. Really not that bad - in fact, pretty good! Quite a light start, with a distinctive grassy tone. The challenge is basically the sheer size rather than some damned awful taste. It was a tough smoke, not because it is rolled tightly (it felt balanced and well packed), but just because it is so wide.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090333.025383.jpg
I can't do the whole flavour thing justice, but it was reasonably complex - tasted like there was a lot going on. After an inch or so it was getting more woody - what I imagine cedar would taste like, based on how it smells. The burn was pretty good too. I've had plenty of narrower sticks with much more wayward burn lines. The ash held well too.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090347.949356.jpg
Halfway through, it was still the characteristic woody, grassy flavour, but getting more intense. I suppose purists who like a cigar to develop and transition might have been disappointed or bored, but I was enjoying it immensely. Sometimes it's just nice to get a cigar with a flavour profile you like, sit back and enjoy it all the way through for what it is, instead of analysing it.
That said, in the final third, it got all 'hot drinks' on me, with an initial burst of milky tea giving way to a coffee flavour, and the grassy tones disappeared. The intense woody flavour stayed throughout.
Gimmick or not, the Asylum 13 6 x 80 was a pretty good NC. It was never harsh or bitter. Its size meant it wasn't an easy smoke and I don't know how much of the way the flavour developed was due to its size (and hence would smaller, shorter Asylum 13s be the same?). However, I'd be happy to add a few to the selection if the opportunity came up and certainly happy to take on the challenge again and smoke another.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090365.808738.jpg
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090261.237110.jpg
I can't help thinking that it's all a bit daft, but then perhaps that's the point? We can take this whole cigar thing very seriously, but, for me, sometimes it's worth having a laugh and so I decided to smoke one this evening.
The cut was obviously not easy - I doubt many of us have an 80 RG cutter. I certainly don't and I don't really get on with punching. I kind of scraped the cap with my trusty cutter and then finished it off with a few punch holes. It was a mess, so I won't show that off. The draw was good - not too loose despite a decent sized opening. I didn't notice anything exceptional in the smell of the unlit cigar or cold draw. Just plain sweet cigar tobacco.
Lighting up was much easier than I'd expected and, in all honesty, it surprised me from the off. Really not that bad - in fact, pretty good! Quite a light start, with a distinctive grassy tone. The challenge is basically the sheer size rather than some damned awful taste. It was a tough smoke, not because it is rolled tightly (it felt balanced and well packed), but just because it is so wide.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090333.025383.jpg
I can't do the whole flavour thing justice, but it was reasonably complex - tasted like there was a lot going on. After an inch or so it was getting more woody - what I imagine cedar would taste like, based on how it smells. The burn was pretty good too. I've had plenty of narrower sticks with much more wayward burn lines. The ash held well too.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090347.949356.jpg
Halfway through, it was still the characteristic woody, grassy flavour, but getting more intense. I suppose purists who like a cigar to develop and transition might have been disappointed or bored, but I was enjoying it immensely. Sometimes it's just nice to get a cigar with a flavour profile you like, sit back and enjoy it all the way through for what it is, instead of analysing it.
That said, in the final third, it got all 'hot drinks' on me, with an initial burst of milky tea giving way to a coffee flavour, and the grassy tones disappeared. The intense woody flavour stayed throughout.
Gimmick or not, the Asylum 13 6 x 80 was a pretty good NC. It was never harsh or bitter. Its size meant it wasn't an easy smoke and I don't know how much of the way the flavour developed was due to its size (and hence would smaller, shorter Asylum 13s be the same?). However, I'd be happy to add a few to the selection if the opportunity came up and certainly happy to take on the challenge again and smoke another.
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1456090365.808738.jpg
The cigar equivalent of a gob stopper almost! 
Comment