Asylum Cigars are known for their heavy hitting big ring gauge smokes. Now, they have a new blend to appease enthusiasts who like the milder side of things. The Asylum 13 Connecticut offers three different sizes, all utilizing a less powerful blend and a light Connecticut shade wrapper. And now, this cigar is one of seven contenders for TCA’s 2016 Cigar Of The Year.
What am I smoking?
Cigar Review: Asylum 13 Connecticut
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras – Habano & Corojo
Length: 5 Inches
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Robusto
Packaging & Design
Depending on the size, the Asylum 13 Connecticut arrive in either 30 or 50 count boxes, all with detachable lids. The box itself is made of a light colored lacquered wood with a decorative glossy red and gold seal. These boxes are large and in charge, making them hard to miss on the shelf.
First Impressions
The cigar looks great and appears to be constructed very well. The veins are minimal and the caps sit tight on the head. The wrapper has a velvety smooth feel to it, making for a nice texture in the hand. After cutting, prelight notes include cedar, earth and pepper (the usual suspects for a CT shade wrapped cigar).
The Smoke
Upon lighting, the Asylum 13 Connecticut wastes no time. Volumes of thick and creamy smoke make for an exciting start. Notes of more cedar, earth and pepper are more than present, but there is also a slight hint of black licorice hanging around in the background.
Into the second third, and its evident that these tobaccos did their fair share of aging. For a cigar at this price, I was expecting some kind of “freshness” to it, but it never showed up. The smoke is smooth and sits lightly on the palate, tastes not changing much from the first third.
Finishing up on this cigar, and the tasting notes have changed up quite a bit. There is a more leathery mouthfeel now, and notes of cocoa and prunes compliment the peppery notes through the nose. For a Connecticut shade wrapped cigar, the taste is rich and earthy with a solid back note of black espresso.
Final Thoughts
This could easily become a daily smoke for many people who are fans of cigars that don’t have a lot of strength. This is also an excellent choice if you’re looking to get into the Asylum brand of cigars to see what they have to offer. The Asylum 13 Connecticut gets a big thumbs up from me for solid taste and performance.
Rating: 91
Price: $5.99 / $261.99 (Box of 50)
Asylum 13 Connecticut
Asylum 13 Connecticut Burn
Asylum 13 Connecticut Band Detail
