It’s strange how our palates change over time. When I started smoking cigars I was a huge fan of Connecticut wrapper that was grown in Connecticut. However, as the cigar companies began to use shade grown Connecticut seed that was grown in Ecuador I found that I lost the taste for the wrapper. There was something about the Ecuador grown wrappers that left my mouth dry.
Now over the last year or so I have begun to develop a passion for them. Gone are the days where I would dread to light one up and I believe it is because of cigars like the Asylum Connecticut. Maybe because these are a modern Connecticut that offers a little bit more in terms of body and strength. Regardless, I like them but let me get into why below.
Cigar Review: Asylum Connecticut
Country of Origin: Honduras
Factory: El Aladino
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras (Corojo, Habano)
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Vitola: Robusto
Strength: Mild-Medium
The Look: The Ecuador Connecticut wrapper that adorns the cigar is not your typical shade grown wrapper. There is a caramel like coloring to it, instead of the blonde looking color we expect when you say shade grown. The red and gold band has a feel of Christmas to it that almost gets lost on the cigar. The cigar is exquisitely rolled with a slight tooth to it and a certain ruggedness that is not expected. In the hand the cigar is fur with a spongy foot and a nice weight to it.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar has hearty notes of cedar and a slight butterscotch note present as well. There is something about the cigar that reminds me of an old butcher shop that would have cedar shaving spread out on the floor. The foot of the cigar has some more butterscotch notes and subtle cedar.
Once the cigar is toasted with my Vertigo Intimidator there is an initial note of figs with a slight pepper as well. As the cigar progresses the fig fades away and reveals notes of cedar, earth and a subtle peppercorn through the nose and on the finish.
In the second third of the Connecticut offering from Asylum the cigar develops a hearty note that reminds me of a steak cooked medium-well. There is a taste that I can best describe as a grill mark. As the center cut of the Asylum comes to a close earth is dominant with a nuttiness through the nose.
The final third of the cigar continues down the path with notes of earth and abundance of nuttiness. There is a hint of buttery richness on the finish. Putting the cigar down is difficult as I smoke it until I just can’t hold it anymore. The flavors are well-defined and enjoyable that leave me wanting to continue the experience.
The Burn: The Asylum Connecticut is easy to light, and once the cigar is sparked it has a fairly even burn even. The combustion line is moderate and reveal a dark firm ash that held for the first half of the cigar. The draw was perfect and remained lit for the entire hour and a half it took to smoke this.
The Finish: There is something about the Asylum Connecticut that draw me to it. The flavors of the cigar are well-defined. The nuttiness and steak like quality makes it sit above many Connecticut cigars but most importantly to me it doesn’t have that mouth drying aspect that I alluded to earlier. Let’s put it this way, I’m not a fan of Connecticut and I’m not a fan of 60 ring gauges. Yet, the first cigar I smoked from this line was a 60, and I couldn’t put it down until there was nothing left to hold.
Score: 93
Price: $5.99 / $261. 99 (box of 50)
Asylum Connecticut
Asylum Connecticut Foot
Asylum Connecticut Burn
