So I was sitting around the office today having a late lunch when I began to struggle on what to smoke for review today, when I came across an article that will be this weekend Asylum segment on The Cigar Authority. Moment later Bianca Melone from CLE/Asylum called and I took the two as a sign that I should review something for the portfolio today. Being my co-worker Pete should be put into a straight jacket I opted for today’s review..
Cigar: Straight Jacket by Asylum
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Size: Toro
The Look: The band features a straight jacket with Ruby foil accents. The cigar has a milk chocolate color with some fine veins and a seamless roll. In the hand, the cigar feels like velvet. The Straight Jacket by Asylum is firm with a spongy foot and so soft spots. The stick which has an average weight for its size has a cap that is slightly askew.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Straight Jacket by Asylum serves up definitive notes of mocha with a touch of cedar in the background. The nose of the cigar has aroma that reminds me of cocoa. Upon lighting the cigar the first note is a hearty oak that coats the palate.
As we smoke the first third of the Straight Jacket the dominant note is the aforementioned oak, but there is a subtle sweetness that borders on cocoa with a hint of nuttiness as well. The retrohale of the cigar offers some subtle peppercorn notes.
In the second third of the Straight Jacket, some of the spice from the retrohale carries over to the palate and begins to become the dominant flavor as oak begin to move to the background.
The last third of the Straight Jacker by Asylum is the most complex part of the cigar. Notes of cocoa become dominant that I would love loved to see earlier in the cigar. The finish of the cigar is nutty as is the retrohale on this enjoyable smoke from Tom Lazuka.
The Finish: The Asylum Straight Jacket sports one of my favorite bands in the industry, but there is more to the cigar then its good looks. It’s a nice Nicaragua puro with a fair amount of complexity to it and exquisite burn. What you get with the Straight Jacket is an ultra-premium experience that you would be insane to pass up on.
Score: 91
Price: $10.99 / $97.99
Straight Jacket by Asylum
Straight Jacket by Asylum Foot
Straight Jacket by Asylum Burn
