As I was sitting down to write this review of the Straight Jacket I realized how I have a lot of favorites in the industry. Over the next 3 days at Two Guys Smoke Shop, 2 of my real favorites will be at our 3 locations. Tom Lazuka and Lauren Ferraro. Tom is one of those guys who you would love to sit at a bar with and watch a ballgame, even if he cheers for the Tigers. Lauren is one of a few women in the world that leaves me tongue-tied and speechless. I swear I loose to ability to speak when she is around.
The Straight Jacket comes in 10 count boxes and in four sizes; 5 x 50, 6 x 54, 6 x 60 and 7 x 70.
Cigar: Straight Jacket by Asylum
Size: 6 x 54
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Binder: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium
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 a milky note that reminds me of cocoa puffs and considering the name of the cigar I am comfortable enough to admit I am cuckoo for cocoa puffs.
When we light up the cigar the first thing of note is that it doesn’t have that spice we have come to expect from Nicaragua, which is a very good thing. This Nicaragua creates a renewed interest in the origin for me. As we smoke the first third there is a nice component of oak, and I wonder how this cigar would pair with a nice bourbon or whiskey.
In the second third of the Straight Jacket, some of the spice begins to develop especially though the nose of the cigar. There are some notes of oak that remain, with some peppercorn and a growing earthy component.
In the last third of the Straight Jacket some of the sweetness of cocoa returns with a bit of nuts and earth on the short finish.
The Burn: A very slow burning cigar with a nice amount of smoke production. I am a slow smoker to begin with, but this stick took me nearly 2 hours to get through and I enjoyed it every puff of the way. The burn while not razor-sharp it only became slightly wavy and the need to touch it up never entered my mind. The ash held for roughly and inch at a time and the draw offered up just the right amount of resistance.
The Finish: The Straight Jacket to me is often overlooked in the Asylum portfolio and I am not sure why other than the price when compared to other cigars in the line. What you get with the Straight Jacket is an ultra-premium experience that you would be insane to pass up on.
Score: 90
Price: $10.29
Straight Jacket by Asylum
Asylum Events @ 2 Guys Smoke Shop
Straight Jacket by Asylum Foot
Straight Jacket by Asylum Burn
