Asylum | Half Ashed

Episode 187: Asylum Ogre 7×70

January 31, 2019 By Kip Fisher

Asylum Ogre 7″ x 70

Oof. The Asylum Ogre 7” x 70. What a behemoth of a cigar. It features a Habano/Candela (Nicaragua) barber pole wrap over Nicaraguan internal components. JLedou sent these in long ago, and we’ve been a bit scared to light them up. Originally planned for a Halloween show, they were delayed until tonight. Let’s see how it goes….

Cigar News

Kretek (y’all might be more familiar with them in the cigar world as Ventura) has bought Foundry Cigar from General (STG). Michael Giannini led the creation of Foundry – you may remember Bob McDuffee chatting them up following the 2012 IPCPR show, as a result of their steampunk themed marketing. I’m not sure the market for Foundry’s product lines persisted after initial periods of launch/promotion (whatever happened with the contraption-based token/ring/fuse/whatevers that were coming originally?), as the lineup went through some changeups and cancellations around the time Giannini left General in 2016. But, since he is currently the General Manager at Ventura, he is reunited with the line and we’ll see where he takes it.
NBC reports that the FDA has begun in earnest to approach an outright ban on menthol cigarettes…and “flavors in cigars.” In comments on the move, Robin Koval (of the Truth Initiative, an anti-smoking group) stated outright his desire that “They need to get rid of all the flavors. They need to ban online sales.” The move is not unexpected, and hasn’t been a secret – but has now progressed into more public view. We’ll see how aggressively this goes through.
So. Florida has passed a Constitutional amendment (#9) that prohibits offshore drilling….and indoor vaping….on the same ticket. Go figure.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

A listener was kind enough to send Kip and I a few vintage cigars that he came into recently and was looking for us to share our opinion. I’ve now smoked several of these and have some unfortunate opening opinions. I think the cigars were dry at one point. They have a acrid bitterness in common that crosses brands and sizes. They seem like mere shells of themselves. So far a Cuesta Rey, Romeo Limited Edition and Upmann Chairman’s Reserve have all shared the similarity. All three cigars are from different locations, use different tobaccos and are completley different styles, yet still have the same common misfortune. I feel for our friend…
Viaje Stuffed Turkey – What an interesting cigar! Toasty flavors in spades without coming across dry or dead. Smoky flavors that didn’t seem as if the cigar was too “hard”. Richness that didn’t convey heaviness of body. The cellophane on these was nearly Amber where it contacted the cigars. I’m curious if that’s a sign of oil or another outside influence. Truly spectacular, especially considering I had little hope for the cigar.

Kip

Rattray’s – Black Virginia, in the same vein as my dear Marlin Flake – but perhaps a bit more subtle and less sweet. It had been over a decade since I’d popped a tin. Good stuff, although I still favor Marlin Flake if I had to pick from the Rattray’s lineup.
GL Pease – Key Largo. The cigar blend that doesn’t try too hard. My longstanding criticism of cigar leaf in pipe blends is that it is often carried out too heavy-handed. Not so with Key Largo. In fact, the cigar leaf seems to disappear at times for me. While I do enjoy KL, I still assert that if I want a cigar I smoke a cigar – and if I want a pipe, I’ll smoke a pipe. The blend is a pretty straightforward, Oriental/Latakia blend with a nice Virginia “framework”. I find lots of coffee and dark chocolate flavors throughout the bowl. The cigar leaf is kept at what I’d call a condimental level, which means it is there but not in your face. Since the long-forgotten demise of Billiard Room from C&D, and more recently of McClelland’s Dominican Glory, this is probably my favorite blend of this genre.

Episode 159: Asylum Nyctophilia

February 18, 2017 By Kip Fisher

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Asylum Nyctophilia Robusto

Tonight, we’re smoking the 5” x 50 Asylum Nyctophilia, although it was also available in 6” x 60 and 7” x 70. It was one of the TAA exclusives in 2015, and in fact I believe was the final cigar I bought before moving out of the states in June 2015. They were marketed in limited supply at around the $8 mark, and featured a dark San Andres wrapper over Nicaraguan internal components. I bought a few of these at the time, and really liked them initially. After a few months, when I smoked the last one I’ve had to date, there was some tannic intrusion that I wasn’t a huge fan of….we’ll see how they’ve progressed over the past year.

Cigar News

Jonathan Drew is returning to an “executive operating role” with Drew Estate, a slightly different role than he has played in the two years since the company was sold to Swisher. The move is promoted as one in which the company will “return to its iconic roots and core values. The objective is to unleash the entire team’s creative power under the leadership of JD.” JD was quoted in the press release as saying “We will return to high-level curation, mixed media platforms, and true collaboration. We have lost our way a bit, but DE will bubble back 1,000 times stronger. Believe me.” What are our thoughts? Tune in to hear….

Continuing with the Drew Estate news, reports of a new Undercrown line are popping up around the U.S. The Undercrown Sungrown features the same vitolas as the existing line, and red banding rather than the traditional blue and the white found on the Shade. The company hasn’t yet released any blend details, but I imagine they’ll be forthcoming. Kip *really* digs the original line in the robusto vitola, and has an appreciation for the Shade (although it’s not exactly up his alley in terms of personal flavor preferences).

Bill Nelson has introduced a new(ish) bit of helpful cigar legislation….

Politicians in two states are currently calling for massive increases in cigar taxation. Gov. John Kasich of Ohio is requesting an increase from 17% of wholesale per cigar to 69% (an increase of over 300%) in his new proposed budget. Meanwhile, New Mexico’s SB 231 would increase cigar tax from 25% to 75% of wholesale (up 200%). Neither of the measures are new, although they are heftier increases than previous attempts…Gov. Kasich’s budget goes next to legislative review, while the NM bill goes to committee.

A couple of total rabbit trails….

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig –

PL PC – Don’t you just hate it when a good cigar is transitioning? This PL was soapy and sour, yet I could still taste the profile in the background. This just irks me.
Core Zero Robusto – Way back before the last Dogwatch, Dale asked me to smoke a couple of cigars for the show. I did, or so I thought I did until I found one last one in my singles drawer. Full of sweet spice and a decidedly peanut-brittle type flavor, this brought a lot of good to the table. The good was matched by some minor issues, including a bite that wasn’t “strength” so much as it was harshness. It wasn’t a cigar for serious smokers and probably would have scared off newbs as well. I’m not quite sure who the audience was for this but could certainly find enjoyable aspects in what I had.

Kip

Cantinero
Chogui Longsdale
EPC Edicion Inaugural 2009

Notes on the Xikar MTX scissors…

CLE and Asylum to Release Asylum 13 Connecticut

February 12, 2016 By Kip Fisher

Asylum 13 Connecticut Coming in February

CLE Cigar Company and Asylum Cigars have announced the upcoming release of a new line – the Asylum 13 Connecticut. The line will come wrapped in an Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper, and contain Honduran binder and filler blend.

Blend Details

The Asylum 13 Connecticut was blended by Christian Eiroa (CLE) and Tom Lazuka (Asylum), and is being rolled at the CLE “El Aladino” factory in Danli, Honduras. “Asylum cigars are known for being more full bodied and Nicaraguan. We wanted to blend something different and lighter into the portfolio” says Lazuka. The initial offering will include three different sizes: 5” x 50, 6” x 60, and 7” x 70. The two smaller vitolas will come in 50 count boxes, while the 7” x 70 will be available in 30 count boxes. Suggested retail pricing will range from $5.80 to $7.80, depending on size. Orders are currently being accepted, and the cigars should ship at the end of February.

Half Ashed Episode 132: Asylum 99 Problems

January 21, 2016 By Kip Fisher

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Asylum 99 Problems

The singular oddball in the Asylum 13 lineup, tonight’s cigar is the Asylum 99 Problems – a 7” x 38 lancero standing in stark contrast to the rest of the line – which typically runs in oversized vitolas. The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro, although it is manufactured in Christian Eiroa’s “El Aladino” factory in Honduras. The story says owner Tom Lazuka asked Christian Eiroa how many lanceros would fit in an Ogre box – and the answer was 99. Hence, the name. The cigar was produced in limited quantity (500 boxes of 99), and retailed around the $7 mark.

Cigar News

The Oliva Serie V Maduro for 2015 has landed. Like last year, it’s in a 6” x 60 vitola with San Andres wrapper. MSRP was reported at $10/stick, up $.50 each over last year – but my old shop has them at $9.60 for singles and $86 per box of ten.

Casa Fernandez has expanded the JFR line…and it’s not in a behemoth ring! It’s a 7” x 50 churchill, and will be made at the CF (TABSA) factory in Estelí. It features an untrimmed, shaggy foot and will retail around $8. Should be shipping this week.

In our final of these updates this year, Quesada has released the last allotment of the España petit belicoso. Rather than the typical singular box of 100 to a selected retailer, TWO were sent out for December…Mickey Blake’s in Connecticut and Tobacco Plaza in New York.

Right on time with our recently begun semi-vertical tasting of ER’s, two new ones are coming down the pike:

The La Escepcion is being expanded with a second size, as an ER for Italy. It comes in a 5” x 48, and will retail for the equivalent of just over $16USD….but to get them you’ll have to go to Italy or know someone who is

There’s also a new French ER, in the form of the Quai d’Orsay Robusto Diplomatico. It’s also in a 5” x 48 vitola, will retail for just under a $14USD equivalent.

Victor Nicholas, of Chogui, announced this week that he’ll be adding another vitola to the Dos77 lineup – the “longsdale” at 6.5” x 46….same blend as the “rogusto,” and shipping in Jan/Feb 2016.

C.Gars Limited’s winter auction!

For reasons that aren’t all entirely clear to me, the FDA has reopened a comment period for their upcoming proposed regulations concerning cigars and other tobacco products. You can make your comments through December 30th…so get on it.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Warped La Colmena #36 – A slighter Laguito #2, this 6×36 is a powerhouse! It’s sharp & flavorful with lots of smoke production & a terrific draw. There’s a lot of marketing hype surrounding these but the cigar stands for itself. It’s In your face enough to please seasoned smokers but approachable enough to slyly make a newby green. I enjoy the mild sweetness in the first third and the blossoming depth as it progresses. A slight room aroma of pot was a distraction. This was the worst part of the experience for me.

Kip

Outlaw Cigars Gunslinger “Drifter” – another AJF produced stick…but I didn’t find it typical. You can pick out AJF’s signature here & there, but it was more sedate and lacked the “bite” that I often find in his blends. I really enjoyed it – lots of nuttiness throughout, earthiness in the middlegrounds. Flawless construction. Dig it.

Next Episode

In the next episode (132), we will be smoking the Bolivar Libertador ER Francia. So come by Friday night and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails:[email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

Half Ashed Episode 109: 2011 EP Carrillo Dark Rituals

April 5, 2015 By Kip Fisher

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2011 EP Carrillo Dark Rituals

Welcome everyone to Episode 109, featuring the original release (2011) EP Carrillo Dark Rituals. I will be posting a written review of this cigar as well, so check back for that in our review archive. This limited edition run is one of Craig’s CotW selections, and he describes it thusly:

The Ernesto Perez Carillo Edicion Limitada 2011 Dark Rituals is a black beauty that makes even Ram Jam proud. A large cigar for either Kip or me, it checks in at 6-½” x 56 by direct measurement. The wrapper is labeled as an Oscuro Maduro with no country of origin, while the binder is an ecuadorian grown Sumatran leaf. The filler is only labeled as “Nicaraguan”. The box has been in my humidor for over three years and all samples seem to have at one point been absolutely saturated with oils. The wrapper on tonight’s sample even has a few spots where it looks water damaged after the natural changes the leaf has gone through. It is nearly striking how saturated it looks to have been. The two of these cigars I’ve smoked in the past both seemed incredibly full bodied (perhaps due to an overwhelming smoke production) but without major complexity. Deep and sweet flavors accompanied by some tartness were basic descriptions of how the flavor presented itself. We’ll look forward to seeing how tonight’s samples compare.

News

We began the show with a then-breaking story on an announcement from Michael Huff that effective immediately he was leaving Dante Cigars. Per his announcement, “It’s with a heavy heart that I inform you that as of 8:30pm today EST I am no longer partnered with Mohammad Fakhro and M Tobacos INC. Any questions about Dante Cigars, accounts, orders, and special appearances please call Mr. Fakhro at [….]. Thank you all for the great ride with Dante, but no worries I’ll be back to the industry soon with crazier creations” This was an unexpected turn of events, especially in light of the fact that we had recently on bringing Michael onto the show to talk about Dante’s upcoming Purple Mofo cigar. No news as of yet on the future of that cigar.

Fred Rewey of Nomad has been trickling out details about his new Nomad Esteli Lot 8613 for a few weeks now. It is finally nearing released and should be shipping this Monday. He hasn’t given blend specifics, although it is another production out of AJ Fernandez’ operation. It will come in five vitolas (Robusto (5 x 50, $8.50), Coronita (5 1/2 x 46, $8.50), Toro (6 x 50, $8.75), Grand Toro (6 x 58, $8.95) and Churchill (7 x 48, $8.95), and in boxes of 21.

I know we have a number of Canadian listeners, so I thought I’d pass along that Alec Bradley is putting out a Canadian exclusive size in the Black Market line – called the Chunk. Presumably it carries the same blend as the rest of the line (Nicaragua over Sumatran around Honduran/Panamanian) but in a stubby little 4.25” x 60 vitola.

Another week, another limited cigar from Crowned Heads. THIS TWEET related a few details about a new event-only cigar from the company called Snake Oil. It will be a 5.5” x 48 “Super Corona.” Halfwheel has reported a few more details – namely that it’s another My Father-produced stick and that it will carry an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. Initial run is 6,000 cigars, but the line will be ongoing (but event-only).

Per a press release sent out this past week, Asylum is adding the 8”x80 & Super 11/18 (8” x 60/70/60) to the existing Asylum 13, 13 Corojo and Ogre lines. The former two lines will carry the sizes at $8 per 11/18 and $10 for the 8×80…while the Ogre line will be $1 more each respectively. They are now availalbe in trays, and boxes will be forthcoming in May.

Cigar Hustler (in Deltona, FL – between Orlando & Daytona) has an upcoming line to be manufactured by the Nica Sueño factory (of RoMa Craft fame). The Powstanie (Po-stahn-Ya) will be available at their shop, and will also be brought to market at a limited number of other retailers around the nation. Several pictures have made their way out this week, mostly via Instagram for the shop and Skip Martin. The line will feature two blends, one for each of the co-owner brothers (Mike & Greg Sczcepankiewicz). The two worked with RoMa Craft to develop some samples and had their customer base smoke them and help in selecting the final blend (a la Cuenca 5). Mike’s blend – the Powstanie Habano – will be out in May, and features Ecuadoran Habano wrapper over Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan/Dominican fillers. Greg’s, the Maduro, will be shipping in August, and will carry broadleaf maduro wrapper over Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Initially, a 5.25” x 54 belicoso and 6×52 toro will be the only vitolas, with possibility for more in time. Pricing is expected to be between $9-11 per stick in boxes of 21.

What Else We’ve Been Smoking

Craig

Punch Super Robusto E.R. Asia Pacifico 2008 – Wonderful soft “Punch” flavors with a terrific burn. Smoking time for this Canonazo was quick, at about 90 minutes, but the flavors were all there. This cigar seems to be at its peak (only 7 years old!). If I had to guess, it seemed almost hollow; as if there wasn’t anything behind what was being tasted. Remember me talking about cigars that allude to so much more flavor that isn’t being released yet? Well, this cigar was just the opposite. I swear it was nearly like a victory lap from a retiring legend.

TL Johnson Legend Reserve 63 – A beautiful robusto-ish sized cigar with the trademarked Luis Sanchez extreme box press. This cigar is not one to be trifled with. It is strong and flavorful, full and lasting. I find it to be at the edge of my (albeit wimpy) wheelhouse, forcing me to expand my horizons. I can dig it.

Kip

JDH SIngle Action and the Ashton VSG Tres Mystique – tune in for my thoughts here!

Next Episode

Next episode (110) we will be featuring Unbanded 022, furnished by Stephen D. So come by Half Ashed Friday night at 9:30pm EST and hang out with us in the chatroom during the show. If you would like to contact us in the meantime, you can reach us via the Contact Page or the following emails: [email protected] or [email protected]. Please feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions you’d like answered, comments to make…or even compliments and complaints. We love to get your emails! Also, remember you can always go back and listen to previous episodes, which can be found in the Half Ashed Archive. You can download this week’s audio directly below (right-click “Download” and save), find us on iTunes, or subscribe with any podcast app at our RSS Feed. Video, as always, will be available at the Half Ashed YouTube Channel.

P.S. – If you have unbanded suggestions or contributions, you can get those to us by sending an email to [email protected]. This email address goes directly to my wife, so you can simply suggest an unbanded cigar for her to source, or send me an email to [email protected] if you have something you’d like to send in. I will provide an address to send them. Thanks!