Ashton Symmetry

 

One of the things that drive me nuts is the lack of attention paid to some brands. Ashton is one of those... Ashton cigars are made in the Dominican at the Tabacalera A. Fuente (yes... that Fuente) with the Symmetry blended by Carlos "Carlito" Fuente Jr himself. This blend was first put together in 2014 and was named one of Cigar Aficionados Top 25 cigars in 2015 (number 8 to be exact).

The tabacco for this smoke comes from the Dominican and Nicaragua and is wrapper is an Ecuadorian Habana leaf. This was the first Ashton cigar to feature any tabacco from Nicaragua. These cigars are not hard to find, which I find endearing. Most B&Ms carry Ashton and this cigar is one of their main cigar lines. You can find the Symmetry in five vitolas: Robusto, Belicoso, Corona, Toro, and Churchill from smallest to largest. These vitolas are more or less the traditional size for each. The other nice thing about this line is the price point. Regardless of vitola, these smokes should cost around $11 to $13 USD per cigar. 

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: The Dominican Republic

Filler: The Dominican Republic and Nicaragua

Length: 5"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: I smoked two of the robusto sized vitolas to form my opinion on this review. Both samples had a nice mild chocolate hued wrapper that felt oily to the touch. The cigars felt well-constructed in my hand and both had a slight give when squeezed. They never felt overly hard and never too spongy... pretty much exactly what you would want to see in this regard. The cold draw was good once the cap was removed via a straight cutter.

The smoke was abundant and light on the palate. The flavor of the cigar featured cream and nougat up front that is complimented by notes of leather and cedar in the background. Some coffee and earth undulate in and out. The flavor also leans slightly sweet with the body of the smoke somewhere between mild and medium strength.

The burn rate was even, or should I say even enough. It ran slightly askew on one of the cigars but in no way did it become an issue. No re-lights or corrective burns were required. The cigar also retained its construction during the life of the smoke too and the draw was consistently good.

This cigar was very enjoyable. The flavor was good and made for a great mid-day cigar. Some smokers may find the body and flavor profile to be too light to their liking but that is the trait I enjoyed the most. The flavor and body were light, but the complexity was ample, and I did not feel like I had to have my face melted off to appreciate the nuances of the smoke. This cigar is just ol' reliable.

The Score: Buy a 5 Pack

Camacho Ecuador Robusto

I have had the Camacho Ecuador a few times over the last few years but have never had a chance to review it since I started this blog in 2020.  As I was researching this smoke, I was shocked to find that it is not an Ecuadorian puro as the only item sourced from Ecuador is the dark and oily Habano leaf wrapper. Bare with me a second: this cigar is manufactured in Honduras with an Ecuadorian wrapper, Brazilian binder, and filler tabacco from The Dominican and Honduras..... and this qualifies to be called "Ecuador?" 

Whatever, I'mma just be over here mad for Ecuador.  The size and thickness of the Robusto is at least the traditional 5"x50. The Robusto vitola can be purchased with a tubo, if desired, as well. The Camacho Ecuador can also be found in Toro, Churchill, Gordo, and Figurado vitolas with each of them also being, more or less, traditional lengths and ring gauges. 

Price wise, these cigars do not fall in to my "daily smoker" category because they retail for around $8 USD per stick. You may be able to squeeze that down a bit using auction sites and waiting for sales as these are very common smokes. 

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Brazil

Filler: The Dominican Republic and Honduras

Length: 5"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: I paired this smoke with an Old Fashioned. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper leaf provides a nice milk chocolate hue. It is oily and has some toothiness to it that gives it a bit of a velvet like texture.  It has a huge teal/aqua/turquoise band that provides a nice contrast to the wrapper leaf's color. 

I used my Xikar V2 cutter to take a wedge out of the head. The cold draw was good and felt open despite the smaller cut. The cold draw had some wood and earth. Toasting and lighting the cigar came with ease. The light cigar had cedar and earth as well but also added some pepper. The cigar is slightly sweet. This cigar and its flavor profile changed very little and provided consistent flavor from beginning to end. 

One thing I felt was an issue was the construction. The burn rate of the cigar was uneven and required multiple corrective burns. Towards the end, the wrapper leaf began to unwind too. It took an hour and ten minutes to work through the robusto, which I did smoke down to a nub. 

Overall, the cigar was decent. The consistent flavor made the cigar fell less than complex and more like a one trick pony. The flavor it did have was pronounced and enjoyable. The construction could have been better. For $8 USD I would not buy this cigar again but for $5 or less I would consider it. 

The Score: Buy a Single

Bespoke Super Belicoso

Bespoke is a relatively new brand (2014) but is founded by a heavy weight in the Cigar industry (Jeremy Casdagli) and manufactured at Kelner Boutique Factory (KBF) which is owned by former Davidoff master blender Hendrik Kelner Jr. To say the Bespoke Brand has a deep lineage would be an understatement. 

The Bespoke Super Belicoso features a Brazilian Cubra wrapper that keeps a Dominican Criollo binder and Nicaraguan fillers bound. The cigar is assembled in the Dominican at the aforementioned KBF. It is only offered in the 5/7" x 60 Figuardo and retails for around $18 USD per stick.

Wrapper: Brazil

Binder: The Dominican Republic

Filler: Nicaragua

Length: 5 3/4"

Ring Gauge: 60

Size: Figurado

The Smoke: This cigar is well constructed. The wrapper leaf provides a nice Colorado hued brown; it also covers the foot of the cigar to provide more protection against damage. The cap is well rounded and well formed. I used my Palio straight cutter to slice the cigar's head. The cold draw was poor but that is to be expected with the wrapper still covering the foot. Toasting and lighting the smoke solved this problem. The initial notes from the smoke are caramel, cream, nuts, and cedar. Chocolate and espresso join quickly. The cigar is slightly sweet too. The smoke is light but abundant. As the smoke ages the flavor notes mold to chocolate, cinnamon, and bread. The slight sweetness remains. 

This cigar is a slow burner. The 5.7" smoke took almost two hours to work through. The burn-line was straight as an arrow and required no corrective burns. The construction and draw were impeccable during the life of the smoke. I would peg the Bespoke Super Belicoso as a mild to medium strength cigar. 

This cigar was perfect for a mid-afternoon break on the back porch. This cigar has complex flavor notes along with mild sweetness that runs from beginning to end. I think $17 USD per cigar is at the upper echelon for what I would consider purchasing but this one is worth every penny. I put this one into my collection of nub worth smokes.

The Score: Buy Box of 20

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Room 101 The Payback Maduro

This was another one that I smoked on a recent work trip. This was the second of the trip and after the fiasco that was the Diesel Unlimited d.5, I needed something that I would enjoy. This trip was harder than most. No wheels and nothing much to do with the Covid-19 pandemic around the DFW area; a good cigar smoke was exactly what the doctor ordered to end my mental funk for this particular day. 

This was the last travel trip for the year, in a year of reduced travel. Typically, I find my self getting on (and off) around 120 to 130 airplanes a year. This year was very different (obviously) but I still managed to accumulate 32,000 miles. 

The Room 101 Payback Maduro can be commonly found and is available in three vitolas: a Robusto, Toro, and Gordo listed from largest to smallest. Each stick cost around $6 to $7 USD per smoke which is pretty reasonable when you think about it. 

The tabacco is sourced from a multitude of places in the world. The Maduro wrapper leaf is grown in Honduras, which is coincidentally where these cigars are assembled. The binder comes from Connecticut and is filled with tabacco from The Dominican, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

Wrapper: Honduras

Binder: United States (Connecticut)

Filler: The Dominican Republic, Honduras and Nicaragua

Length: 5 1/4"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: This one was enjoyed outside the my Airport Hotel early in the evening. The weather was down right balmy for the Dallas/Fort Worth area in December. Vibes were much better than they were during my last smoke.

I used my trusty punch cutter; its about the only thing I can get through TSA while not being sequestered into an interrogation room. A bic lighter was used to toast and light for similar reasons.

The cold draw of the Room 101 The Payback Maduro was excellent. There was solid notes of cedar and leather while cold. After lighting, the cedar note remained but the more prominent notes were cocoa, pepper, and earth. The smoke began sweet but over time transitioned a more balanced overall flavor profile. The body of the cigar was medium. 

The construction of the cigar was good and it maintained its assembly. The burn rate had no issue remaining mostly straight and it did not require any corrective burns. The draw was very good from beginning to end as well. 

This is a great cigar and an extremely good value for the prices you can grab one of these. I look forward to my next smoke of one. This one restored my faith in a lot of things.

The Score: Pick up a 10 Pack

Balmoral Añejo XO Oscuro

I bought a 5-pack of the Bamoral Anejo XO Petite Robusto cigars about a month or two ago. Not sure what, exactly, caught my eye when I made the purchase. Maybe it was the fact that this cigar sources its parts from a wide range of countries just like a Boeing Dreamliner. Perhaps, it was a brand I have been having my eye on for some time since I have read many good things. Or.... maybe it was both. 

Like I said, this cigar features a San Andreas wrapper from Mexico that contains tabacco that was grown in Brazil, the Dominican, and Nicaragua. All the parts are combined in the Agio Caribbean Tabacco Company factory in the Dominican Republic. It can be purchased on 5 different vitolas, each of which cost around $10 USD per stick. The Petite Robusto is not only the smallest variant but it is also the cheapest.

Wrapper: Mexico

Binder: The Dominican Republic

Filler: Brazil, The Dominican Republic, Nicaragua

Length: 4 1/4"

Ring Gauge: 48

Size: Petite Robusto

The Smoke: The cigar has a unique head that looks like a little man bun in the center. The San Andres wrapper provides an inviting milk chocolate hue that some nice oil along with some veins. The leaf has a nice earthy aroma. I removed the cap with my Palio straight cutter with little effort. 

The cold draw is good and has roasted coffee and dark chocolate. When lit, these flavors morph into espresso and cocoa beans. Undertones of black pepper undulate. Cedar and leather notes are also present. These notes more or less remain from beginning to end. The body, however, changes from medium bodied to full bodied as the smoke progresses. The draw and construction of the cigar are excellent too. No issues there. The burn rate is slightly uneven but I never had to make any corrective burn.

This cigar is pretty darn good. It has a good flavor profile and body while providing a decent smoking experience. $10 per stick feels a bit high but, frankly, it is a tough argument to not pony up the bucks for a few of these.

The Score: Buy a 5 pack

Arturo Fuente God of Fire by Carlito 2014

 

One of the most sought after cigars in the word are in the God of Fire line by Arturo Fuente. God of Fire has two variants, the Don Carlos and the more robust Carlito. Both come in several sizes ranging from the largest being a Churchill to the smallest being a Double Robusto. 

The Carlito is filled with Dominican tabacco and is wrapper by a Cameroon leaf while the Don Carlos is wrapped by a Ecuadorian Habano leaf. Regardless of size, these cigars will separate around $20 to $25 USD from your wallet in order to get one. These cigars are not easy to come by either. 

Each release is documented on the box and with an additional band on the cigar. The sample used for this review comes from the 2014 release.

Wrapper: Cameroon

Binder: The Dominican Republic

Filler: The Dominican Republic

Length: 5 3/4"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Double Robusto

The Smoke: I had this one late morning mid-week with an Americano. The Cameroon leaf is oily, toothy, and has some visible veins. The wrapper provides a nice tan that almost appears to be something along the lines of walnut hue. In typical Fuente fashion, the cigar feels solid and well made. There are no signs of loose wrapping and the foot shows dense packing.

The cold draw is good and offers some pepper along with some mild nut and cinnamon. The pepper becomes more pronounced after lighting. The nut and cinnamon remain faint while also being joined by some cedar and espresso notes. Leather comes about the midway point of the smoke and remains to the end. Mild sweetness also prevails. The smoke is light and creamy while the profile of the cigar is medium bodied.

The draw and construction of the cigar are good through the entire 1:50 minute life of the smoke. The burn rate is even, or even enough I should say. No corrective burns were required.

The Fuente God of Fire Carlito was an excellent cigar. The flavor profile was nice and the body of the cigar was not overwhelming. It was a nice smoke that I could see being enjoyable at any point in the day. It paired excellent with my Americano and provided an enjoyable smoking experience. I took this one as close to a nub as I could without the assistance of a toothpick. While the price point is high, it was worth the price. I would not recommend a box strictly because of the high price, however. I would pick up a few of these to have something on hand to celebrate a special event.

The Score: Buy a 5 pack

Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Natural Rothchild

Arturo Fuente Cigars are some of the most sought out cigars in the world in the form of their high dollar Opus X line. I have had a few of them in my days, and they are fantastic cigars. one day I will smoke another one and post my thoughts here. Until then, I will continue to focus on their lower cost options and more commonly found cigars like this one and the Hemingway Short Story.

The Arturo Fuente Natural sports a Cameroon leaf wrapper and tabacco from its place of birth, The Dominican Republic, and can be found in many different shapes and sizes. These cigars are commonly found and can be had at any B&M stop or online retailers. Fuente claims these as "the most popular cigar in the United States" and I think that is possible given how commonly found they can be. These smokes are about $5 to $6 USD each and are very reasonable.

Buy Arturo Fuente Natural Rothchild

Wrapper: Africa

Binder: The Dominican Republic

Filler: The Dominican Republic

Length: 4 1/2"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Rothchild

The Smoke: The Cameroon leaf provides a nice brown exterior that has some toothiness, veins, and an oily touch. The cigar feels solid and well constructed. There is some slight give when the cigar is squeezed but it quickly regains its original form when the pressure is released.

I used my punch cutter for this one for no reason in particular other than it was the closest cutter I had nearby at the time. The cold draw was decent and allowed a strong cedar flavor to be pulled out of the cigar. Lighting was also supper easy. A good draw made it possible to quickly get the smoke going.

The first lit puff was an indication of what was to come. A medium bodied smoke that had a creamy mouthfeel. The smoke brought along more cedar flavor. There is some slight sweetness mixed with some black pepper too. The profile and flavors do not change much during the 45 minute smoke. It is one of the most consistent cigars I have smoked in some time. The burn rate was even and the cigar's construction remained intact. The draw also remained as consistent on the last puff as it was on the first puff. 

This cigar was very good. What I liked about it the most was that it was simple. Minimal flavor changes while remaining consistent and enjoyable in all phases of its lifespan. Filter that through the price point and this cigar represents a fantastic value. If you have room, I would recommend picking up a box if you are looking for a daily smoke; but, due to the relative ease to find these sticks, I would not recommended hoarding them like those who are hoarding toilet paper during a Covid-19 spike.

The Score: Buy a 10 pack

La Aurora Hors D’Age 2018 Gran Toro

The limited edition cigar was released by La Aurora in 2018 and is offered in one size, a Gran Toro 6x58 that in all effect is a mix between a Toro and a Gordo vitola. 90,000 cigars were released and available for purchase in boxes of 15. This sample came to me as part of a monthly subscription that I pay out of pocket for. 

The tobaccos for this cigar were sourced from Nicaragua, Columbia, and the Dominican Republic and come wrapped in an Ecuadorian Habano leaf. This cigar's availability is probably running a bit thin but I would not be surprised to find a few laying around few brick and mortar shops for about $20 USD a pop. 

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Columbia

Length: 6"

Ring Gauge: 58

Size: Gordo 

The Smoke: This cigar's appearance is inviting. The leaf is a milk chocolate brown hue that feels oily along with having some veins sprinkled through out. The cigar feels firm in the hand and provides some give near the foot when squeezed but budges very little near the head under similar pressure. 

The cold draw feels a bit stiff but nothing that indicates any trouble ahead. The unlit flavor is full of cedar and black pepper. After lighting the cigar, this theme continues but feels more muted or dull. The flavor is always there but the profile feels light to medium. As the smoke progresses, some light cocoa and espresso join the fray. These notes are undulating and far from front and center. Black pepper notes continue to the finish. 

The cigar retains its construction from beginning to end as well. The stick takes about an hour and half to puff through and is enjoyable for its entirety. My overall thoughts of this smoke are favorable. Its flavor, construction, draw, and burn rate are decent. Having said that, I don't think this cigar provides a $20 per smoke experience. Don't get me wrong; its a good smoke. If the price were about $5 USD less I would be singing praise about the great value this smoke is.

The Score: Buy a Single 

Caldwell Anastasia Caspia

The Caldwell Anastasia series is follow-up to Caldwell's the Last Czar and was first released in 2016. Like a few other Caldwell Cigars, this is a collaboration with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, who makes some absolutely fabulous cigars as well. The cigars are manufactured in the Dominican Republic but the origin of the wrapper and the tobaccos used is manufacture's secret. 

They were somewhat common as recently as a few months ago but it seems the stock at online retailers is running thin. My research shows that the wrapper leaf is not common so the release of these cigars is limited. Regardless of the vitola, they cost around $12.00 USD per stick. Speaking of vitolas, the Anastasia series of smokes can be found in four different shapes and sizes: Kartel (Robusto), Opera (Toro), Mercure (Churchill), and Caspia (Corona). The sample used for this review being the latter Caspia vitola.

Wrapper:?

Binder:? 

Filler: ?

Length: 5 3/4"

Ring Gauge: 43

Size: Corona

The Smoke: The Caldwell Anastasia has a lovely deep brown hue provided by the wrapper. Further inspection of the wrapper shows some thick veins. When squeezed, the cigar feels firm and does not have much sponginess. Overall, this cigar feels well constructed.

I cut this cigar using my Palio straight cutter which took some effort to plow through the cigar and remove the cap. The cold draw as good and featured some nice cedar and leather notes. After toasting and lighting, the cigar started with a more mild profile than I had expected. The flavors after lighting was some light pepper and leather. As the cherry progressed, the cigar increased its strength into a medium profile cigar. As that transition occurred, additional flavor notes of caramel and cedar joined the fray. 

The cigar provided a light and creamy mouthfeel from the smoke from beginning to end.  The Caldwell Anastasia Caspia held together very well during the life of the smoke.  One thing that was disappointing to this cigar was  the burn rate. The burn rate was even for about the first half of the cigar but after that it became very poor and required multiple corrective burns in a feeble attempt to rectify. Sorry, $12 USD cigars should just about be perfect since cigars that are half the price can pull it off.

Frankly, I can not knock the cigar too much. If the burn rate is the worst thing about it, it is a decent cigar. In fact, the Caldwell Anastasia is a decent cigar. It provided a good smoking experience for the hour and five minutes it took to puff away the night. The flavors were good and the cigar feels good holding it. I think the price point is slightly high for what it delivers but given the limited nature of the cigar I certainly understand the reason for the pricing. My advice would be to certainly pick up one or two if you stumble upon any of the vitolas and puff away. It is a good cigar but I would not blow all my wife's pumpkin spice latte money picking up a box.

The Score: Buy a 5 pack 

J. Grotto Anniversary P555

A good buddy of mine gave me this cigar and told me it would be a great morning when I finally got around to smoking it. I was unsure of that, because I have never had a good experience smoking an unknown (to me) brand that was made for a specific B&M. Let's give this one a chance I suppose.

This one hails from Rhode Island and is a product manufactured by Debonaire Cigars and is sold by Ocean State Cigars. Some people in the New England region of the United States may be more familiar with Ocean State and it's owner Paul Joyal, who operated Mr. J's Havana Shop in Warwick, Rhide Island. Not sure if he still does.... 

Anyway, the Anniversary is their fourth offering that they released and is one of their more robust lines. This one was sold in four vitolas: Churchill, Toro, Perfecto, and Gordo. My particular sample is the P555 (5" x 50 gauge ring) Perfecto. Any vitola with in the line features Dominican tobaccos and some tobacco from "other Central American" countries that are wrapped by a dark broadleaf Connecticut leaf.

"Other" Counties... LULZ

Wrapper: USA - Connecticut

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican Republic and "Other" Countries...hmmm

Length:  5"

Ring Gauge: 55

Size: Perfecto

The Smoke: This cigar features a deep tan hue provided by its broadleaf Connecticut wrapper with some small veins visible. The leaf feels oily in my hand. The cigar also feels well constructed and is stiff when squeezed. My Palio straight cutter made short work of taking off the cap.

Obviously, the cold draw is awful given the perfecto shape. When I was lighting the cigar, I noticed that this is probably the smallest foot of any cigar I have every seen. It was miniscule.... as in it did not exist. No worries, the cigar toasted and lit well. The lit draw as tight but once the cherry passed the narrow perfecto shape the draw of the remainder of the cigar was excellent. 

The profile of the cigar was medium to high and was consistent during the life of the smoke. The flavors are robust through out the smoke as well. The notes in the first third of the cigar are pepper and coffee along with a sweet maple syrup undertone. Cocoa and chocolate were the dominate flavors of the middle third in which the pepper faded into the background. Cocoa remained in the final third but the pepper returned.

The burn rate and draw were really good for a perfecto shape. This vitola is always difficult to pull that off and this did splendidly. The draw as good during the majority of the cigar while the burn rate was even enough that I never needed to complete a corrective burn. 

I would recommend buying a bunch of these if you ever stumble upon them but I have a feeling that finding these would be difficult due to their release being over 6 years ago. Happy hunting!

The Score: Yeah, buy some. A box for sure if you discover it.

Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff Toro

I had purchased a 5 pack of these about 6 months ago at the height of lock down. Seemed to me then, the only thing to do were to cruise for deals on a somewhat well-known cigar auction site. These ones in particular were picked up for about $5 USD per smoke, which is a great deal because they typically retail for about $8 USD per stick.

Caldwell has become a widely known boutique cigar company that made a quick dash to fame a few years ago. The cigars are known for quality and unique traits like The T cigar I reviewed about a month ago; and to that end, Blind Man's Bluff is no different.  The wrapper is an Ecuadorian Habano leaf. The binder comes from Honduras and is a Crillo while the filler tabacco is from Honduras and the Dominican.  This Toro shaped cigar has the typical Toro length but comes in with a slightly wider than normal 52 ring-gauge; Robusto and Magnum sizes are also offered as part of this line of cigars from Caldwell.

Wrapper: Ecuador

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduras

Length: 6"

Ring Gauge: 62
Size: Toro

The Smoke: I used my V-cutter to poke a hole in this one. The cigar feels firm and has the feeling of strong construction. Un-lit, this cigar has woody and grassy aromas. Aromas and flavors of wood, bread, cinnamon, nutmeg, and caramel come after the cigar is toasted and lit. Slight nut joins the array of flavors about mid stick.  The smoke is light a creamy with ample amounts of it to cover the palate. The body of the cigar is medium to full bodied.

The cigar held its shape and had a mostly even burn rate during the hour-long smoke. One thing that got to me on this one was the nicotine pop. This is the first cigar I smoked that had this much of a nicotine kick to it, but it felt good and carried me well into the evening.

Overall, I found the Caldwell Blind Man's Bluff to be an enjoyable smoke. Something I would recommend at least trying and determining if it is something that you enjoy as much as I did.

Score: Buy a Pack of 10