Ashton San Cristobal Maestro Review

[Sisyphus]

The cigar is well constructed and looks mighty tasty with its dark, oily wrapper. I'd been looking forward to trying one of these and figured I'd splurge, getting the most costly vitola, for which I paid $12 apiece and bought two sticks. The Maestro is a figurado, 6" x 60.

The prelight aroma was fairly pungent, not barnyard, but cured tobacco. I snipped off a bit from the pointed cap. It was a little hard to judge the amount without lighting it up, as the foot was domed, having just a small nipple opening for lighting. More could be snipped off later, if needed, but wasn't necessary.

So without any preliminary toasting, I placed the cigar between my lips, engaged my Colibri Quantum Enterprise and quickly kissed the little nipple to the flame.

The nipple acted as a fuse, and within seconds the Maestro was burning true. The first few tokes were somewhat spicy, chocolaty and unmistakably Nicaraguan. A promising start, to be sure. But no more than an inch into it, the spice and chocolate quickly began to fade, developing more grassiness and soon into a rather bland, predominantly sooty taste with maybe hints of burnt asparagus.

I really wanted to like this cigar but became more disappointed with each draw. Yet towards the end, the flavors intensified, the nicotine began kicking in and the sooty-ashy taste subsided enough so that at least I enjoyed the last few minutes of the experience. I smoked it down pretty far. Still, the entire middle segment of this thing -- most of the cigar -- I may as well have been smoking a $2 yard-gar.

Will some aging help? Maybe. Just a bad stick? Doubtful. I just don't care for the flavor of soot and burnt asparagus.

I don't want to discourage anyone from trying these. And remember, there are other vitolas, too, which may differ a LOT from the Maestro. I just wouldn't advise springing for a box before trying a few singles.

-Ken

[GAW]

Thanks for the honest review with appropriate caveats. I guess its proceed with caution here- cigars do behave strangely at times but you would think with all the attendant hype on this one, it would perform much better. Jerry

[rusty pittis]

wow...all the hype for these might not be what it is cracked up to be eh????

[avo_addict]

Don't give up on them before trying the Guajiro (Lonsdale). I think that is the best size out of the three sizes that I have smoked (Maestro, Guajiro, and Classico).

[wharfrathoss]

picked up one of the "toro" sized ones today for around $9-smells great, big time barnyard-i hope it's not like the one you had ken, if so i'm gonna be awful salty