Ashton Aged Maduro Pyramid Review

[TheDirector]

I am a fan of Ashton in general and their maduros are no exception. I enjoy the aromatic flavours and taste of well aged tobacco. Since we had a break in the rain and wind, the sun came out, and my afternoon appointments canceled, I opened the humi and grabbed the stick I have been anticipating for a week. My dogs go nuts when I open the humi because they know it's walk time. We headed off to the local park to sit on my favourite park bench.

This stick cost me about $20 cdn(no cheap cigars exist in Canada). The wrapper, dark brown and grainy (toothy?), smelled of chocolate. I was stoked. I toasted and lit the stick and my first impression was of strong coffee followed by significant peppery-ness. The draw was good and the burn was slightly uneven, but no correction required. The construction was good as I find with all Ashtons. Lots of blue-white smoke to chew on. The coffee quickly gave way to the pepper - much more than I have experienced before from these cigars. The strong pepper continued and a bitter aftertaste emerged also. Strangely, a bit of grass and paper notes snuck in during the first half. Not at all what I have come to enjoy or from these maduros. But I smoked on . About Half way I tasted some pleasing notes of amaretto but they were short lived. The pepper eased off steadily as did the bitterness and it got quite yummy in the last inch. A bit of chocolate came out and I smoked it to a nub. I was left with a pleasing aftertaste for the walk home. It was 50 minutes of challenging tastes.

It was my first maduro in quite while and I think that next time I will reserve this stick for a heavy drink like a stout or porter because the heavy flavours needed something to "play with" on my palate. As I said before, usuallly I love the aromatic subtleness of these maduros, but this smoke was exceptionally heavy in flavour. In future I will likely go back to the #50 which I found to be very consistent so far.

[lenguamor]

Greg, anytime I can help hook you up with smokes let me know. There are good sources here, a lot cheaper than you describe being able to find sticks up there.

[TheDirector]

Thanks for the good thoughts. Expensive habit this side of the border for sure.

I have placed a mail order for a Carlito's Way sampler. We'll see if it get's here without incurring government scrutiny! Fingers crossed.

[thebiglebowski]

director - i think you need a better camera. i can't quite make out what the cigar is...

[TheDirector]

Originally Posted by thebiglebowski

director - i think you need a better camera. i can't quite make out what the cigar is...

Noob's frist review...will do better...please....forgive....

[Old Sailor]

Nice review, Aston's are mmmmm, you should try the VSG's

[TheDirector]

Originally Posted by Old Sailor

Nice review, Aston's are mmmmm, you should try the VSG's

Good call. Yes indeed

I have enjoyed a few of the VSG and love their unique (in my experience) flavours. I find them to be kick-A$$ and I particularly enjoyed the No.1 Belli.