The Ashton Classic line has been a force in the world of mellow cigars ever since their release. They’re not cheap, but they deliver every time. A consistently well-made, smooth Dominican handmade that has a long-time reputation for quality. Ashton was one of the first cigars I really enjoyed, but I later dismissed them for being too gentle and uneventful for my tastes. I like Connecticut wrappers and I like mellow on occasion. But with prices upwards of $10, I just couldn’t justify the regular Ashton purchase. Recently, my opinion changed.

Last year, Ashton released a new size in their Classic line, the Ashton Majesty. This 6” x 56 vitola looks like all of the other sizes in the Ashton Classic line. Same bands, same box - just a bigger size. Not really that exciting. But when I actually got around to smoking one, I realized that this size is special. A little searching would reveal that the Majesty size employs a slightly different blend than all of the rest. It utilizes the same Connecticut shade wrapper overtop a tweaked blend of filler tobaccos. It’s still all Dominican, but the tobaccos included within considerably more rich and robust.

In appearance, the Majesty is a nice as any. Featuring a smooth, oily, chestnut Connecticut leaf and near flawless construction, this is obviously a well made, premium cigar representative of the Aston brand. When you get into it, you’ll realize that it definitely has some more body than the standard Ashton – more medium-bodied rather than mellow. But the extra flavor that’s included is what puts the Majesty in a different league. It burns straight, draws perfectly and has that creamy, smooth Connecticut smoke, but the underlying flavors are what make the Majesty so good. With a warm aroma, a decent amount of pepper, and a rich array of flavors including earth, cedar, cream, coffee, spices and a slightly sweet finish, Ashton Majesty is interesting and balanced. As it burns, it builds in body and the flavors intensify until an exciting finale. It’s hard to describe why its better, but it just is. It has more flavor, it has more strength, but it retains all of the same elegant and refined qualities as its smoother counterparts. That’s what is most impressive.

It’s hard to justify the nearly $10 per stick price, but I’ve really become a fan. There’s just something interesting and charming about this blend that keeps me wanting more. It’s perfect in the morning and can hold its own after a full meal. It’s surprisingly good anytime. So if you like Ashton, this takes it up a notch. And if you normally avoided Ashton, this size may make you think twice.