Ashton

Since I’ve been leaning towards the lighter side of cigars lately, I figured I’d treat myself to one I’ve never had. Indeed, finding one was a task in of itself, almost as difficult as forking out the dough to try the chosen cigar, Ashton Vintage, otherwise known as the Cabinet Series, or Cabinet Selection. Whatever you want to call it, Ashton is a consistent cigar that receives a lot of praise, so I thought it would be nice to sit back with the upgraded vintage version.

I chose the #1, a humungous 9”x52 figurado. This thing is huge, and the Connecticut shade wrapper is a work of art – smooth and shiny with no veins. The construction seems top notch - it’s thoroughly filled with 6 different Dominican tobaccos, leaving no room for a soft spot. After cutting the well-applied cap I light up and am on my way. The draw is tight off the start, making it a struggle to produce any smoke and pull in any flavor. My co-workers probably think I left for the day, since they’re used to seeing clouds billowing from my desk at any given moment. After a few minutes the draw opens up a little, easing my mind, and coating my palate with a light creaminess. For such a large cigar, the flavor is subtle and smooth, while leaving the slightest aftertaste on the tip of my tongue. Now that the draw has opened up a bit, I settle in for the ride feeling better about today’s pricey purchase.

After about 15 minutes I begin to realize that although the ride is free of bumps and potholes, I’ve yet to encounter any fun curves and hills. Instead, it’s a 45mph, cruise control drive on a long, straight road. The flavor is nice, but flat. One wouldn’t expect this from a cigar that employs 6 different tobaccos under this pretty wrapper. But, I give it the benefit of the doubt, keep my foot on the gas and continue on with tonight’s ‘gar de jour. There isn’t much more to report on this cigar. Other than a tight draw, it’s mellow, creamy and smooth, but rather one dimensional. If I were a golfer, I might bring one to the course with me, since it’s light enough to accompany a case out in the sun. But I’m not, so instead I’ll hand these off to my friends that don’t smoke too often - they’ll probably appreciate them more. After nearly 2 hours on the road with the Ashton Vintage, I’ve decided that I can do better for the price. Actually, I know I can.

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.