Ashton Classic Double Magnum (Toro) Review
Cigar: Ashton Classic
Size: Double Magnum 6" x 50
Wrapper: Connecticut shade
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Price: MSRP $10
Initial Impression/Prelight
This particular Ashton comes in a cedar sleeve. The sleeve came off easily, and underneath was a pale golden wrapper, velvety to the touch with only a hint of oils. It had a nice triple cap, and some moderate veins with some odd and unattractive puckering along several of them. Still, it was firm to the touch and looked well-constructed.
The aroma off the wrapper was sweet tobacco and light hay, with more of the same as I tested the draw through a punched hole. The draw was firm but not too stiff.
The attractive, simple black and white band with gold lettering and trim takes me back a while - it's probably been over 10 years since I smoked one of these. This cigar has been resting in my humidor for almost exactly 5 months at 65%. I smoked out on the back patio, where it's about 50 degrees or so but a little windy today. Still, for mid-February I'll sure take it.
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1st Third
Immediately, the smoke was smooth and creamy with a light spice to it, maybe nutmeg. There was also a subtle sweet vanilla undertone to start, which faded out after an inch or so. After that, I got a few hints of citrus along with a light, bright vegetal flavor which was not at all unpleasant. The ash held about an inch and a half before I tapped it off, and it did need one retouch. Smoke output was fine, right around average. This cigar was certainly mild in strength to round out the first section, and maybe a tick above mild in flavor - the flavors are there, but all fairly subtle.
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2nd Third
The ash held almost into this section, and after knocking it off for the first time I picked up some new flavors. Mostly toasted almond with a touch of saltiness, and the smoke remained creamy. I also got a little bit of intermittent sweetness like amaretto, but I really had to savor and roll the smoke around to get much of that. Again in this section I gave the cigar a retouch or two, as one side didn't want to keep pace burning with the rest of the wrapper. Still, the ash held nicely.
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Final Third
All the sweetness disappeared in this section, and the flavors stayed nutty and lightly salty with a solid rich tobacco flavor as I approached the end. Another touch-up or two later and I finished it off. Strength stayed in the mild range, and flavors as well.
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Overall Impressions
I used to smoke these Ashtons all the time when I was a teenager. I didn't even try a cigarette until I was in my twenties, but starting at age 16 a few of my friends and I got into cigars and these were among our favorites. When I began smoking cigars again about a year and a half ago after a 10+ year break, for whatever reason I never picked up one of these (actually I know why: I bought a bunch of samplers online, and none of them came with any Ashtons). My wife bought this for me back in September as a gift, and I'd hesitated smoking it until now since I know my tastes have changed to more medium and above type of cigars. This morning was a good time to break this out with a cup of coffee though, and I'm glad I did.
• I tried to do a little research on the Classic line, and I found conflicting information. Some people say the line debuted in 1985, while others say 1994. I only know I was smoking cigars with this band as far back as 1996, so they've been around a while at least.
• I count 15 uniquely named vitolas on the Ashton website, but oddly several of them are listed as the same size with different names, the only differentiating factor being aluminum tubos.
• For example, I smoked the "Double Magnum" at 6"x50, while the "Monarch" is listed at the same dimensions but comes in a tubo. I don't get it.
• I think of Ashtons as being known for their good looks, but the puckered veins didn't look good at all. They looked like scars or something.
• That said, the cigar otherwise had a very nice wrapper.
• I wish that citrus flavor had hung out longer or come back later, as it was the most interesting flavor to me. Still, the creamy and nutty flavors were good, as was the sweetness in bits of the first two-thirds.
• If I'd smoked inside, I think I would have said this cigar had a pleasant room-note. Patio-note I guess. It smelled good burning, however you want to say it.
• The cigar never got hot or bitter at any point; in fact the creaminess started in the very first puff and never really went away.
I found myself really having to concentrate on the flavors, and this cigar was a welcome reminder that I don't always need a big flavored bomb to enjoy my smoking time. The Ashton went well with a cup of coffee, and furthermore my mouth doesn't taste like an ashtray at the end either. My wife even remarked on the pleasant aroma when she came outside for a minute.
Still, if I'm going on the milder side with some similar characteristics (nutty/creamy) to this cigar, I'd recommend a Perdomo 10th Anniversary Champagne. At about half the price and with a little more spice, that one is tough to beat. It was fun taking a trip down memory lane with the Ashton though, if for no other reason than it brought back a lot of fun memories smoking with my old buddies.
It'd be worth a single to see if it tickles your fancy.
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