2019 PCA Magazine

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG JULY-AUGUST 2019 | PCA The Magazine 23 ut of the box, this cigar weighs 39.2 grams (1.38 ounces), so you know as soon as you pick it up that you’re dealing with more than just size; it is a real heavyweight, dense and well-packed. Construction on this boutique jawbreaker is superlative; the seams would be hard to find without the color cue. The cigar smoked for this tasting appears to be wrapped entirely in Candela, overlaid with a strip of Habano to give the barber- pole effect. The all-Habano triple cap is gorgeous and secured well. And a nice touch: there is a lateral Candela strip out on the end securing the integrity of the foot. This cigar exudes a disarmingly mild tobacco aroma in the pre-light. I didn’t have a guillotine cutter in the house that could encompass the head, so I made a cluster of punch cuts. On light-up there is an initial blast of cedar. Smoke output is generous. The taste is pleasant, if a little unconventional, on account of the light Candela component. At 30 minutes, flavors of oak and earth have come to predominate, with an astringent sort of unsweetened iced tea note haunting the background. The burn line is a little wavy, but basically on point and requiring no correction. The inch-and-a-half white ash is not even close to letting go. One hour in, the 2 1/2-inch ash finally drops of its own accord. The flavor profile is very steady—rich, earthy, between a medium and full body. The burn line is still well-behaved and in need of no attention. Now more coffee and cream are showing themselves, still modulated by the ever-present grassiness of the Candela, and with a clean, peppery retrohale—an interesting and complex flavor combination. One thing that can definitely be said for this half-green monster: despite its dimensions, it is a cigar that manages not to get in its own way. It smokes as if on autopilot, with no untoward surprises. After two hours of attentive puffing (I am admittedly a rather fast smoker) the nub is beginning to get warm, so I put the cigar down. Flavors as described above remained fairly steady throughout. The Asylum 13 Ogre 680 is a worthy after-dinner cigar, especially when a relaxing smoke is wanted for friendly extended conversation, or just for contemplation. The flavors are sufficiently forgiving, novel and complex to be interesting without ever going over the top. Well worth the asking price. Asylum 13 Ogre 680 6 x 80 ring gauge Habano and Candela wrapper: Nicaraguan Binder: Nicaraguan Filler: Nicaraguan Manufactured in Nicaragua $341 MSRP for a 30-count box $8–$12 retail for a single O T H E R E V I E W T H E B L E N D