Asylum 13

Asylum 13

• Strength: 4 / 5
• Size: 5 x 50
• Origin: Honduras
• Price (local): $7.85
• Wrapper: Habano
• Flavor Text:

Asylum 13 cigars....good enough to drive you insane.

Years ago, Christian Eiroa and his 94-rated Camacho family of brands conquered Honduras. Today, he's out to conquer Nicaragua. Enter the Asylum, a gorgeous, boutique lovely showcasing the very best Nicaragua has to offer, let alone the raw blending talents of Eiroa himself.

Asylum 13 cigars are true Nicaraguan puros. A dark, Nicaraguan Habano wrapper cloaks a feisty combination of aged Cuban-seed long-fillers grown throughout the black, volcanic soils of Nicaragua. Upon igniting, one can expect a complex, medium to full-bodied array of flavorful, Nica-influenced goodness, along with a slow, cool burn letting you fully appreciate every last nuance. Earth, cocoa, espresso bean, black tobacco, sweet notes, and gentle spices. Indeed, Asylum 13 is eventful throughout, and a cigar you don't want to miss out on.

I've been smoking Asylum 13 for as far back as I could remember.

In my earlier smoking days, I thought I was so cool when I was smoking a 7 x 70 or 8 x 80 Asylum 13. A ton of smoke, at least 4-5 hours worth, comes from these mammoth cigars that are truly one of a kind. I sort of came off of those as time wore on, and the summer months turned to the colder time of year, which ceased my longer smoking periods outside. As time wore on, I ventured more into different smokes and essentially left Asylum 13 behind. As I learned more and more about cigars, I kind of began to associate Asylum 13 cigars with being a joke in my own head, and I ignored the brand largely for years. It wasn't until my birthday this year that I received an Asylum 13 Robusto, and after smoking it, I knew that revisiting this brand would bring me a whole new level of appreciation to Asylum 13.

I've been having a few of these 5 x 50 Asylum 13 cigars for a few months now, and for the price, it really doesn't get much better than this one. I am a fan of the smaller smokes like the Last Call and the mini Kristoff smokes, primarily the Habano versions of both. This cigar offers essentially the same thing, except with a more spicy Honduran tobacco blend and slightly larger size for about a dollar more; a bargain, to be sure. It burns very slow and the draw is very good, and truthfully, the wrapper looks absolutely delicious. It's dark, inviting and oily, and Asylum 12 cigars are always ready to be lit up and enjoyed. This Asylum 13, in particular, features very direct bursts of flavor and a peppery retro hale that is going to be appreciated quite a bit for those who love powerful smokes.

The Asylum 13 blend of tobacco features a few different notes of flavor, primarily pepper, spice, earth, and dark coffee bean. This cigar is a highlight reel of all of the more "powerful" cigar notes you can get, and while not being a full 5/5 on body, it's one that you'll enjoy tasting in most areas of your mouth. It's certainly a bit intense, but this isn't a cigar that you'll consider as one of the most powerful you've ever had; instead, it'll be a medium/full body offering that you slot right in between your favorite medium and full body cigars as a bridge. It fills this role perfectly, and it is ideal for anyone who wants a good, peppery cigar with a little bit of muted intensity to it. It's a good morning cigar for someone who likes a strong smoke for a great price.

Asylum cigars are certainly tasty, and won't ruin you financially, either. This one only cost around 7, which is great in a high tax state like New York. I could only imagine that this one and the steps up in size, like the Toro and Gordo, will provide a great, longer smoking experience for somewhere around ten dollars. It's really hard to get a great cigar at a price like this in some areas, so if you are budget conscious and looking for a cigar with some punch and some earthy, grungy flavors to it, I'd highly recommend the Asylum 13. 

Keep in mind it comes in some crazy big sizes, and I always taste a Robusto or Corona for the sake of my reviews, so I'd avoid those huge cigars since I think you always get the most pure taste and story from the tobacco you're smoking from a nice Robusto. Give it a try; it's a name you might not recognize, but it certainly is a fantastic cigar that I think most seasoned smokers will like. Excellent, budget conscious, flavorful and powerful. It checks all my boxes.

Happy smoking! CB