Asylum Straight Jacket Robusto – so you like strong cigars, eh?

Asylum Straight Jacket Robusto

Being a seasoned cigar smoker, I like to think I can handle strong cigars without a problem. After all, I’ve tackled some tough guys along the way: the original Cain F Robusto (had that covered), Fuente Opus X (no problem there), Ashton ESG (had me goin’ for a minute), and the original Skull and Bones (that one made me sweat a bit). Lately I’ve been smoking more medium strength cigars and was thinking myself pretty tough…until my friend, Will, handed me an Asylum Straight Jacket Robusto.

First impression.

Even the look of this cigar is aggressive. It’s a tightly packed robusto with a coarse, dark brown Habano wrapper. Firm to the touch, its pre-lit aroma is rich and earthy. But it’s the band that puts all smokers on notice. In keeping with its name, the band depicts a torso tightly bound and totally helpless.

The cigar starts out with strong pepper tones that you feel in your nostrils. Right away you can tell that smoking this cigar will be an adventure. As I continue to smoke, the cigar opens up to dark cocoa and espresso, with a sweet earthiness that is smooth and delicious. There are herbal notes that add to its complexity.

Midway through the stick, the spice is ever present, as the earthy flavors gradually build. This is a cigar with dense flavor. Its smoke coats the palate like a big Cabernet. The burn is dead-on, and produces thick smoke that comes with only the slightest draw.

Now it gets interesting.

Midway through, this Nicaraguan puro really hits its stride. That’s when the strength takes hold and it becomes a roller coaster of a cigar. This stick literally had me reeling. But it was so good, I couldn’t put it down.

The second half never loses any of its flavors, with the cocoa and coffee tones growing in intensity. The tobacco in this blend is beautifully fermented, and the cigar comes from the factory at its prime. I like smoking cigars right from the cello, but, for this stick, it might be a good idea to rest a few “naked” before smoking. Having purchased a box, I’ll do that to see if time will mellow its intensity.

In the final third, the Straight Jacket starts to build up a mild tar-like finish, but it’s not objectionable. Any cigar this rich and strong is bound to have some residual deposits. I’ve smoked cigars that had to be put down for this reason, but this stick retains so much flavor, that any bitterness can be overlooked.

At the nub, the bitterness turns sweet again, and the cigar leaves you with a pleasant finish of coffee and herbs. The cigar burns cool to the end, and never needs any touching up. That’s quite a feat.

Conclusion.

The Asylum Straight Jacket is one great cigar. In a field of strong cigars, this is a standout. But newbies beware; this is a dangerously strong cigar. Best smoked later in the day, this cigar can challenge even the most experienced of smokers. But with flavor this good, and complexity this high, it’s worth being tied up for an hour, and succumbing to the powers beyond your control.

The Specs.

Vitola: Robusto (5×50).

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Nicaragua.

Filler: Nicaragua.

Flavors: Black pepper, dark chocolate, herbs.

Manufacturer: Asylum

Blenders: Christian Eiora, Tom Lazuka

Country of Origin: Honduras.

X Factor: 9.6

Finish: Herbal

Strength:  Full

MSRP: $9.16

Production: Limited

Thanks for listening,

Joe