TLaneAficionados: A Tobacco Blog

Ashton Maduro

tlane_ashtonAshton cigars founder Robert Levin has established himself as one of the most talented men in the industry when it comes to creating enjoyable masterpieces. He’s done it for us again and again, and this time – as one of the rarest cigars he has ever released – aficionados should immediately make room in their humidors for the Ashton Aged Maduro.
Crafted with a perfectly-aged blend of Dominican long-leaf fillers, the Ashton Aged Maduro also features a Dominican binder to ensure consistency. Then, this beauty is wrapped in a dark, oily, slowly fermented maduro Connecticut Broadleaf. One of the rarest of its kind, the sleek wrapper looks just as savory as it tastes.

When lit, the medium-bodied smoke combines notes of natural sweetness and subtle nutty undertones that captivate the palate with rich, delicious flavors. This beauty is hand rolled at the Château de la Fuente in the Dominican Republic to ensure authenticity.

Many leaves are picked for production, yet very few are chosen for the Ashton Aged Maduro. Ashton Aged Maduro is rare because of its selected and extremely limited Connecticut broad leaf wrapper. The initial sweet taste comes from the wrapper, but once lit, the cigar releases a richness and nutty intake. Ashton Aged Maduro’s rich distinct flavor comes from the never hurried natural fermentation of the wrapper, which encourages its natural sweetness. The wrapper and aged filler creates a rich and complex flavor elevating the Ashton Aged Maduro to a class all its own. It has a very pleasurable output from start to finish. An impressive cigar!

 

Montecristo Espada

Montecristo and Plasencia, a match made in heaven.
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The story of Montecristo Espada is seriously interesting. Not long ago, Montecristo and famed tobacco grower and cigar maker Nestor Plasencia struck a deal. This deal would gave Montecristo’s blending team, known as the ‘Grupo de Maestros,’ unrestricted access to Plasencia’s world-renowned collection of fine tobaccos and state of the art factory. At this facility, the Master’s went to work, spending months developing a flawless merger of fine, sophisticated cigar. What they discovered was a blend unlike any other. The Montecristo Espada overflows with flavor.

A cigar that’s easily fitting of the Montecristo name, but with a level of flavor that’s both charming and inviting.
Meaning ‘sword,’ Espada makes full use of Plasencia’s unique tobacco archive and employs a gorgeous Habano wrapper from 2010 grown in Jalapa, Nicaragua. Underneath, an all-Nicaraguan blend of bold, well-aged long-fillers from Jalapa, Ometepe, and Condega were each specifically selected for their strength, flavor, or body. The result is an extremely well-balanced, layered with rich, hearty notes of wood, pepper, coffee, cream, nuts, and sweetness. Elegant, refined, and loaded with complexity, Montecristo Espada is truly a world-class cigar. Montecristo Espada received Top 25 honors for 2015 (#20 overall) and a well-deserved 92-rating noting: “offering the spice of a gingersnap with touches of cinnamon that build to a sweet, spicy finish.”

The experience opens with a flavor and strength somewhere between their Classic and Platinum lines with some good spice and a note of raisin. Part way through 1/3, that raisin taste is joined by a delicious sweet cream, almost vanilla. It’s like berries and cream, but subtler, just enough to really get a good taste but not the syrupy sweetness of an infused cigar and combined with that typically delicious Monte tobacco flavor. The draw is absolutely perfect and produces a CONSTANT stream of smoke which I love! Monte fans should go ahead and buy a box! When I have the means, I know I will! In short, the Montecristo Espada is an exceptional cigar to add to your collection.