Ashton Humidors
Friday, July 26th, 2019
Ashton is a luxury name in cigars beloved the world over for its many blends. This same commitment to excellence can be found on their well-crafted humidors.
Archive for the ‘Ashton’ Category
J Lo is back, Elections and More By Frank Seltzer
Tuesday, September 10th, 2013Nope not that J Lo, instead it is much older, Juan Lopez a very old Cuban brand that had been sold by Altadis but then kinda got dropped. As I reported from IPCPR, the company is re-invigorating the brand while keeping the classic Cuban look. Today the new Juan Lopez is a Nicaraguan puro using a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper over Nicaraguan Criollo binder and Nicaraguan fillers. These are really tasty cigars and come in three sizes Number one at 5” x 54, Number two 6” x 54 and Number three at 6” x 60 in 16 count boxes…the best news is the price, around $5 each.
Elections Matter
There is a lot of East Coast news going on today. First up is the New York City Mayoral primary. This is the time to finally get rid of Nanny Bloomberg. I have not paid really any attention to the politics of NYC, although I assume the next mayor will be almost as bad as Bloomberg. But at least Weiner’s experiencing shrinkage….in the polls that is.
With that being said, there is a guy running on the Republican side that ya gotta love, John Catsimatidis. Last week he held a “friendraiser” at Cigar Inn in New York. (He didn’t expect contributions since he is a billionaire.) According to midtown store manager Geshon Sakha:
“He enjoys a cigar every now and then,” Mr. Sakha said of the candidate, who frequents the uptown location. “He comes with his friends Saturday morning after breakfast. He smokes a few different brands—sometimes Davidoff, sometimes Padrón and sometimes the house blend.”
Despite the beleaguered-minority role cigar smokers and the emporiums that service them project—”He will abolish the Nanny State,” Mr. Sakha vowed of Mr. Catsimatidis.
Although the candidate himself was a bit more circumspect. He even refused to smoke a cigar because “there was a reporter from the Wall Street Journal” in attendance. The reporter from the Wall Street Journal, however, was impressed with our culture.
Say what you will about cigars and cigar bars, but they may be among the few places in New York—a city, despite what anyone contends, that indulges elites and that traffics in exclusivity—where you’re accepted, whether hedge-fund manager or handyman, simply because you possess the intellectual gifts to enjoy cigars.
The other person running for mayor on the republican side Joe Lhota has famed cigar smoker Rudy Giuliani in his corner.
Mahogany goes Ashton
Philadelphia is getting a new/old cigar bar on Thursday. The Ashton Cigar Bar opens right above Holt’s store in Center City at 1522 Walnut. The locale was the home to Mahogany since 1997, but Holt’s decided it would be better for them to own the joint. So Holt’s and Ashton’s owners –Robbie Levin, his son Sathya and daughter Meera — will be running the place. After some remodeling, the new Ashton Cigar Bar will debut with the feel of a luxury cigar bar and of course will carry the Ashton, Ashton Aged Maduro, Ashton Cabinet and the Ashton VSG among others, but according to the Phildelphia Business Journal it will have a few new wrinkles:
In addition to a wide range of cigars, it will have more than 200 whiskeys and signature cocktails. The space is outfitted with plush lounge chairs, flat-screen televisions and a state-of-the-art air purification system.
“We’ve taken significant steps to make all of our guests feel welcome, even those who may not have ever set foot in a cigar bar before,” said Levin. “Our customized air purification system comes from the same manufacturer that provides systems for many of the country’s top hospitals and casinos. Our goal is to keep the air crisp and clean at all times.”
Sathya and Meera are the third generation in the family business.
Disney to Drop Sosa
By the end of the month, Downtown Disney will be closing its only cigar shop. Fuego by Sosa Cigars has been a mainstay of the area for many years. I have never visited the place because of my aversion to The Mouse. (Yeah, I worked briefly for Disney through one of its tentacles.) But lots of people are upset that Fuego is going away because it offered an adult oasis in the Disney universe where you could get an adult beverage and smoke a cigar. (Given Florida’s nutty smoking laws this is a great thing.)
The official reason is that Disney is doing a remodel of Downtown Disney and as a result the company is not renewing the lease of the store. There is a petition to fight the move. You can go here to sign it.
A House is Not a Home
My House in Winter
Ocean City
A house is not a home, but today I am feeling a bit out of sorts. You see the two homes pictured above were my homes for a good part of my life. As a T-V guy, I mostly lived in apartments and moved around a bit…a lot actually. The Ocean City home was my grandparents who bought it in 1957 and we would stay there every summer.. It stayed in the family until 2006 (49 years) when we sold it to help pay for my mother’s medical care. A developer bought it and leveled it and put up two huge two story condos. Alas, Ocean City is not now I remember it anymore. Too many people and with the big structures no breeze from the ocean. You need air conditioners now, before we never needed them even three blocks from the ocean.
The one on the left was the first home I actually bought in 1985. It was built in the 20s and while it had its problems, it was home to me and my family. Pets who lived and died there and my lovely wife who decided we needed more room and were tired of the Mc Mansions going up on our block. We sold the house in July having moved across town. Yes the old place was a bit drafty at times, needed work but it was a home. Today I drove past and saw that the developer who bought it has made it no more. Pity.
all that remains
Another two story Mc Mansion will arise. The thing is our old neighborhood was a “conservation district” to prevent or limit this type of thing. What ended up happening was that WE would have had to stick to strict guidelines if we wanted to fix our house..but the developers get a pass. Another brilliant government solution. Progress is great, but sometimes it stinks.
La Aroma De Cuba Mi Amor Reserva
Friday, November 9th, 2012I randomly found the Mi Amor Reserva while browsing the humidor at Ed’s shop. Being a fan of the original Mi Amor, I couldn’t resist picking a few up. The price did raise an eyebrow, but I figured why not. Let’s see if this cigar delivered where it counts.
Wrapper: Mexican Cuban Seed
Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: Beso 5.62 x 48
Price: $8.50
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The wrapper on this thing was rugged looking. Near the head, I saw what looked to be a patch. Stuff like this isn’t a deterrent to me, as long as it’s a good cigar. I picked up hay, wood, and earthy aromas from the wrapper. The foot was more pungent soil (earth?) and leather. The cigar did have some lumps here and there, but overall nothing was of concern. The pre-light draw was free, and it had a dark earthy and leathery flavor.
The burn required no corrections, and the ash held for about 3/4 of an inch.
Flavor:
The first third opened up with a simple dark earthy flavor, mixed with an easy pepper. Wood and leather joined in shortly after. The peppery spice developed nicely, and it had an interesting tingly/cooling effect in the nose.
I can only describe the second third as smooth and rich. Everything just felt smoother, and the peppery spice kept it’s zing. Like before, wood, earthiness, and leather were prominent. Cocoa joined in at the mid way point. The aftertaste kept that zingy, cooling effect.
The last third kept the same flavors as before. The big difference was the in flavor delivery. By that, I mean everything blended together evenly.
Conclusion:
This was a very good full bodied cigar. I could see how some could confuse this as medium. That’s how smooth it is. What stood out was rich flavors, good construction, and a flawless burn. This cigar delivered where it counts. My only complaint is the price. Is it worth it? I’m still on the fence. I’m learning towards no, but price aside, this is still a solid smoke.
La Aroma De Cuba–Mi Amor
Tuesday, December 20th, 2011The Mi-Amor is a collaboration between Ashton and the Garcia Family. It is claimed to be rich, complex, and very well balanced. I picked some up at Ed’s shop recently, as he commented to me that he liked it. I figured I’d give them a try. I paired the cigar with water as always.
Wrapper: Cuban seed grown in Mexico
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Magnifico 6 x 52
Price: $8.20
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The box pressed cigar had a nice appearance. The wrapper velvety smooth with a few sparkles when held to a light. It had an earthy smell. The cigar was solidly packed, and had a minor soft spot or two, but nothing major. The pre-light draw had slight resistance, and had a sweet flavor. It was almost like a mild dark chocolate.
The burn required no corrections. The ash was flaky at first, but became solid after the first tap on the ashtray. It held for just under an inch.
Flavor:
The first third had a mellow start. There was a slight peppery spice combined with woody notes. After a little while I picked up a smooth sweet flavor that eventually developed into something chocolaty. All the flavors were pretty even in strength, nothing stood out over the other.
The second third saw a calming of the pepper, not that it was real strong to begin with. The woody and chocolaty flavors combined nicely and had almost a floral aftertaste with a bitter note. It sounds strange but I liked it. There were coffee notes in the mix as well, at least that mild bitter aftertaste you can get from a good black coffee. As the second third came to a close, the smoke left a tingle on the lips.
The last third stayed the same as the second third for the most part. The strength increased a little, and chocolate increased a bit in strength. The pepper made a slight return but remained easy to pass through the sinus.
Conclusion:
This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. The flavors were interesting, and there were enough complexities to keep things interesting. Construction was good and the burn was slow. I could see myself smoking more of these from time to time.
Benchmade by Ashton
Friday, December 18th, 2009Once again, I found myself checking out another cheap cigar while browsing a local shop. The Benchmade is a brand of Ashton, and is blended by Jose Pepin Garcia. What drew me to it was the price, and the fact that it is a Nicaraguan puro from Ashton. I figured for two bucks, grabbing a couple to review couldn’t hurt. I filled up my glass of water and bring you my thoughts…
Wrapper: Nicaragua
Binder & Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto 5 x 50
Price: Around $2.50
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
Giving the cigar the old once over, I found it to be visually appealing. The dark brown wrapper had some small veins, but otherwise no mentionable flaws. Pinching the cigar revealed a soft spot or two, but nothing of concern. The wrapper had an earthy. grassy odor. The foot almost had no smell at all, other then a very slight pepper. The pre-light draw was free, and had a sweet natural tobacco taste.
The burn required no corrections, and the flakey ash held for about a half of an inch.
Flavor:
Peppery spice greeted me in the first third. Beneath the spice were woody and earthy notes. I couldn’t pull any other flavors at this point.
The second third increased in strength slightly. The woody flavors took on a sweet tinge, while the earthy flavors fell further into the background. That peppery zing remained.
The smoke feel in the last third became thick and a little creamy. When passing through the nose, the pepper was still present. If anything, the pepper was the dominant flavor. It mingled with the woody flavor for an overall enjoyable smoke.
Conclusion:
The Benchmade is a decent medium bodied cigar. As I often say about bundle or value cigars, a cheaper price often means a less complex flavor profile. This is the case with the Benchmade. It wasn’t bad by any means. You easily get what you pay for. I say give it a try, and see if it is for you.
Arturo Fuente- A True Work Of Art!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
When I look back at the last 8 years of my cigar-smoking journey, I can’t help but remember a number of amazing blends crafted by Tabacalera A. Fuente. It all started when a good friend of mine gave me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cameroon. At the time, the Hemingway I smoked took me deeper into my fascination with cigars. I thought the Signature was the ultimate mild to medium bodie...
Arturo Fuente- A True Work Of Art!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
When I look back at the last 8 years of my cigar-smoking journey, I can’t help but remember a number of amazing blends crafted by Tabacalera A. Fuente. It all started when a good friend of mine gave me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cameroon. At the time, the Hemingway I smoked took me deeper into my fascination with cigars. I thought the Signature was the ultimate mild to medium bodie...
Arturo Fuente- A True Work Of Art!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
When I look back at the last 8 years of my cigar-smoking journey, I can’t help but remember a number of amazing blends crafted by Tabacalera A. Fuente. It all started when a good friend of mine gave me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cameroon. At the time, the Hemingway I smoked took me deeper into my fascination with cigars. I thought the Signature was the ultimate mild to medium bodie...
Arturo Fuente- A True Work Of Art!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
When I look back at the last 8 years of my cigar-smoking journey, I can’t help but remember a number of amazing blends crafted by Tabacalera A. Fuente. It all started when a good friend of mine gave me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cameroon. At the time, the Hemingway I smoked took me deeper into my fascination with cigars. I thought the Signature was the ultimate mild to medium bodie...
Arturo Fuente- A True Work Of Art!
Tuesday, April 28th, 2009
When I look back at the last 8 years of my cigar-smoking journey, I can’t help but remember a number of amazing blends crafted by Tabacalera A. Fuente. It all started when a good friend of mine gave me an Arturo Fuente Hemingway Signature Cameroon. At the time, the Hemingway I smoked took me deeper into my fascination with cigars. I thought the Signature was the ultimate mild to medium bodie...
