Cigar:            Ashton.Cabinet.VSG

Size:             55 x 6.5"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          EC

Binder:           DR

Filler:           DR

Flavor Strength:  Medium-Full

NicotineStength:  Medium-Full

Date Received:    2004-09-01

Suspected Age:    unknown

Vendor/Price:     Part of NSF bequeathment.  Thanks ASC!

Beverage(s):      Dead Guy Ale, Water

Smoke time:       1:45

Date:             2004-12-14

Posted to ASC:    2004-12-15

Overall score:    4.5/5.0

Overall:    Excellent cigar.  An excellent, very BIG cigar.  Flavor started medium and ended full.  Nice evolution of flavor from leather and wood then adding cocoa and cream, then more leather, and finally fruity at the end.  The finish started short, lengthening and sweetening over the smoke, though never becoming very sweet, and drying in the middle of the smoke.  Draw was open and smoke volume was disappointingly low.  Burn was something of an issue throughout, but not annoyingly so.  Great cigar.  Great BIG cigar.  A smaller size would be a box purchase.

Ambience:   J and I had spent a few hours in the morning buying him a shotgun at Kesselring's north of Mount Vernon.  He came away with a very nice 20 gauge Berreta over/under.  I stocked up on reloading supplies.  Late afternoon we landed back at Daniel's Seattle Lounge.  The A-Team was working the room.  Chocolate Camille had a radio station Christmas pary of about 30, so Sweet Sarah shared responsibility for us - a sweet treat.  Perky Shannon worked the rest of the room and occasionally Stately Morgan would wander through as she worked the front desk.  The holidaze brought out the clientel and the joint was jumping, with a nice rotating contigent of variously hued long tall sallies.  J smoked a Montecristo robusto.  As usual the conversation ranged widely.

Construction:     This is a big cigar!  The wrapper is dark with darker mottling.  Some big veins run half the length from the head.  Very firm.  Long spiral cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   Aroma is cocoa with a floral note.  Cut well.  Open draw with mild flavor and peppery lip tingle. 

First third:      First few draws are very peppery, then settled into a leathery woody flavor profile.  Low smoke volume.  Fairly open draw.  The flavor evolved.  First the finish sweetened slightly, then some cocoa, and finally big chocolate - almost creamy.  Rather short finish.

Second third:     Some leather came back.  I imagine sprinkling cocoa on a new saddle and licking it.  Finish lengthened and sweetened further.  Burn was an issue throughout.  One side was reluctant to burn.  With some spit and gentle flame it never got out of hand. The low smoke volume is disappointing.  Although it was an open draw, I poked it, trying to increase the smoke volume.  It worked a little.  Ash was lined and flakey holding to about 1.5".  Nicotine buzz developed.

Third third:      Smoke volume increased.  Suddenly the flavor changed.  Vanilla entered the finish and the finish became much drier.  The flavor became fruity.  I worked with a furan ester in college and it smelled similar.  I've also noted the flavor in a few highly hopped, warmly fermented ales.  This flavor held for a long time.  Tried to identify the fruit and came up with blueberry, orange, and finally settled on cocoa orange zest.  Chocolate without the sweetness, and orange peel without the bitterness.  At about 2" it became harsh, so I blew it out and let it rest for a few minutes.  It came back wonderfully.  I think I overheated it.  It lasted another half inch of carefull smoking, then harshened again.  As the nic kick was quite apparent it was abandoned.