Ashton and the Bay

The weekend had arrived and I was at a crossroads. Which cigar should I enjoy this weekend? I mean, I have so many options at my finger tips that this can be a difficult choice. After a drawn out debate I settled on theAshton Churchill. I picked this cigar under the premise that Ashton has long been known for the quality and dependability of their cigars and the fact that Ashton is manufactured in the legendary Tabacalera A. Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic.

After deciding which cigar I wanted to enjoy the next task was to choose where I wanted to enjoy it. Again, not an easy decision to make but I decided it was the perfect time for a nice afternoon outing in Coral Gables’ beautiful Alice Wainwright Park. I packed my flask full of my favorite single malt Bulleit Rye and set out.

The park was a little crowded but I managed to find a nice spot overlooking the bay. It was time to light up. Everything about this cigar was in perfect condition. The wrapper had hardly any veins and was silky smooth, the stick wasn’t too firm or spongy, and the initial pre-light draw gave the perfect amount of flavor.

The first draw was a bit grassy but soon settled into a smooth creamy smoke with hints of vanilla and Café au Lait. I was very pleased with how evenly the cigar burned from the beginning as I sat back to enjoy the sites of the bay. As I worked my way into the middle of this creamy stick I began to pick up hints of almond and cedar that paired well with the whiskey I had brought with me.

The afternoon whiled away and I took my time to enjoy this wonderful blend of Dominican tobaccos. A few dolphin sightings later I was at the end of the cigar with its earthy notes mixing in with the consistent creaminess that I had enjoyed from the first draw.

Overall I was very pleased with the quality and consistency of the cigar, but with the price point floating around $10 a stick there are many other cigars I want to enjoy before giving up my precious humidor space.