Agile Cigar Reviews replace what we termed “Assessment Updates”. The concept is the same, but the name is different. Agile Cigar Reviews use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or providing a score for a first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today we look at the Asylum 13 80 x 8. We have assessed the Asylum 13 before, but in different sizes, most recently in a 6 x 80 size back in May, 2013.

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Size: 8 x 80

Three years ago, Asylum Cigars introduced an 80 ring gauge cigar in the form of a 6 x 80 vitola to its Asylum 13 Nicaraguan puro line.  That size would eventually carry over into to the Asylum 13 Authentic Corojo and Asylum 13 Ogre line. Last year, an even larger vitola would be added across all of the blends in the Asylum 13 line – this time in the form of a monster-sized 8 x 80 vitola. Today we look at that 8 x 80 vitola for the Asylum 13 Nicaraguan puro blend – officially dubbed the 80 x 8.

As we see below, the 8 x 80 vitola is enormous when compared to the Asylum 13 .

 

Like when I smoked the 6 x 80 cigar in 2013, the initial cut was a bit of a challenge. I opted to use the same approach on the 8 x 80 as the 6 x 60 – namely work with three punch cuts into the cap.

While I didn’t find this 8 x 80 vitola to be the most complex, it did deliver some nice flavor. The flavors delivered were nut, earth, and black pepper. I found the first half to be nutty while the second half was more earth. There was a slight natural tobacco sweetness along the way. I didn’t get the “sour cherry sweetness” that I gotten on the 6 x 80 vitola I smoked, but this 8 x 80 vitola smoked seemed to have more age on it. The flavors delivered were medium-bodied and this was countered by medium strength.

The 8 x 80 had an excellent burn. The burn of the 8 x 80 required some touch-ups, but it was not out of the ordinary. Like the 6 x 80, the combustion was excellent and I managed to get a nub on the firmer side. The draw to the 8 x 80 performs quite well. It had a little bit of resistance to it – which I like. One thing is – puffing on an 80 ring gauge parejo cigar is not going to be for everyone. This is something to consider when smoking this cigar.

There won’t be anything revolutionary or complex about the flavors of the 8 x 80 offering of the Asylum 13, but they still are enjoyable. Overall, I would probably recommend the Asylum 13 in its 50 or 60 ring gauge offerings, but this 8 x 80 is certainly a fun (and different) smoke – and one I recommend trying one and seeing what you think.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Low
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: 2.5-Try One
Score: 88

References

Original Assessment: Asylum 13, Asylum 13 6 x 80
News: Asylum Adds 8 x 80 and Super 11/18 to Asylum 13, Asylum 13 Authentic Corojo, and Asylum 13 Ogre Lines
Price: $10.00
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 181
Stogie Feed: Asylum 13 80 x 8