Asylum Straight Jacket

When success comes to a business no one has heard of, the public often dubs the outfit an overnight success. While success came quicker than most to Asylum Cigars,...

When success comes to a business no one has heard of, the public often dubs the outfit an overnight success. While success came quicker than most to Asylum Cigars, they are by no means an overnight success story. Asylum co-founder Tom Lazuka would catch the cigar bug in the mid-1990s. He would then get into the cigar business as a sales rep as soon as possible.

Asylum was not formed with Kevin Baxter until 2012. As a sales rep at Camacho Cigars, then owned by Christian Eiroa’s family, Tom would meet a future partner in Eiroa who already had numerous 90+ rated cigars in his portfolio. Certainly not the kind of success that happens overnight.

Quality like that of the limited 90-rated Asylum Straight Jacket cigars do not happen overnight either. The blend is marketed as so out of control strong that it needs a straitjacket, like the one displayed on the band. This is an excellent touch since, with a bit of imagination, it does look like the white jacket is restraining the cigar. If we look even closer, we’ll notice the leather spikes on the shoulders of the straight jacket. So even though some force is trying to contain this cigar’s power, it cannot take away the cigar’s rebel attitude or youthful fashion sense.

Asylum Straight Jacket cigars, while made in Honduras, are Nicaraguan puros. The chocolate-colored wrapper has a lovely sheen to it. The veins are minimal, and the touch is smooth. Beneath this leaf rests a powerful blend of Nicaraguan long-fillers and binder. Once burning, Asylum Straight Jacket cigars deliver a rich smoke covering the palate in raisin, spice, nuttiness, cocoa, and cedar. The second third saw a significant increase in spice and a lighter stepping up of the cedar.

The last third of this banger brings the complexity. It’s not that any new flavors are showing—it’s that each one present is acquiring a serious piece of the pie. The chocolate and spice remain benevolent rulers all the way to the nub.

Now that was a fantastic cigar. We probably need to text our smoking buds about this one.

Please enjoy Asylum Straight Jacket cigars at your leisure.

Asylum Straight Jacket FAQ's

What are the flavors like?

Raisins, spice, nuttiness, cocoa, cedar.
What’s the strength level?

Full.
Who is this cigar for?

Considering they used a punk rock spiked straight jacket to market this one as too strong to contain—we recommend this cigar to experienced smokers only.
Will I want to smoke it to the nub?

It’s a super-powerful stogie. If you’re up to the challenge, we think you’ll go all the way, because the complexity toward the end cannot be denied.
What’s a good pairing with it?

Smoke Asylum Straight Jacket cigars with Bomb! Stouts by Prairie Artisan Ales. There is chocolate, spice, and nutty notes on each side. Should be a fantastic introduction.
What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar?

Considering the strength involved, smoke this one sitting down at the end of the day.
Any flaws/downsides?

The straight jacket turned out to be just a band, after all.

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Asylum Straight Jacket FAQ's

What are the flavors like?

What’s the strength level?

Who is this cigar for?

Will I want to smoke it to the nub?

What’s a good pairing with it?

What’s the best time/place to smoke this cigar?

Any flaws/downsides?