This is probably my favorite Asylum cigar. I actually bought a 10 box of these from Stag Tobacconist in Arizona. They're harder to find in my area, but if you see one. Get it.
I'm very big on presentation. I'm attracted to bands and creativity. When I saw a cigar wrapped in a straight jacket I knew I needed it.
Before lighting it I could smell leather and get a hint of it drawing unlit. Very sturdy construction and tight wrapper. Some veins. Not too oily but a nice semi gloss sheen.
First puffs give me a lot of smoke and spice. It's easy on the tongue but clears the olfactory system. The spice hits right in the back of the tongue nicely. Watching it burn gives a lot of smoke and goes evenly. This cigar will not fall apart in your mouth if you are out working or even just relaxing outback or in a lounge.
It's got a very smooth smoking experience. I'm about an hour into the stick and it's keeping all of its qualities. This is a very enjoyable cigar. I don't think I've had anything bad from Asylum.
I recommend this to smokers of all experience. It would pair well with Slipknot or some 80s thrash metal. I was listening to mix of Judas Priest and Slipknot while smoking this.
I really hate writing blogs. It's really crazy because I always wanted to be a writer. The problem I have is when you first start a blog, you have all these ideas and you write them all out and then you hit a plateau. The ideas and topics are no longer there and so your blog sets and you can't just ran like you would on video or in real life. So I stopped writing the blog especially when all my writings are being deleted. Because the stupid app on my phone was not saving drafts.
I was given the idea to write a blog about hating blogs last night by my friend Johnny Ortiz. He's a really good guy and a great cigar smoker. So here I am writing a blog for the first time in months. Not sure if I'm really going to talk about cigars but I probably will.
When I first started this thing I really had no friends in the cigar community except for a very select few. Now it seems like everybody wants to be my friend whether they talk to me or not. I still have a closeness circle that's just gotten a little bit bigger. I'm learning more about reviewing and tasting cigars. One day I might actually be A legit cigar reviewer. But until that time comes I'm just going to be the crazy guy driving and smoking.
I'm actually thinking of deleting this on my own without having the app do it but for your own pleasure I guess I'll leave it up. Then you can go ahead and like all my social media stuff.
What's the big deal in getting a deal? Saving money or getting a great product at percentage of the retail price? When I first started smoking fine hand rolled cigars, I took advantage of all the great online deals. I felt like a big time smoker. Yet, I was alone in my smoking. Only when someone would come visit me at work was I able to share in a smoking experience. Being that I was on the clock, there wasn't much time to sit and enjoy the company of a brother of the leaf.
Every once in a while I would stop by a local store to purchase some sticks that would hold me over until the next shipment came in. When I finally sat down in a lounge, I got the full experience of my smoke. A gentleman came in, I didn't know him, but we started talking. It was an incredibly relaxing time. I got to watch Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark and my cigar finished just as the Nazi faces melted off. I wondered how I could miss that.
Today I still make some online purchases, but not like I used to. If everyone buys online and forgets about the local store, the cigar lounge will disappear. The extinction of the full cigar experience will be something real. No longer will we be able to meet the men and women that create these wonderful rolled sticks of flavor and spice.
I have friends that work in the online cigar selling world and I would hate to have this be perceived as an attack on them. But I also have friends in the local community and realize that buying local increases local revenue and helps create jobs. It also allows for the entire cigar experience to be enjoyed.
One thing people forget, the online stores give the deals because of the volume of selling. Increase the volume locally and prices could go down. Besides, I see good deals local as well. So I guess the moral is, shop online for that hard to find box or the exclusive product, but don't let the cigar shop suffer. Frequent your local stores, get to know people, appreciate the experience and forget the extra few cents you're spending.
I've recently found myself buying from a local store that is two timezones away. Took advantage of a box deal during a brand celebration and got some hard to find J.Fuego boxes shipped to me. Creating the relationship with the store manager was a fun time and to call up and have people in Arizona know who you are, priceless.
So the next time you need some cigars, take some time to stop by your local store. Cut some time from your busy schedule and sit down for some laughs with people you haven't met yet. It's much better than staring out your window wondering when UPS will show up.
Until then. Have a great day, be blessed
Luv ya bye
This blog was supposed to be strictly about cigars but music is also my passion. So please join me as I embark on melding the cigar and music worlds together.
I love cigars. My goal is to inform the world of some good quality yet inexpensive sticks. We're all on a budget so if you're like me, and smoke multiple sticks in a day, it's best to find something wallet friendly.
I recently purchased a sampler of East. Coast Rollers. It's a mix of Churchill size smokes. The first two I was happy with and will speak of them in a future blog, but I have to explain some things about what I encountered this morning.
I chose a Wicked Woodchuck from my stash and began smoking it. At fist the draw was nice. Even burn. Then I found the only way to get smoke was to blow through the stick.
The construction was poor. The wrapper was coming undone snd so I wasn't able to pull any smoke. On top of that, the short filler was giving me a tobacco breakfast that was making for an aggravating morning.
I don't want to say this is a reflection of the company as a whole, and what va. I expect for something costing around a dollar. I'm always bummed out when I can't finish my smoke and I feel I'm eating my money. I could have bought a dollar sandwich at the fast food. Or another coffee for that matter.
Anyway. There might be another one if these in the mix and I'm hoping this was just a fluke.
One of the best things I find about smoking is the memory with each stick. I'm going to take the time to share a bit of what I enjoy and some memories I have with a particular cigar.
Today's selection will be the Isla del Sol by Drew Estate.
An amazing inexpensive cigar. Flavored with a taste of coffee , it's a dream. If you like sweet then this is good for you.
I remember the first time I was told about this smoke. An asphalt guy pulled in puffing on it and was excited to tell me, "dude you have to try one! Here's the band. It's a $23 cigar a buddy gave me cuz he owed me money ".
Needless to say I wasn't going to pay $23 for a cigar. However when I found myself in a local shop and saw the price point under $5 I had to jump at it. And I'm glad I did.
Another memory was smoking in a cemetery overlooking the Pittsburgh skyline. My wife practicing yoga at the top of the hill and me smoking something glorious. A beautiful view on a beautiful day with a beautiful woman .
One of my fondest memories was the only time I've actually sat in a cigar lounge. I was enjoying my trusty Isla del Sol and watching Raiders of the Lost Ark. Such an awesome experience to get the finish of the cigar as the nazis melted on screen. I found myself in an incredible state of euphoria.
So there's a few of my fondest memories with one of my go to sticks. I hope you get to try one if you haven't already. Follow me on twitter @cs_bones
What is it about a cigar that has caused me to give up 30 smokeless years for an amazing hobby that can also be a little pricey.
The obvious is how relaxing a smoke is. In a high tension labor position I need that stick to keep me from running a shovel into someone's prized rose bushes. Feeling the smoke and smelling the aroma just takes me places it's Ike my brief little taste of kickin a mime in Central Park
Second. The people. Wow the community of cigar smokers is intense. From business men and women to crazy goth/punkl/landscapers like myself. I have met more friends that are accepting of whatever I'm into than any other subculture. As with everything you'll find some pretentious people and it's best to just stay away from them. Don't let anyone make you feel intimidated or inferior in something that is to be enjoyable. There are so many other smokers that can share and teach about what they've experienced.
Lastly. The hunt
There are so many sticks out there that there's always something new to find. I'm always excited to find something new. I admit sometimes the band causes me to purchase it and not necessarily the quality. I have made it my goal to find the best affordable cigars , because in this working class, money is tight.
Be aware that price does not always mean best. Not everyone likes the same smokes. But that's ok. We're all in this together.
Nothing like working with a beer and Asylum Schizo
