Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Asylum Arkham 52×6 is medium brown with some darker marbling and there is a single water spot on the back towards the foot. There is a network of decently raised and fine veins. The seams are pretty smooth and the caps well applied. The cigar is quite firm, with little give when squeezed. The band is black, red and silver and carries the traditional Asylum 13 band design. The aroma from the wrapper is musty cedar while the foot brings a mix of wood and bread. The pre-light draw brings more musty cedar.

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted wood, mustiness and sharp black pepper. At a half inch in, the black pepper loses its sharpness and mellows slightly in fullness. The retrohale is musty, toasted oak with black pepper just behind. At an inch in, the wood is now more defined as oak. At an inch and a half, a light chalkiness joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the musty, toasted oak is up front with the black pepper a bit behind and the chalkiness in the background. The strength is right at medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the black pepper has become very mellow and even with the chalkiness, but it does have a long finish. At a half inch in, the chalkiness is now right behind the musty, toasted oak. The retrohale is now musty, toasted oak and chalkiness. As the third comes to a close, the musty, toasted oak is even with the chalkiness while the black pepper is mild in the background. The strength remains at medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level of the oak becomes fairly heavy and the chalkiness is no longer present. At a half inch in, the heavy toast transitions to char and a light bitterness joins the profile. The retrohale is musty, heavily toasted oak. The cigar wraps up with musty, charred oak with light bitterness and black pepper. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn line was straight the entire way and the ash held on through each third.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted wood, mustiness and black pepper and the wood later became more defined as oak. Some chalkiness joined a bit later and the toast became heavier and transitioned to char with a light bitterness. Construction was great. The Asylum Arkham 52×6 started well, but fell off as the chalkiness joined and the toast level increased. The final third dropped off as the char and bitterness joined. Overall, I don’t see this as a cigar I’d return to as the final third took away from the positives of the first third. The price point is attractive, so it’s an easy try to see what you think.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$1.54

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Asylum Arkham 52×6