Kicking off with the Ashton Symmetry Prestige Churchill feels like opening a well-aged whiskey - that first whiff of cedar and fermented tobacco tells you this 6¾"x49 box-pressed stick means business. The Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper glistens with oil droplets, promising smooth draws ahead. My particular specimen had been resting at 65% humidity for two months, developing a faint crystalline bloom on its surface.
First Third: The cold draw delivers sweet hay and barnyard. Upon lighting, sharp red pepper dominates the retrohale while baking spices (cinnamon, nutmeg) coat the tongue. Smoke output remains moderate - about 30% less dense than typical Nicaraguan puros.
Middle Third: Pepper transitions to creamy cashew butter around the 45-minute mark. Noticeable saltiness develops on the lips, pairing beautifully with citrus iced tea. The ash holds strong in 1-inch segments before dropping neatly into the tray.
Final Third: At the 90-minute point, earthiness intensifies with damp oak and black coffee notes. Some bitterness creeps in during the last inch, though less pronounced than in Ashton's ESG series. The nub stays cool despite the tapered head.
The triple-seam cap unravels cleanly with a V-cut. No wrapper tears observed despite its delicate texture. Burn line remains within 1mm variance without correction. Draw resistance scores 7/10 (1=wind tunnel, 10=plugged), producing ideal smoke volume for flavor concentration.
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