Meet the Ashton Cabinet Selection No 2 - a 7" figurado with 48 ring gauge that comes packed in boxes of 20. This Dominican puro shows off its tapered perfecto shape like a runway model, dressed in Connecticut shade wrapper hugging aged Dominican fillers. Priced around $17 per stick, it's that friend who brings fancy whiskey to casual gatherings - sophisticated but never stuffy.
The cold draw teases vanilla sweetness. Initial puffs deliver cedar planks and cashew butter, with just enough white pepper tingle to remind you this isn't some mild-mannered breakfast cigar. Smoke production stays polite - no fog machine effects here.
As the burn line crosses the figurado's bulge, flavors shift gears. Now it's café au lait with a drop of maple syrup, plus that distinctive Dominican earthiness that somehow manages to taste clean. The ash holds strong for two inches before dropping into a perfect cone.
Leather notes emerge in the home stretch, balanced by lingering creaminess. The last inch brings welcome surprises - a flash of citrus zest here, whisper of baking spices there. While nicotine strength never crosses into heavyweight territory, there's enough oomph to satisfy after-dinner cravings.
The Fuente-made roll shows typical precision - seamless wrapper, perfect draw resistance. Store these around 65% RH to maintain that signature sweetness. While ready to smoke now, aficionados report fascinating honeycomb notes emerging after 12+ months aging.
