Let's talk about the Ashton Aged Maduro No.20 - that dark, oily corona (5½" x 44) from the Dominican Republic that costs about $11 per stick in 25-count boxes. Blending Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro with aged Dominican fillers, this Fuente-rolled cigar gets extra cedar cabinet aging that shows in its smoothness. You'll see toothy texture under the triple cap and smell fermented earth before lighting.
Cold draw serves damp earth and molasses. Initial puffs bring espresso bitterness with black pepper on retrohale - medium smoke output. Burns razor-straight, ash holding firm. Midway through first inch, dark chocolate emerges as pepper fades.
Cocoa powder coats the palate with leather undertones. Smoke turns creamier, sweetness intensifies like stewed plums. Watch for occasional canoeing if smoked quickly. Retrohale now shows baking spices instead of pepper.
Mineral notes creep in at last two inches. Cedar joins the earthy core, sweetness dials back to molasses level. Nicotine buzz becomes noticeable - pair with sugared coffee. Some report tight draws in final third.
