Ashton ESG Churchill

[Diplomatico]

Ashton ESG Churchill

Purchased December 2006

Prelight draw/appearance: Superb dark brown, nearly veinless wrapper with an oily touch. Beautiful band, nicely detailed. Neatly clipped with a Xikar, prelight draw a bit less firm than I'm used to but nothing to worry about.

Construction: Solid as a rock, very well rolled with no soft spots. Hints of darker tobacco at the foot of the cigar.

First third: Toasted the foot with wooden kitchen matches. Easy light after that. Begin smoking. Absolutely devoid of any flavor whatsover. Copious amounts of smoke, like smoking hot air. Sour finish...bitter aftertaste that won't go away.

Second third: Quit smoking. Awful aftertaste in my mouth that lingers. Ruins my pint of Guinness. Order an entire bowl of peanuts from the bartender to get the bitter aftertaste out of my mouth.

Final third: Wasn't a final third since I refused to smoke more than the first horrendous 1/3 of this substandard product.

Summary: Easily the worst cigar I have smoked in the last two years.

1/2* out of 10* for construction and appearance.