Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 5 x 50
Body: Full
Price: $6.00
Today we take a look at the Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive.
BACKGROUND:
NYCTOPHILIA: Preference for the night or darkness.
From the Cigar Aficionado web site:
“There are 13 special cigars heading to a select group of stores across the United States. They were unveiled today at the 47th annual Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) meeting in La Romana, Dominican Republic, and the retailers attending will have a chance to purchase them tomorrow here at a trade show. They will begin appearing in cigar shops over the next several weeks and months, at suggested retail prices ranging from $6 to $18 per cigar.
“The Asylum Nyctophilia is a line of three fat cigars (5 by 50, 6 by 60 and 7 by 70) made with Honduran wrappers and blended to be full in body. Expected in April, the line retails from $6 to $8 per cigar.”
Christian Eiroa was set to release a different version in 2014 but relented. And as a result, I found a lot of conflicting information confusing the 2014 blend with the 2015 version. I checked dates and was very careful. The Cigar Aficionado bit is dated May of 2015 but the Honduran leaf stats were for the 2014 blend, not the 2015. Inconsistencies run rampant like this. So I used the best news source available: Halfwheel.com.
From Halfwheel.com:
“Nyctophilia was announced shortly before the 2014 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show last July. It was originally announced (sic) in 4 x 44, 6 x 50, 6 x 60 and 6 x 66 sizes priced at $7-10.”
Asylum does not explain what factory the cigars were produced in. Just that it was a Nicaraguan factory.
TAA stands for The Tobacconist Association of America retailers.
The list of thirteen 2015 TAA Exclusive Series:
Altadis Por Larrañaga 2015 Limited Edition
Ashton VSG Robusto Especial TAA Exclusive
Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive
Crowned Heads The Angel’s Anvil MMXV
Drew Estate Acid Big Bang TAA Exclusive
LFD 2015 47th Limited Edition
My Father Limited Edition 2015
Nat Sherman Pan Americana TAA Exclusive
Padron 1926 #47 Limited Edition
Padron 1964 Toro TAA Exclusive
SAG Casa Magna Limited Edition 2015
Tatuaje Exclusive Series 2015
DESCRIPTION:
Solid little firecracker. A very dark coffee bean color with lots of oil that my early morning photos don’t pick up. The problem is that the shiny silver foot band reflects the artificial lighting system no matter what I do. I will try to rectify this as we go.
Seams are invisible. A boat load of veins mostly hidden by the extremely dark wrapper. And the stick feels like fine sandpaper. The triple cap is sloppy but I have only one stick.
Which reminds me. I need to thank a good friend, Paul Stulac, for giving me a bunch of samples he made off with at this year’s IPCPR trade show and sending them to me. Unfortunately, there is only one of each so I will be guessing on their readiness to review.
SIZES AND PRICING:
5 x 50 ($6.00)
6 x 60 ($7.00)
7 x 70 ($8.00)
25 count boxes
AROMAS AND COLD DRAW NOTES:
The shaft smells of floral notes, spice, cocoa, coffee, cedar, candy sweetness, and earthy tobacco.
The clipped cap and foot smell of beef jerky, chocolate, spice, espresso, barnyard, and floral notes.
The cold draw presents flavors of rich milk chocolate, sweetness, shaved coconut, and rich tobacco.
FIRST THIRD:
The draw is a bit tight. But no need for the cigar awl quite yet.
Loads of flavors: Chocolate, espresso, shaved coconut, marshmallow, new leather, and just a hint of black pepper.
Strength is medium/full from the get go. The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive is going to be a ball buster the last third.
I’m getting a big soft salty pretzel flavor. I had to stop eating those at fairs and carnivals because of the excess amount of salt. I would go into anaphylactic shock. Just kidding. But those things were like pouring a salt shaker down your throat.
The heat and humidity are terrible here. Dry boxing is impossible as it is over 70% humidity in the house with de-humidifiers cranking away.
So I’m having a minor burn problem with the char line. Nothing major but something that happens when the stick isn’t dry enough.
I taste vanilla cookie dough. And oatmeal. Strange flavor profile.
Spice finally breaks on through to the other side. Strange that such a potent cigar would be missing spiciness at the start. But it’s here now and all is well in the universe.
The char line now seems to have worked out its kinks.
The sun isn’t where I want it but I’m getting some residual sunniness and in the pic below you can see imperfections in the wrapper. Indoor lighting hides them.
SECOND THIRD:
Smoke time has been nearly 30 minutes.
The sun is out enough that you can see more detail of the wrapper. Looks like a topography map.
The sweet spot has landed. Very savory and sweet at the same time.
Strength hits full body.
Creaminess makes its debut. It pulls the flavor profile together: Chocolate, coffee, spice, creaminess, salty pretzel, coconut, wood, leather, rich earthiness, oatmeal. The marshmallow was replaced by the creaminess and the vanilla cookie dough is history.
Oh lord this cigar is good. The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive is like no other Asylum I’ve smoked and I’ve smoked, and reviewed, them all.
There is a denseness of character. Like eating chocolate cheesecake.
I wish my palate were better. There is an “It” factor that I’m not able to describe to my satisfaction. It is a convergence of all that is good about a wonderful blend.
The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive should fly off the shelves; especially with this price point. You gotta hand it to Christian Eiroa for listening to his customers and others who complain about the needlessly high price point of new cigars. He just proved that a great cigar need not cost $17.00. He must be a solid dude. Feet on the ground. I would love to meet him. But alas, I am a cigar outsider so I doubt that will ever happen.
HALFWAY POINT:
Smoke time is a bit over 45 minutes. Nice long smoke.
The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive proves that when a blender puts his heart and soul into blending a killer cigar, the wonders of the universe lay at his feet. And we, the smoking public, benefit from it.
I checked and a few online stores carry these sticks but most were out of stock. They should be replenished soon and more stores will be carrying them.
I will have to Andy Kaufman wrestle with my wife to get her to let me buy a box. I will lose. She is thin, but tough.
Here they are: Creaminess, spice, chocolate, espresso, wood, meaty, leather, floral notes are back, oatmeal, and a very rich earthy tobacco element.
This is very close to a perfect cigar for my palate. I’m going to break with tradition and rate it at the end of the review.
Gloriosky Bullwinkle. The cigar band comes off clean.
My new favorite cigar. The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive is marvelous. That’s two rave reviews in a row. I’m on a roll.
John Kozlowski has become a wonderful benefactor. He sent me these 11 cigars for review:
Gunslinger Drifter
Gunslinger Perdition
J.Grotto Reserve
J.Grotto Anniversary
GTO Painkiller
RoMa Craft Neanderthal
Asylum Nyctophilia
Espinosa Laranja Reserve
Arandoza Blue label
Island Jim no.2
Pura Sangre
So between what Paul sent me and John sent me, I will be in business for a while.
Now the trick is to know when they are ready to review. May the Cosmic Muffin insert the Great Wisdom of the Olive Tree into my puny, and fading, brain.
Speaking of which, I’m finding I have good and bad days with the Alzheimer’s. I cherish the good days. But I am truly lost since I discovered I can no longer play the bass. 50 years down the toilet. Don’t cry for me Argentina.
It really put a twist in Charlotte’s panties when the doctors told me how important it is that I keep reviewing. Sort of exercise for my brain. So I have a cigar budget once again. But have to use it on Cbid.
OK. Enough fol de rol. Back to the Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive. This is one of the most kick ass cigars I’ve smoked. And so far, no nicotine. I know, I know. I just jinxed it.
There are flavors that I cannot describe to you. They are rich and decadent. I guess this is a sign of my dementia.
There is a dominant flavor that I can’t grasp. It is delicious and makes the blend. Damn. What is it?
It’s a combo of caramel, vanilla, and butterscotch! Screw you dementia! LOL.
LAST THIRD:
Kudos Christian Eiroa. A master stroke of blendsmanship.
The char line needs its first minor touch up.
This is one of the smoothest full body blends I’ve smoked.
And now comes the nicotine. Natch.
Sweet Spot 2.0 enters stage right.
Slowing down enhances the flavor profile. Slowing at the normal pace will make me fall out of my chair from the nicotine.
Smoke time is well over an hour.
The finish is cool. No harshness.
The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive is a brilliant blend.
PRICE POINT:
The Asylum Nyctophilia Maduro TAA Exclusive price is a godsend. There is a 5 pack in my future. But first, I need my social security check. Like all old men.
I must admit it is a pleasure to see something come out of the 2015 IPCPR trade show that doesn’t cost $15.00. I know you’ve been getting the same emails asking you to pre-order this or that and then you click on the “Buy Here” and you nearly faint when you see a 5 pack is over $70.00. Fugeddaboudit.
SUMMATION:
Eiroa proves with this blend that he has a passion for cigars unmatched by others in the cigar industry. I love the Asylum 13 Ogre Barber Pole, Asylum Straight Jacket, Asylum 13 Authentic Corojo, and the Asylum 13. All fantastic cigars. I gave super rave reviews for all of them.
John sent me an Ogre Barber Pole. Or was it Paul? I have to start writing down shit from now on.
This is the kind of cigar that ruins the rest of your cigar smoking day. Nothing will compare to the quality.
Not a single construction issue.
Complex, perfect balance, and a nice long finish. And the price is right. What more could you ask for?
Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Cigar Reviews by Phil 'Katman' Kohn 
This is my favorite cigar so far this year! AWESOME smoke, I have smoked 2 dozen cigars 2x the price that aren’t even half as good LOL I went for a box purchase, I had to ($130 for 25). Another note about this cigar; It uses 100% maduro tobacco in the blend.
Please back up your claim that it is 100% maduro.