Cigars for the Recession: Benchmade

Gordo, 5.5" x 54 ring gauge, $3.85 at my local B&M (far less online)
Here is a double-whammy of unexpectedness for a cigar that falls into the "Cigars for the Recession" review banner: first, this is an Ashton product; second, it is made for them by Don Pepin Garcia. Yes, I am reviewing yet another Garcia blend--can you throw a rock in a humidor and not hit four or five of his creations these days? According to the Ashton website, these cigars are Nicaraguan puros, as well, so this should be an interesting ride, to say the least. Central question here: can a sub-$4 cigar from Pepin Garcia stand up to the Tatuajes, San Cristobals, and My Fathers?

The look of the Benchmade is on the rustic side with a mottled medium-brown wrapper and an ugly pigtail cap. The cigar looks like it has not been treated nicely, with a slightly squished foot and a bit of loose tobacco sticking to it. But it smells great! The body has a classic humidor aroma with a touch of barnyard; the foot is rich compost and cocoa. The prelight draw is excellent--no surprise, since the pigtail required removing almost the entire end. The prelight flavors are chocolate, hay and a little spice.

Initial impression after lighting--spice, black pepper, black coffee, great draw, lots of smoke volume. A cigar with this pedigree should not disappoint and, so far, this does not. This was a really great-tasting stogie!

Halfway through the cigar, my only negative observation was that it seemed to smoke rather quickly, but that should not be a huge surprise in a stick made partly with short-filler leaf. The flavor remained fantastic--peppery with coffee notes and a nice medium-to-full body with a little kick.

This is by far the best cigar I have smoked in the "budget" category. At a little over $2/stick when purchased online by the box, it is a foregone conclusion that I will be making a large purchase of these soon. Thank you, Ashton, for delving into the bargain end of the market. Thank you, Don Pepin Garcia, for making a cheap smoke that can easily stand with the more expensive offerings bearing your name.

Grade: A+