Asylum 12 Announced, Shipping Next Year

For the last few years, CLE Cigar Co. has brought not only the annual Asylum anniversary cigar to the PCA Convention & Trade Show, it’s also brought the following year’s cigars.

That trend will continue at this week’s 2023 PCA Convention & Trade Show, where the company will begin selling the Asylum 11 and will show off the upcoming Asylum 12. The Asylum 12 marks a new direction for the series, which has consisted of blends made entirely of Honduran tobacco. For Asylum 12, the company is using tobacco from the company’s new farm in an undisclosed South American country for the wrapper, binder and filler. That includes Piñareno tobacco for the wrapper and filler, while the binder is corojo-seed. The Asylum 12 is offered in the same two vitolas as the previous releases in the Asylum Anniversary Series. Like those other releases, each cigar is packaged in a wooden coffin.

• Asylum 12 11/18 (6 x 48/54/48) — $21.60 (Box of 20, $432)
• Asylum 12 70 x 7 (7 x 70) — $26.60 (Box of 20, $532)

“I have always considered the Asylum brand as an almost experimental project in where I can play with all kinds of off-the-wall blends, vitola sizes, and unique packaging,” said Christian Eiroa, founder of CLE Cigar Co., in a press release. “I strongly believe that we have hit the mark with the Asylum 12 2024.”

The 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show will take place March 22-25 in Las Vegas, an earlier date than normal. CLE Cigar Co. says it will ship the cigars in mid-2024.

Update — Added blend info.