PCA 2022: Asylum

Asylum, and by extension CLE Cigar Co., opted for a very similar setup this year as they had last year, though maybe walls are making a comeback?

If you look at my 2019 coverage of the booth, the structure they used for many years was a high-walled behemoth that felt very enclosed. However, as many companies did in 2021, the booth became minimalistic. Not that it was bad, but I thought it made photographing the booth much easier than the previous design. This year, the booth is still very open, though adding a single wall for product display, which might suggest that walls are slowly returning.

Yes, I know that booth looks fairly empty and there’s a good reason for that, two good reasons actually. First, this was shot on the Day 3 because the booth was so busy on Day 2 when I was originally scheduled to cover it that I didn’t want to interrupt any sales meetings to do so. Secondly, this was right as the show was opening, so retailers had barely been let onto the floor.

Asylum 10

Continuing the anniversary line of cigars, the Asylum 10 is celebrating 10 years as a brand. The line started back in 2019 with the Seven and was a Nicaraguan wrapper over Honduran tobacco, then the following two years each being Honduran puros. Initially, the blend was not disclosed, but here at the show, it was noted to be a Honduran puro again this year.

• Wrapper: Honduras
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras

• Asylum 10 11/18 (6 x 48/54/48) — $20.60 (Box of 20, $412)
• Asylum 10 70 x 7 (7 x 70) — $25.60 (Box of 20, $512)

Production: 1,300 Boxes of 20 Cigars Per Size (52,000 Total Cigars)

Release Date: July 2022

Asylum 11

The Asylum 11 box was being teased as well, although there is currently no blend, pricing, or production information for the release. CLE did note that it will also be shipping in July next year.

Asylum PCA Exclusive 2022

The day before the show started I stopped by to chat with the Asylum/CLE crew and they noted that UPS had not delivered a shipment that included many of the new cigars. By the end of the show, the delivery still had not shown up, so the Asylum PCA Exclusive 2022 was unfortunately not there to photograph. The only difference in this year’s release vs the 2021 release is that they are round instead of box-pressed.

• Wrapper: Honduras (Habano Hybrid)
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras

• Asylum PCA Exclusive 2022 50×5 (5 x 50) — $16 (Box of 20, $320)
• Asylum PCA Exclusive 2022 11/18 (6 1/4 x 52/60) — $17 (Box of 20, $340)
• Asylum PCA Exclusive 2022 60×6 (6 x 60) — $18 (Box of 20, $360)

Production: Regular Production

Release Date: July 2022

Asylum April Fools’

The cigar that literally started as a joke will be returning for April Fools’ Day next year. Last year on April 1, 2021, Asylum posted an image of the 9 x 90 behemoth to their Instagram page. The interest in the cigar was real, however, and they decided to make it a limited release. The initial batch was shipped later that year, but another shipment made it to stores in time for April Fools’ 2022. It seems that the cigar has taken hold now as a yearly limited production, as it will be returning for 2023.

• Wrapper: Honduras
• Binder: Honduras
• Filler: Honduras

• Asylum April Fools’ (9 x 90) — $40

Production: Undisclosed

Release: Q1 2023

Asylum Fresh Pack

Last up is the new Asylum Fresh Pack which comes with four 6 x 60 cigars inside a sealed bag with a Boveda pack inside to keep the cigars at the perfect humidity level. The sampler will include one of each of the Asylum 13 Corojo, Asylum 13 Connecticut, Asylum Nictophilia, and Asylum Straight Jacket.

MSRP: $35

Production: Regular Production

Release: August/September 2022