Got it. adding to my wishlist. I'll grab them when I order from CI next.I'm definitely interested in what you think. Make sure you get the 60 ring size.They designate them as "Daytona 660" "F1 660" I may have lost my passion for finding better sticks after these. I celebrate with a few that are more $$$ but they aren't specifically better to me. The Cains are always perfectly rolled, tightly packed and consistent smokes. They do become more engaging as you smoke them as the smoke builds as the stick burns. I cannot smoke one on an empty stomach. The F1 I cannot handle unless quite filled up. I also find a punch works better for sticks bigger than a 50 ring. Feels cooler. The Ashton and some of the Diamond Crown are great cigars.... But neither have the depth or development of those Cain sticks. If I may make a comparison, the Pinot Finish Woodford is more subtle and has a harmony of flavors, but the wonderful mix isn't as deep as Double Oak. Straight up, I like double oak more. With an ice cube the Pinot Finish isenhanced. In the double oak, an ice cube just dilutes the powerful deep flavor. Makes it fall flat IMHO. Pinot Finish would be ideal for old fashioneds to me. But at the price it is, it would be a waste. And so the ashtons and other hyper spendy sticks are the Pinot Finish. Far from my favorite, but a wonderful thing when I want to stray from what I feel is the best. You are smoking the wrong Ashtons. Ashton Symmetrys are wonderful, and a new release. They start out very spicy, with deep rich leather. After 1/3 of the stick it mellows out, becomes woody and creamy smooth, ditching the spice almost completely. With 1/2 of the stick left it all blends together, the spice is evident and somewhat forward, with the smooth creamy background notes. I like the Prestige, which is effectively a Churchill wrap, at a 49 ring with nearly 7 inches of smokeable bliss. Ashton Classics, by comparison, are fairly uni-dimensional. I'll say boring. Ashton VSGs are also fairly stable in the overall flavor. They are very woody, with a decent maduro spice to them. Very good, but not stunning. Considering they are roughly the same cost as a Symmetry, the Symmetry wins this hands down. ESGs... Just try one. See, with the Pinot Finish, I like the complexity. The fruity finish made my spine tingle. I understand the depth of the Double Oaked comparatively, but I like the harmony of the Pinot Finish. FWIW, I also like the Double Oaked Single Barrel better than the plain Double Oaked. I suggest you try it. It costs the same as the traditional DO, so you are going to be hard pressed to complain. I am a bit nervous about the 60 ring. I generally don't like big rings, because of the feel, and the overabundance of filler flavor. I have found that I tend to prefer the complexity of a greater wrapper/filler ratio of a smaller ring. I will try the 60 ring based on your recommendations, though. I might suggest trying smaller rings and longer sticks, particularly on sticks that are known for the quality of their wrappers and complexity, which tends to be derived from the binder and wrapper. I did grab a couple new sticks tonight. I grabbed a Padron 1926 #6 and a Fine and Rare. Close up of the Fine and Rare label. Very limited run of 3000 boxes of 10. There is the Padron 1926 #9 and Padron 1926 #6 next to it. The Fine and Rare and Padrons full shot Some of my favorites in the Humi. Left to right... Alec Bradley Fine and Rare, Padron 1926 #6, and #9, Fuente/Fuente Opus X Lost City, Davidoff Millennium Blend, Arturo Fuente No Name, Ashton ESG, and Arturo Fuente Anejo, Churchill and Toro sizes. I didn't realize I was out of Symmetrys or I would have grabbed a few tonight. I understand your preferences now. In every cigar I have had, more filler actually helps me get more flavor from the wrapper. Or maybe I should say it helps me to savor and find subtitles in the wrapper. The intensity of a small ring size wears me out. I never find more filler to drown out the wrapper, just draw it out. Maybe to you it's like cubes in my double oak. :-) I will see if I can find the single barrel DO.
