Hiram & Solomon Ashlar

Last year, Hiram & Solomon announced a new release that was created to commemorate the company’s 10th year in business. The limited-edition cigar is named Ashlar, a Freemason term for a stone that symbolizes a mason’s moral self-improvement and spiritual growth.

While the 6 x 52 cigar was shown off at last year’s PCA Convention & Trade Show, the torcedor—or cigar roller—who was supposed to roll the cigars passed away in an accident, thus delaying the project’s release. The cigars were finally released in April of this year.

Most of Hiram & Solomon’s cigars are made at PDR Cigars, but the company has not disclosed which factory produced this cigar. As for the blend, the wrapper is a five-year-old hybrid made from habano and Connecticut seeds, while the binder is from Indonesia and filler includes broadleaf and HVA, aged for seven to 10 years. Outside of the binder, the company has not said where the tobaccos came from.

There are two packaging formats: the first option is limited to 25 individually numbered boxes, only 10 of which were slated for the U.S. Each of the 25 numbered boxes also comes with a custom Les Fines Lames Le Petit cigar knife that features Hiram & Solomon’s branding as well as masonic imagery.

There are also an additional 1,000 boxes of 10 without the knife, for a total of 10,250 cigars.

• Hiram & Solomon Ashlar (6 x 52) — $32 (Box of 10, $320)
• Hiram & Solomon Ashlar Collector’s Edition (6 x 52) — $200 (Box of 10, $2,000)

“Ashlar symbolizes the transformation from rough to refined, a perfect reflection of our journey and the craftsmanship that defines us,” said Fouad Kashouty, founder and ceo of Hiram & Solomon Cigars, in a press release when the cigar was announced. “This is more than a product launch. It’s a celebration of who we are and what we stand for.”

• Cigar Reviewed: Hiram & Solomon Ashlar
• Country of Origin: Undisclosed
• Factory: Undisclosed
• Wrapper: Undisclosed (Habano & Connecticut-seed Hybrid)
• Binder: Indonesia
• Filler: Undisclosed (Broadleaf, HVA Ligero & Seco)
• Length: 6 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Shape: Round
• MSRP: $32 (Box of 10, $320)
• Release Date: April 2026
• Number of Cigars Released: 1,025 Boxes of 10 Cigars (10,250 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

It is hard not to be a bit overwhelmed by the combination of black and gold that covers the Hiram & Solomon Ashlar: one main band, one secondary band, one foot band made of gold foil paper and one foot band made of black ribbon. Interestingly, the combination of all four actually makes the dull, brown wrapper look a bit lifeless. Taking off the two-foot bands, I can tell that despite the obvious lack of oil, the wrapper is fairly smooth to the touch, and while there are plenty of veins, very few protrude very far. The first and third cigars also feature some mottling that the second cigar lacks almost entirely, but all three cigars are nicely firm when squeezed. Nutmeg and a strong but generic woodiness lead the aromas coming from the wrappers, followed by creamy nuttiness, barnyard, hay and sweet bread. A scent of fresh cut lumber is the strongest note from the feet, along with cinnamon, leather, dark chocolate, earth and apple juice. After straight cuts, the cold draws bring similar flavors of creamy cedar, sweet leather, more cinnamon, roasted peanuts, a raw vegetal and a touch of a metallic note.

Initially, a strong metallic note is present, and while it does not last more than five puffs, it is not the best way to start a cigar. Thankfully, that note is replaced by a combination of generic woodiness and a touch of spice on my tongue. Main flavors of creamy cedar and dark chocolate emerge, followed by secondary flavors of gritty earth, rich coffee beans, dry hay, leather tack, chalk and a light vegetal note. The retrohale is similar for all three cigars and consists of equal parts white pepper and a combination of honey and bread that reminds me of Honeycomb cereal, sans milk. However, the flavors on the finish are different for each cigar: the first cigar has a floral note that reminds me of perfume, the second has a fairly generic earth flavor, and the third cigar features a very light citrus peel note. Flavor ends the first third at full, but the body lags behind at a point halfway between mild and medium and the strength lands just under the medium mark. There are zero issues with construction across all three cigars, but the razor-sharp burn line is definitely the standout.

During the second third, flavors of toasted bread and cedar take over the top spots in the profiles of the Ashlar cigars, followed by notes of cocoa nibs, barnyard, espresso, creamy hay and cinnamon. The profile has become noticeably drier overall, but there is virtually no change to the retrohale, which is still made up of white pepper and Honeycomb cereal sweetness. By the halfway point, all three cigars feature the same citrus peel note on the finish, but it is lighter on the second cigar and stronger on the third cigar. Flavor remains at full, the body has increased enough to land at a point just under medium and the strength makes it into solid medium territory. Construction-wise, the cigars continue to amaze, with no issues when it comes to the burn lines, smoke production or draw resistance.

There are not many changes to the profile of the Ashlar cigars, and that is not a bad thing at all. The combination of creamy cedar and toasted bread continues to dominate the profiles. Additional flavors include powdery cocoa nibs, straw, cinnamon, peanut butter, chalk and earth. There is a bit more white pepper on the retrohale for all three cigars, along with a slight increase in the amount of sweetness, which now reminds me more of pure honey rather than the Honeycomb cereal note that was present in the first two thirds. The citrus peel note has not budged from the finish, but the first and last cigars do develop a new spice on my tongue that, while noticeable, never becomes strong enough to make any sort of real impact on the profile as a whole. Flavor ends at full, while both the body and strength end at a solid medium. The construction ends up being a broken record in the best way, as the burn lines, draw resistance and smoke production all work in harmony together with nary an issue.

Final Notes

• The metallic note that started the cigar was so aggressive that it meant the first third scored lower than the other two.
• There is a depiction of an Ashlar stone under the name of the cigar on the main band.
• The combination of four different bands takes up about 75 percent of the real estate of the wrapper.
• Kudos to Hiram & Solomon for releasing a more budget-friendly box option without the cutter.
• From the first puff to the last, the construction of these three cigars was phenomenal, a rarity these days.
• In addition, the bands were extremely easy to remove, which I always appreciate.
• The cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.

• These cigars are listed as being 6 x 52 vitolas. Above are the measurements we took when we measured them.
• The final smoking time averaged out to one hour and 51 minutes for all three cigars.
• If you would like to purchase any of the Hiram & Solomon Ashlar cigars, site sponsor Small Batch Cigar sells them on its website.

Hiram & Solomon 10th Anniversary Les Fines Lames Le Petit Cigar Knife
Hiram & Solomon Ashlar
Hiram & Solomon Cigars
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