Asylum Serenity Now 54×6

Frank: The doctor gave me a relaxation cassette. When my blood pressure gets too high, the man on the tape tells me to say, Serenity now!

Jerry: Are you supposed to yell it?

Frank: The man on the tape wasn’t clear!

The Serenity Now / Insanity Later line from Asylum Cigars is a dual-cigar experience designed to showcase contrast and balance. Packaged in a unique clear display, the cigars alternate in a striking pattern, visually reinforcing their opposing yet complementary profiles. The Serenity Now cigar features a smooth Connecticut-seed wrapper, designed to deliver a creamy, mild-to-medium smoke with subtle spice and a refined finish. In contrast, Insanity Later embraces boldness with a darker, fuller-bodied blend that is said to ramp up in strength and intensity as it burns.

Asylum Serenity Now 54×6 Breakdown

Produced in Honduras, the Serenity Now cigar features a Connecticut-seed wrapper over binder and fillers from Honduras and South America—the latter being harvested from a new farm that is owned by Asylum co-founder Christian Eiroa. The blend is crafted to provide a mild-to-medium-bodied smoke with a touch of spice, ensuring that it remains dynamic rather than one-dimensional. The question is, does this cigar truly bring a sense of relaxation and balance, or is there an unexpected kick hiding under its delicate appearance?

Appearance

The Serenity Now Connecticut presents itself with an elegant and inviting aesthetic. The wrapper is a golden brown with a smooth texture and a slightly oily sheen. It has minimal veins, and the seams are nearly invisible. When held in hand, the cigar feels firm with only a slight give.

A pre-light sniff brings forward fresh hay, sweet cream, and cedar. There is also a mild nuttiness, reminiscent of toasted almonds, with a subtle hint of baking spice. The foot of the cigar offers a touch of vanilla and a faint citrus zest, adding a refreshing contrast to the overall sweetness.

The cold draw is excellent, coming in at a resistance level of 8 out of 10. It provides flavors of graham cracker, honey, and a light white pepper that tingles the lips.

Smoking Experience

Upon lighting, the Serenity Now Connecticut delivers an immediate wave of creaminess, coating the palate with notes of sweet vanilla, toasted almond, and light cedar. The Connecticut wrapper provides its signature smoothness, but there is an underlying vibrancy that keeps it from feeling flat. A touch of white pepper spice appears on the retrohale, offering a mild but noticeable kick that lingers momentarily before fading into a warm cinnamon-like sweetness. The smoke production is impressive, with each draw producing thick, voluminous output that feels velvety on the palate. The burn line is straight, with only the slightest waviness, and the ash holds firm, stacking up to nearly an inch before falling in a solid chunk. The cigar smokes effortlessly, requiring no touchups. At this stage, the draw is an ideal 8 out of 10. Flavor is a balanced medium, body is mild/medium, and strength is mild.

As the cigar progresses, the flavors deepen and take on a richer character. While the creaminess is still present, it now shares the stage with buttered toast, caramel, and a light espresso. The white pepper spice from the first third has mellowed slightly, but it still provides a subtle kick, especially on the retrohale. A delicate citrus zest emerges in the background, adding a touch of brightness that complements the overall profile. There is also a soft floral note that drifts in and out, giving the blend an extra layer. The burn remains sharp with no need for touchups, and the ash continues to hold well, though it becomes slightly more fragile than in the first third. Smoke output is consistent, providing thick, creamy plumes with each draw, which remains steady at an 8 out of 10. The only thing moving in terms of flavor/body/strength is the body portion—stepping up to medium.

As the cigar approaches its pinnacle, I am reminded that there is no band to take off, and I find this slightly disappointing. The profile shifts somewhat, becoming more toasty and earthy. The sweetness begins to fade, making way for notes of toasted oak, light leather, and a nutty, cashew-like finish. The white pepper that had settled in the middle of the smoking experience returns, making its presence known on the tongue and especially on the retrohale, where it provides a lingering tingle. The citrus zest has disappeared, replaced by a deeper, more roasted character. There is a hint of cocoa powder and cinnamon spice, adding a pleasant richness to the last few inches of the smoke.

Construction remains solid, though the ash becomes flakier toward the end. The burn line is still respectable, requiring only a minor touchup in the last stretch. The draw remains consistently at 8 out of 10, maintaining the easygoing but controlled airflow that has been a hallmark of this cigar. Flavor closes out at medium to full, body maintains at medium, and strength ticks up to medium.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

I most certainly would. Serenity Now by Asylum is an excellent example of a Connecticut-wrapped cigar that breaks the mold. It delivers a smooth and creamy experience while maintaining enough complexity to keep things engaging. The transition from sweetness in the first half to a more toasty, nutty, and spicy profile in the final third ensures that it remains dynamic throughout the smoking experience. The construction is great, with a near-perfect draw, steady burn, and ample smoke production. While traditional Connecticut smokers might be surprised by the touch of spice and deeper body, those who enjoy Connecticut cigars with a bit more character will find plenty to love here.

• The “serenity now” bit that inspired the cigar’s name comes from the Seinfeld episode titled “The Serenity Now,” which is the third episode of season nine of Seinfeld. It originally aired on October 9, 1997.
• The Serenity Now / Insanity Later juxtaposition isn’t directly mentioned in the episode. Instead, it is implied through Lloyd Braun and Frank Costanza’s interactions, with Lloyd mocking Frank’s ‘serenity now’ mantra in a smug, sing-song way. The insanity later part isn’t spoken but plays out when Kramer, also using ‘serenity now,’ later explodes—smashing some computers—proving the bottled-up stress erupts eventually.
• Earlier this year, Cigar Dojo named the Asylum Serenity Now our No. 18 Cigar of the Year for 2024.
• Currently, the Asylum Serenity Now cigar ranks on Dojoverse as “100% Smokable,” placing in the top 30 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

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