I don't know about recent production, but I have 9 early to mid-80s Ascortis that I smoke on a semi-regular basis, plus three others from that time period that were professionally cleaned and given to me that I haven't smoked yet. The 9 I have smoked are great smokers, and have always done well no matter what blend I've smoked in them. I don't know anything about the quality of them from the 1990s on, but if they are anything like the ones I own, they will do well for you.