Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Lonsdale
Size : 6 1/2 x 44
Ring : 44
Wrapper : Ecuador
Filler : Dominican Republic
Binder : Dominican Republic
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10 each
Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) was introduced in 1999 and it’s without doubt the most successful blend of the marca. Conceived in close cooperation with Oliva and Fuente families, it is blended from Dominican tobacco aged for 4-5 years, wrapped in an Ecuadorian leaf which is slowly matured under the sunlight filtered by clouds always present in the region. It has scored countless 90+ ratings from CI/CA and is considered one of the most sought-after cigars on the market.
Appearance : Rating: 
The cigar is… gorgeous. The sun-grown wrapper is quite toothy and seems to radiate sunlight. The cap is expertly applied and the band looks really classy.
Construction : Rating: 
I’ve had 3 singles for this review and the only thing I can reproach to the VSG is a slightly uneven burn which might need a few corrections here and there. Other than that, there is nothing that can distract you from the smoking experience…
Flavor : Rating: 
…which is exceptional. Pre-light, it exhales strong notes of coffee with an obvious sweetness due to the sun-grown wrapper. Once lit, the initial spiciness is nicely mixed with sweet vanilla flavors. As the spice mellows out, a whole array of flavors appears – nuts, roasted coffee, butter – with earthy undertones in the background. The bouquet is incredibly smooth but the smoke is definitely full-bodied.
Value : Rating:
A $10 price tag suggests that this cigar is positioned in the premium category. Nice presentation, good construction and wonderful flavors justify this positioning.
Overall Rating : Rating:
I will join the opinion of many aficionados and will admit that the Ashton VSG must be the best blend produced by the company. I was impressed by the creaminess offered by such a powerful cigar. I highly suggest you to try one if you somehow managed to avoid it until now.
Photo credit: Richard Cordero
This post was written by Denis aka Inspector, who founded CigarInspector.com back in 2007. Click here for his latest articles and more information.
