Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown)

American Robert Levin founded the Ashton brand in 1985 and has since achieved great success with it worldwide. Since then, the cigars have been produced totalmente a mano (hand-rolled) by the most skilled Torcedores (rollers), among others in the world-renowned Arturo Fuente manufactory (Dominican Republic). The Nicaraguan cigars from Ashton (or rather under the names Paradiso, La Aroma del Caribe and Benchmade) are produced at Tabacalera My Father Cigars of the Garcia family.

Ashton VSG: A Masterpiece of Cigar Craftsmanship by Robert Levin and Arturo Fuente

The finest and richest tobaccos of the Dominican Republic are used for the filler and binder, giving the Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) its unique complexity. These premium cigars are finished with a dark and oily wrapper from Ecuador. Only the upper leaves are used—those that have been exposed to the sun for a particularly long time. This makes the wrapper “greasy” and gives the cigar plenty of strength. Carlos Fuente Jr. (Carlito) is responsible for this blend; he selected Dominican tobaccos aged for four to five years. The result is a perfect balance of complexity and character—or as Carlito would say: “Muy delicioso!”

In terms of flavor, the VSG clearly surpasses the other series. It offers a full and complex aroma, perfectly rounded and balanced by six (!) different tobaccos and their years of aging. The name Ashton, by the way, goes back to the famous pipe maker William Ashton Taylor from England, who crafted excellent pipes there. In addition to the VSG, the Maduro, Classic, ESG, and Cabinet series are also distributed by Ashton. Here we have compiled some ratings from cigar magazines for you:

• A multi-award-winning line that, in addition to the Cigar Trophy (best cigar from the Dominican Republic), has also been awarded “Brilliant” several times.
• Cigar Journal wrote: “Anyone looking for full-bodied cigars and an intoxicating taste experience with a complex, long finish will find exactly that in the Ashton VSG. (...) It is a perfectly crafted cigar that unfolds a peacock’s tail of flavors on the palate.”

As is often the case in life, true treasures only reveal themselves when you look beyond the obvious; otherwise, you might miss out on a delicacy like Ashton VSG. And that would be a shame! From the very beginning, it has been known as a consistently high-quality hand-rolled cigar. To this day, ASHTON uses a golden-brown Connecticut wrapper along with a blend of aged Dominican tobaccos to create a medium-bodied cigar that convinces even experienced smokers. But the creator did not rest on his laurels.

The Exceptional Ashton VSG: A Cigar for Connoisseurs and Enthusiasts

There is a small but steadily growing segment of the market that seeks a full-flavored, strong, fiery cigar. Carlos Fuente Jr. spent two years developing this product and created a cigar with incredible taste and an aroma so powerful that we recommend smoking it while seated. The wrapper is a deep-colored, hand-selected, sun-grown tobacco cultivated by the Oliva family in Ecuador. This wrapper is often fermented and is dark, oily, and as strong as a mule kick. This tobacco had never been grown on this farm before the legendary Angel Oliva discovered it and decided it was the best place to cultivate wrapper leaves. The binder and filler are artful blends of full-flavored, strong leaves and very old Dominican tobaccos from the Fuente farms. The final product matures for a full six months before being rolled into cigars. Ashton VSG is not for everyone. It is intended for the cigar connoisseur seeking a full-bodied, powerful cigar that leaves a lasting impression. Carlito assembled this cigar in his own way and once again proved that he is a master of his craft. In the February issue of Cigar Insider, a leading newsletter published by Cigar Aficionado, it states: “... Connoisseurs are choosing the new Ashton Virgin Sun Grown with a fervor not seen in the industry for years...” Cigar Insider reported a demand for VSG “unmatched since the end of the cigar boom.” After a tasting, the magazine awarded the VSG a score of 93, giving it one of the highest ratings ever received by a non-Cuban brand.