Ashton VSG vs. Ashton ESG: What’s the Difference?
The Ashton brand was founded by Robert Levin in 1985. He partnered with legendary father-and-son cigarmakers Carlos Fuente Sr. and Carlito Fuente to blend and produce Ashton cigars. Today, this iconic brand is sold in over 75 countries in the finest premium cigar stores in the world. While Ashton Classic, Ashton Aged Maduro, and Ashton Cabinet Selection have been pillars in the company’s portfolio for over three and a half decades, two of the most distinguished blends are Ashton VSG and Ashton ESG. Below we explore both of these pivotal cigars and explain the differences between them.
Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown): The Original Sun Grown Cigar
Ashton VSG is an exemplary full-bodied cigar. VSG stands for “Virgin Sun Grown” and refers to the cigar’s wrapper leaf, which is grown from Sumatra seeds planted in reddish-brown volcanic soil at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the province of Guayas in Ecuador. The wrapper is grown by the Oliva family, owners of the Oliva Tobacco Company, a premium tobacco grower for more than 87 years (distinct from the Oliva brand of cigars). The wrapper crops are naturally filtered from direct sunlight due to the region’s cloud cover. Under the wrapper is a bold and phenomenally smooth recipe of premium Dominican long-filler tobaccos blended and aged by Carlito Fuente, and the cigar is available in a dozen meticulously handcrafted sizes.
Origins of Ashton VSG
When Ashton VSG debuted in 1999, it was among the most sought-after full-bodied cigars available. Fans of Fuente Fuente Opus X flocked to their local retailers to try this strong, new smoke made by Fuente. Like Opus X, however, VSG was produced in very small quantities allocated to select retailers. In the years following its release, the Fuentes scaled up VSG production to meet the increasing demand for stronger cigars, offering the blend in a wide variety of sizes that range from the substantial 7.5-by-54 Spellbound to a small-format 4.375-by-44 Tres Mystique. The 6-by-56 Wizard is a popular big ring, and the Enchantment is an impressive Perfecto that’s just past 4 inches with a 60-ring gauge at its thickest point. All of the sizes are box-pressed, excluding the Eclipse, Pegasus, and Wizard.
Ashton VSG Tasting Notes
Ashton VSG layers the palate with a robust profile of cedar, earth, espresso bean, black pepper, and leather with a subtle, peripheral sweetness. VSG cigars have been ranked in the ‘Top 25 Cigars of the Year’ by the Critics in Cigar Aficionado seven times, and they’ve been rated 90 points or higher over fifty times with an all-time highest score of 94 points. Find out why Ashton VSG is one of the most celebrated Dominican cigars in the world when you add this iconic blend to your humidor today.
Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown): The 20th Anniversary
Following two decades of record growth, the Levin family worked with the Fuente family to develop a special cigar to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Ashton in 2005. Carlito Fuente turned to his rarest tobaccos to create Ashton ESG, which stands for “Estate Sun Grown” and also refers to the cigar’s wrapper leaf. For ESG, the wrapper is harvested on the Fuente family’s exclusive Chateau de la Fuente estates, where the wrapper for Fuente Fuente Opus X is cultivated. While Opus X wrapper crops are grown under shade, Ashton ESG wrappers are grown in direct sunlight, creating an entirely unique flavor profile. Premium Dominican long-filler tobaccos from Carlito Fuente’s oldest reserves of tobacco complete the blend.
Origins of Ashton ESG
The first Ashton ESG cigars officially hit the market in 2006 in a 6.75-by-49 Churchill called the 20-Year Salute. Four additional sizes were added to the line in subsequent years, including the 21-Year Salute (5.25-by-52 Robusto), 22-Year Salute (6-by-52 Torpedo), 23-Year Salute (6.25-by-52 Toro), and the 24-Year Salute (6.625-by-48 Perfecto). Tasting notes of cedar, graham cracker, cocoa, molasses, and black pepper envelop the senses throughout a luscious, medium to full-bodied smoke. ESG is sometimes called the “velvet hammer” because its ultra-smooth finish can be deceptively strong at times.
Ashton ESG Tasting Notes
Ashton ESG is considered a masterpiece by critics and cigar lovers. The 94-rated blend has been featured in the ‘Top 25’ in Cigar Aficionado on three separate occasions. ESG cigars are produced in limited batches due to the rarity and age of the tobaccos that comprise them, but you can find them in select Ashton retailers. Don’t hesitate to try this rare and authentic Dominican Puro from one of today’s most prestigious brands.
