Ashton VSG Staff Review
Today I’m smoking an Ashton VSG in a substantial 7.5-by-54 Double Corona called the Spellbound. This bold and decadent smoke hails from a serious pedigree, and it’s blended by legendary cigarmaker Carlito Fuente. When you’re in the mood for a smooth, full-bodied cigar that easily lasts over an hour, allow me to elaborate on why the Ashton VSG Spellbound should be at the top of your list.
VSG stands for “Virgin Sun Grown.” The name refers to the cigar’s Sumatra-seed wrapper leaf, which is harvested in fertile volcanic soil at the foot of the Andes Mountains in the province of Guayas in Ecuador. The tobacco crops grow under sunlight that’s filtered by the region’s natural cloud cover. The wrapper for Ashton VSG cigars is grown by the Oliva Tobacco Company (not related to the Oliva brand of cigars). The Oliva family has been farming premium tobacco for over 87 years. Under the wrapper is an exclusive recipe of premium Dominican long-filler tobaccos aged by the Fuente family.
Ashton VSG cigars debuted in 1999. They were originally made in small batches allocated to select retailers, and they came out at a time when pioneering cigarmakers, like the Fuentes, began producing stronger cigars to accommodate consumers’ shifting preferences for more strength and complexity. As the surge in demand for premium cigars during the Cigar Boom of the 1990s began to taper off, cigar lovers sought out rich, full-flavored blends in lieu of the basic mild cigars that had been prevalent for years. The Dominican Republic, in particular, was predominantly known for producing creamy, mellow cigars until Carlito Fuente unveiled Fuente Fuente Opus X—a potent Dominican Puro that sold out quickly everywhere it was available. Ashton VSG followed the trend with its robust taste and aroma.
When I choose a Spellbound from a fresh box, the cigar’s dark, oily wrapper commands attention. This box-pressed classic resembles a bar of fine chocolate. The cigar is dressed in an intricate band depicting the Ashton crown insignia flanked by a pair of lions. A tender bouquet of cedar, espresso, and leather emanates from the unlit foot when the cellophane is off. After cutting the cap, the cold draw resonates with an earthy sweetness and hints of raisin and dark fruit.
Tasting notes of black pepper, espresso bean, and wood come to life when I slowly toast the foot. A big, malty profile bathes the palate while silky spices settle in the nose during the retrohale. Ashton VSG is a dense cigar with incredibly stimulating and smooth flavor. An immaculate, white-gray ash develops with perfect structure over the first fifteen minutes. The draw is exquisite.
This savory smoke unfolds slowly, offering a mix of coffee bean and cedar throughout the second half. Hints of raisin emerge in the aftertaste while an undercurrent of spice imparts plenty of balance. Ashton VSG is a cigar you should definitely enjoy after dinner. It’s too powerful to smoke on an empty stomach, and it’s best to smoke it slowly.
The finish culminates in a long crescendo of leather, cedar, espresso, and pepper that will complement a vintage Scotch or bourbon seamlessly. Ashton VSG is one of the best full-bodied cigars you can buy. And it’s one of the most consistent cigars too. Dozens of cigarmakers have tried to copy the profile of Ashton VSG, but nothing compares to it. It’s been one of my favorite cigars for years and deserves an impressive 96-point rating as a result. I love the Spellbound because it burns for the longest amount of time, but Ashton VSG is handcrafted in eleven other sizes to suit your schedule. Several have been ranked in the ‘Top 10 Cigars of the Year’ by the critics in Cigar Aficionado. Add this historic smoke to your humidor now and thank me later.
