Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Made In: Dominican Republic
Size: 5.5×50 Robusto
Price: $9.00 from a local B&M
Appearance & Construction: For a higher end stick I am disappointed with the way the cigar is constructed. There is a very large vein running the length of the cigar and the cigar is kind of lumpy. It does have a slight box press which is nice, but overall this cigar does not look very appealing. I do like the band on these cigars though, very classy looking.
Flavors: The first third of this cigar offers dry notes of cedar and natural tobacco. There is tanginess to the cigar that is somewhat fruity but the finish is so dry I can’t seem to place it. The second third is much of the same but the finish becomes less dry and a leathery component is added. The final third is again much of the same, but the body picks up which makes the flavors a little more pronounced.
Smoking Characteristics: The draw was great on this cigar but the burn is uneven and required multiple touch ups. The ash held on pretty good but was pretty flaky. The body started out just shy of medium, but progressed in the second third to medium and in the final third, medium to full.
Final Thoughts: For a higher priced stick and with all the attention this cigar gets, I was expecting more. The construction was poor and the burn was way off. Usually I can deal with those elements but the flavors were somewhat one-dimensional and didn’t have much depth for much of the cigar. For the price I can find many other cigars I enjoy much more. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice stick but I’ll pick up a Tatuaje or a Pepin that I can enjoy much more.
Worth a Shot: Yes, you have to have it at least once
Buy Again: Maybe
Enjoyablity: Low-Medium
Similar Cigars: Ashton Heritage
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I usually have good luck with Ashton and really like the Cabinet series but still haven’t jumped on the VSG bandwagon because of those exact reasons. Better full bodied sticks for the price. Great review!