Torpedo, 6.5" x 55 ring gauge, $14.25The Ashton Virgin Sun Grown is a "special" cigar in several ways. First, it represents the upper end of the Ashton line, just below the Estate Sun Grown (ESG). Second, it is the result of a collaboration of 3 cigar dynasties: Carlos Fuente, Jr., uses 4 to 5 year-old Dominican tobaccos for the filler and a sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper grown on a private estate owned by the Oliva family. I admit to not being a big Ashton fan through the years. My first experience with them was their regular line in a natural wrapper and I remember the experience as being very close to smoking cardboard. I have enjoyed Don Pepin Garcia's creations for Ashton, though, both the San Cristobal and the Benchmade; and I have enjoyed the several La Aroma de Cubas that I have gotten my hands on.
The wrapper is a medium-dark brown with light veining. The box-press shape was soft and slightly rounded. The aroma from the wrapper had faint hints of barnyard and a little cocoa, while the foot was a richer dark chocolate. The prelight draw was mildly sweet with some cocoa and coffee flavors that I usually detect on Nicaraguan smokes. The flavors upon light-up were rather mild and understated, but still pleasant: there was some coffee and cream along with a hint of something floral. The smoke was fairly thick. Midway through the first third, the flavor got more nutty of character and the coffee flavor changed to more of a black/no cream. There was also a little pepper--probably best characterized as white pepper as it was very mild.
During the second third, the VSG built a bit in body, becoming a solid high-medium bodied stick. The flavors of coffee were still prevalent and the pepper started to built a bit becoming a stronger black pepper flavor.
As the last third stated, there was almost no pepper spice left, but there was a strong, black coffee element as well as a flavor of roasted nuts. The construction was very good on the VSG--the draw was just a tiny bit tighter than I prefer, but eminently smokable, and the burn was quite even. This was overall a very good cigar, but I hesitate to say it is worth a $14 price tag when there are other sticks in that price range that are more powerful and/or more flavorful (Opus X and Padron 1964 to name two). It might, however, be a good stick for a relative newbie who wants something "special" that will not overwhelm them.
Body: 7/10
Strength: 5/10
Complexity: 7/10
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 0/1
Total: 8/10
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