The Ashton VSG line is renowned for being one of the strongest blends available on the market after its launch in 1999. As the cigar band suggests, VSG stands for Virgin Sun Grown, indicating that the wrapper leaf of this cigar is grown in the sun without any covering built over the plants to reduce light exposure. Interestingly, the tobacco is also referred to as “cloud grown” because the natural cloud cover in Ecuador eliminates the need for additional covering. But I digress… on to the review.

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
• Binder: Dominican
• Filler: Dominican
• Size: Robusto 5 1/2 x 52

The Ashton VSG Robusto has a coffee-brown, slightly toothy wrapper. The draw is good, offering flavors of coffee, leather, and cedar wood.

Starting off, I pick up notes of cocoa and a bit of cream, with some black pepper on the retrohale and finish. The finish is thick, long, creamy, with hints of cocoa, earthiness, and pepper. The burn is even, with a thicker burn line, and the ash is gray and flaky.

About halfway through, the flavors darken a bit and become less sweet. Notes of coffee, leather, and unsweetened cocoa. The finish is dry, with hints of smoked roasted nuts and espresso. The cigar is medium-plus in body and medium in strength.

The VSG Robusto is a solid cigar with a well-balanced medium to medium-plus profile. There were no construction or burn issues to speak of, unless you count the flaky ash which fell naturally about every quarter inch, making it a bit messy. Twenty-six years and counting, it remains a cigar that is not just blowing smoke and is highly recommended.