Ashton VSG Torpedo: The Dominican Dark Horse
Blended by Carlos Fuente Jr. for the Ashton brand, the VSG is a full-bodied Dominican that has been quietly embarrassing flashier cigars for twenty-five years. The cognoscenti know.
The cigar world loves a story. Padron has its Nicaraguan heritage. Drew Estate has its factory-worker rebellion. Opus X has its impossible wrapper. And then there's the Ashton VSG—a cigar with no dramatic origin tale, no limited allocation drama, no celebrity endorsements. Just twenty-five years of consistent, quiet excellence that has earned it a devoted following among the cigar cognoscenti.
The secret weapon is the blender: Carlos Fuente Jr. himself, the same genius behind the Opus X. The VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) takes its name from the Ecuadorian Sun-Grown Sumatra-Seed wrapper—a distinctive reddish leaf that imparts flavors completely unlike the typical Dominican cigar. All filler tobaccos are aged 4-5 years, giving the blend a maturity that you can taste from the first draw.
That first third opens with pronounced pepper, cider, and a slight creaminess alongside nuttiness and a hint of leather. There's a damp earth quality that gives the cigar a grounding, almost old-world character. The torpedo shape concentrates the smoke, and the first inch is a masterclass in controlled power.
The second third sees pepper continue against a backdrop of wood and espresso coffee, with smooth leather and roasted nuts creating a rich, multi-dimensional experience. The box-pressed torpedo sits comfortably in hand, and the burn line behaves impeccably—a Fuente hallmark.
The final third delivers a well-structured core of coffee, spices, cocoa, and walnut with full-bodied intensity that never becomes harsh. The retrohale is spicy and chewy, showcasing the distinctive reddish Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper character. It's a finish that lingers and invites reflection.
At around $15, the Ashton VSG sits in the premium-but-not-outrageous tier that represents the sweet spot for many enthusiasts. It deserves far more recognition than it receives, and if your humidor doesn't contain a few of these, you've been missing out on one of the Dominican Republic's finest achievements.
