I don’t know about you, but for me, smoking a cigar is usually a pleasurable experience, a moment to kick back, relax and enjoy the company of like-minded people, whether a first time meeting or a long-time friend. But every once in a while, smoking a cigar can provide a complete spiritual awakening and cast a new light on all things around you. Don’t believe me? Then go smoke the Ashton VSG Robusto Especial, because this cigar is one of the best cigars I have smoked, EVER!

Before I get into the juicy goodness of this bad boy, let me give you a little background on the Ashton VSG (virgin sun grown). This 5.5×50 robusto is filled and binded with four to five-year old Dominican tobacco grown on the Fuente family’s plantation while the wrapper is grown on the Oliva family’s private estate in Ecuador exclusively for the Fuente family so they can make the VSG. What makes this cigar special is that it was blended for Ashton by cigar genius and master blender Carlos Fuente, Jr.

Now to the good stuff, the cigar. The goodness of the VSG begins immediately with strong sweet and sour flavors that are backed up with a hint of spice. The complexity of this cigar is truly amazing in that it is a strong cigar, but very smooth and the strength of the flavor changes with each puff. The draw and burn are perfect through the first third.

The second third of the cigar has the same complexity, with the hints of spice in the distant background while the sweet and sour flavor takes the wheel and becomes more pronounced. Thus far a medium – full bodied smoke with a flawless burn and effortless draw.

The sweet and sour flavor mellows out in the final third of the VSG, but never completely fades away. The VSG never got hot or harsh, even towards the end of the smoke and the burn and draw remained perfect. Overall a solid medium – full bodied smoke that I would recommend to anyone, even at the $11 price tag, a five flame cigar all the way.

Speaking of flames, the staff here at The Gar Shop have been working on some new projects with the guys from Gar Starz (see garstarz.com) and have come up with a rating system all our own – The Flame Rating. In essence it works like the everyday star rating system but incorporated our own little touch, with one flame being the worst and five flames being the best. So from now on, when I give a cigar a flame rating, everyone will know what I’m talking about.

Until next time, happy smoking!

The Mayor

Reposted with permission from thegarshop.com