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The Ashton cigars were born in 1985 when Robert Levin sought the creation of a marque cigar to revitalize his family’s Philadelphia-based company. Combining a Dominican filler with the finest Connecticut leaf wrapper, Levin unveiled a masterpiece renowned for its consistently high quality and aromatic excellence.
Continuous improvement and innovation have been the hallmarks of Ashton Cigars since its inception, and this visionary trait gave rise to the development and launch of the Ashton VSG in 1999. Retaining the excellent Dominican filler Levin’s company has always employed, the Ashton VSG would be made with the almost ethereal Ecuadorian “cloud leaf” wrapper, imparting a potency mellowed by a curiously sweet undertone.
The Ashton VSG has been consistently ranked among the best of the non-Cuban cigars since its debut. The VSG’s deep, rich, and dark color belies its tobacco’s affinity for the sun.
VSG itself is an abbreviation for Virgin Sun Grown, evocative of exhilarating days spent on the deck of a sailing vessel, soaking up the sunshine, the bow a point off the wind, captain and crew anticipating the traditional cocktail hour at sunset. An Ashton VSG Wizard savored with a snifter of cognac in hand as the sky flames violet, scarlet, bronze, pink, and saffron is an apt reward for hours of tacking against a contrary and finicky wind.
The Ashton VSG Sorcerer is not for the faint of heart, for the uncommitted, for the ambiguous. Its undertones of cedar combine with the robustness of the finest Dominican filler adding its almost citrusy tang and hints of pepper to present the cigar connoisseur a nearly indescribable smoke.
Generally found in it familiar square shape today, considered innovative at the time of its inception, the vintage round VSGs are much sought after. Today, Ashton VSGs in the 55 ring-size VSG Torpedo are the most popular configuration. However, for those desiring something a trifle less robust and flamboyant, the VSG is also available in ring sizes of 44, 46, and 52 as well. In fact, the rare woman who appreciates an Ashton VSG will find the 44 ring on the VSG Illusion a good fit for a dainty-but-sure hand. | 
