Ashton VSG 1999 “Round” Robusto (NCRW)

[havanaclub]

I was gifted this cigar from a friend who bought this aged Fuente sampler. Apparently this was one of the OR for the VSG and a very sought after cigar. What makes it even more rare was they are usually boxed pressed and this first release was round.

 

I haven’t smoked many Ashton VSG cigars but the ones I have smoked have all been fairly fresh. This one is well aged and was still powerful in flavour but super smooth and mellow. I am tempted now to buy a box and age them.

 

 

1st: a light pepper start but very smooth with earthy notes. I got this cinnamon note which I usually get with well aged opus X which was very pleasant.

 

2nd: nutty with some woody undertones. Some sweetness kicked in which complemented this 2nd third. Reminded me of a RASS with a raisin like molasses flavour.

 

3rd: very smooth final 3rd with coffee and cedar notes.

 

The construction was A-one, with an easy draw. Easy 96 pointer.

 

If I had to pin this to a CC I would say RA meets punch.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Justins123]

Very cool review. Brings back memories. The other interesting thing about the VSG “rounds” is they came in 50 cabs (hence round instead of box pressed).  Here’s the robusto cab with a mix of robustos and illusions from a box split I did way back in the day. 

[Notsocleaver]

I remember being gifted one of those VSG rounds and thinking it was just a regular Ashton Cabinet selection until I was about half way through smoking it just being blown away by how good it was. It was only then that I took a closer look at the band and understood just how generous a gift I had recieved. Still up there in that top ten all time for me.