ThatGuy3510
Alpha-nerd
This is a follow up review to my review earlier this week of the Fuente Anejo #50, which I smoked to celebrate the purchase of an engagement ring for my girlfriend. The ring actually had to be sent out to be resized, and it is now in my possession (though not for long 
). So I lit up another of my special sticks just for kicks.
Ashton VSG Robusto
Size: 5.5x50
Drink: Water
Conditions: ~85F, calm winds
This is only my second Ashton, but I absolutely love the style and class these cigars seem to carry with them.
Appearance/Prelight: The bands on these are absolutely gorgeous, and the stick itself is very attractive. The wrapper is a rich chocolate color, and very smooth to the touch, with a barely noticeable vein running about halfway up the cigar. It has a good heft to it, and the solid box-press fits well in the hand. The foot smells faintly of sweet hay. I chose to punch this stick, as I do with most box presses, but the cold draw didn't really offer much flavor.
First 3rd: The was a slight ding on the foot of the cigar that kicked the burn out of whack initially, but it quickly corrected itself. It toasted and lit quite easily, and I am immediately hit with a burst of hot spice and coffee. There are tons of smoke coming off it right out of the gate, and it billows around me in beautiful white clouds.
After the first few puffs the spice fades, and I'm beginning to pick up a hint of leather in the aftertaste. I'm also getting a strange saltiness on my lips that isn't unpleasant; it's actually blending well with the other flavors. The ash, though flaky, looks quite solid, and is whitish-grey in color.
The main flavor has become a dry coffee taste, with a nice complement of leather and oak. I find I'm having to sip my water a bit more often than usual.
Second 3rd: The spice has returned, and now the oak flavor has taken over. There is still a great quantity of smoke coming from the stick, that smells like spicy cedar.
The saltiness remains, and my mind is considering it as one would seasoning on a steak.
^^ Gotta have a pic with my favorite new hat (plus a little Rage Against the Machine on the MP3 player)
Just before the start of the final third, it seemed as though the stick changed its mind yet again, and shifted to a very meaty, savory flavor.
Final 3rd: Just a hint of spice returned to tickle the back of my tongue, and the flavors remained much the same til about the last inch and a half or so.
At this point yet another strange transition has taken place. The leather and savory-ness (is that a word?) faded into a rich caramel sweetness that reminded me vaguely of Southern Comfort. Unfortunately, it developed a crack that affected the draw a bit.
So of course I had to hang with this cigar til the very end. The burn however, began to fail me, and as the flavors began to get hot, I decided to put this stick to rest.
^^ My improvised nub holder, with a post-thunderstorm East Tennessee sunset in the background.
Final Smoking Time: 1hr 48 min
Score: 93
Parting Thoughts: This was an absolutely outstanding smoke, easily one of the top 5 I've had this year, and I would without question smoke many more of these. The flavors were exemplary, the complexity far better than average. I have heard of there being some differences between the sizes of this blend, and I'm eager to get my hands on some. Now if only I could afford them all the time...
And here, as I promised in my last review, is the ring:
Lets just hope she says yes this weekend. Going to propose on her grandmother's boat in front of her family and best friends. I'm definitely nervous already...
Thanks for reading, and happy smoking, brothers!
). So I lit up another of my special sticks just for kicks.Ashton VSG Robusto
Size: 5.5x50
Drink: Water
Conditions: ~85F, calm winds
This is only my second Ashton, but I absolutely love the style and class these cigars seem to carry with them.
Appearance/Prelight: The bands on these are absolutely gorgeous, and the stick itself is very attractive. The wrapper is a rich chocolate color, and very smooth to the touch, with a barely noticeable vein running about halfway up the cigar. It has a good heft to it, and the solid box-press fits well in the hand. The foot smells faintly of sweet hay. I chose to punch this stick, as I do with most box presses, but the cold draw didn't really offer much flavor.
First 3rd: The was a slight ding on the foot of the cigar that kicked the burn out of whack initially, but it quickly corrected itself. It toasted and lit quite easily, and I am immediately hit with a burst of hot spice and coffee. There are tons of smoke coming off it right out of the gate, and it billows around me in beautiful white clouds.
After the first few puffs the spice fades, and I'm beginning to pick up a hint of leather in the aftertaste. I'm also getting a strange saltiness on my lips that isn't unpleasant; it's actually blending well with the other flavors. The ash, though flaky, looks quite solid, and is whitish-grey in color.
The main flavor has become a dry coffee taste, with a nice complement of leather and oak. I find I'm having to sip my water a bit more often than usual.
Second 3rd: The spice has returned, and now the oak flavor has taken over. There is still a great quantity of smoke coming from the stick, that smells like spicy cedar.
The saltiness remains, and my mind is considering it as one would seasoning on a steak.
^^ Gotta have a pic with my favorite new hat (plus a little Rage Against the Machine on the MP3 player)
Just before the start of the final third, it seemed as though the stick changed its mind yet again, and shifted to a very meaty, savory flavor.
Final 3rd: Just a hint of spice returned to tickle the back of my tongue, and the flavors remained much the same til about the last inch and a half or so.
At this point yet another strange transition has taken place. The leather and savory-ness (is that a word?) faded into a rich caramel sweetness that reminded me vaguely of Southern Comfort. Unfortunately, it developed a crack that affected the draw a bit.
So of course I had to hang with this cigar til the very end. The burn however, began to fail me, and as the flavors began to get hot, I decided to put this stick to rest.
^^ My improvised nub holder, with a post-thunderstorm East Tennessee sunset in the background.
Final Smoking Time: 1hr 48 min
Score: 93
Parting Thoughts: This was an absolutely outstanding smoke, easily one of the top 5 I've had this year, and I would without question smoke many more of these. The flavors were exemplary, the complexity far better than average. I have heard of there being some differences between the sizes of this blend, and I'm eager to get my hands on some. Now if only I could afford them all the time...
And here, as I promised in my last review, is the ring:
Lets just hope she says yes this weekend. Going to propose on her grandmother's boat in front of her family and best friends. I'm definitely nervous already...
Thanks for reading, and happy smoking, brothers!
