Initial Thoughts:
Today we continue our series of blind cigar reviews, where our goal is to provide you with a totally objective, completely neutral review of a cigar. Ellory went into this review completely blind; that means without knowing what it is, who made it, how much it costs, or what's in it. To see the entire series of blind cigar reviews, click here.
Sometimes you want a big cigar, other times a smaller cigar for a shorter smoke. But today, I wanted to sit back and relax with a big cigar, so I grabbed the Ashton VSG Wizard Toro from my humidor and headed out to do a review.
Right off the bat, you'll notice that the Ashton VSG Wizard Toro is a big cigar. Although it's only 6 inches long with a 56 ring gauge, it feels hefty in the hand.
For the most part, the VSG is a good-looking cigar. The end had a nice, clean-cut, but there was a slight bulge in the middle that reminded me that this was still a man-made product.
On the cold draw, the resistance was about perfect, and the flavors were of cedar with a hint of spice. After toasting the foot, the aroma of the Ashton VSG Wizard Toro's smoke was very rich. During the first few puffs, the flavors reminded me of a cinnamon roll without icing.
CigarScore:
Brand: Ashton
Line: Virgin Sungrown
Size: 6 x 56
Cut: V-Cut
Light: Torch
Price: $14.65
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Smoke Time: 55 minutes
Though the middle of the cigar, the ash was very flaky. However, the flavors were good.
Further into the cigar, the Ashton VSG Wizard Toro developed another bad burn, this time more clear, and related to moisture in the stem of the wrapper leaf.
Final Thoughts
The Ashton VSG Wizard Toro threw in the towel at 55 minutes. To say that I was disappointed that a 6 x 56 cigar couldn't smoke for over an hour would be an understatement. Additionally, the burn was so uneven that I had to torch the wrapper at least twice.
However, the flavors were pretty good and the aroma of this cigar's smoke was very pleasant. But, in the final third, the flavors became a little sour and bitter, and I didn't really like what I tasted toward the end. This Ashton VSG Wizard Toro earns a paltry CigarScore 2.
