Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Oct 01, 2013

Score: 90

A squarely pressed torpedo with a dark, oily wrapper. Hearty and rich, this cigar shows bold, roasted coffee bean notes and fresh tobacco flavor that resonate on the palate.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Sep 24, 2013

Score: 90

A squarely pressed torpedo with a dark, oily wrapper. Hearty and rich, this cigar shows bold, roasted coffee bean notes and fresh tobacco flavor that resonate on the palate.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Oct 09, 2012

Score: 87

Large and imposing, this dark, oily torpedo has a notably firm draw and a flavor profile that combines wine, earth and minerals.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Oct 01, 2012

Score: 87

Large and imposing, this dark, oily torpedo has a notably firm draw and a flavor profile that combines wine, earth and minerals.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Dec 06, 2011

Score: 89

Lots of cedar flavor and dried orange peel notes come out of this dark, box-pressed torpedo, which leaves a fruity tobacco aftertaste on the palate.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Apr 01, 2011

Score: 89

Lots of cedar flavor and dried orange peel notes come out of this dark, box-pressed torpedo, which leaves a fruity tobacco aftertaste on the palate

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Dec 01, 2009

Score: 88

A big, box-pressed torpedo that burns a little unevenly. It is a meaty yet medium-bodied smoke with woody notes and a creamy finish.

Issue: Cigar Insider, Apr 07, 2009

Score: 93

This pressed torpedo is medium bodied, offering a very flavorful, creamy smoke full of sweet cedar and nutmeg notes. The finish is toasty.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Jan 01, 1970

Score: 92

Ashton Virgin Sun Grown cigars are the original powerhouse cigar. Made by Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. for Ashton Distributors Inc., the brand’s hallmark is its dark, Sumatra-seed wrappers grown under the perpetually cloudy skies in Ecuador at the foothills of the Andes by one of the legendary names in the tobacco business, the Oliva Tobacco Co. of Tampa, Florida. Ashton VSGs, as they are known, consistently take some of the highest scores in Cigar Aficionado magazine and Cigar Insider newsletter. The Ashton VSG Torpedo is a hefty figurado that stood out in a Cigar Insider vertical brand tasting in April 2009. (The average score for the 10-size brand was an exceptional 90.1 points.) The Torpedo is not as strong as we remembered, but brims with sweet cedar and nutmeg flavors, with a creamy texture. Always dependable, always flavorful.

Issue: Cigar Aficionado, Jan 01, 1970

Score: 93

Some cigars take quite a while to gain popularity, but the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown line was a hit even before the cigars went on sale. The Ashton brand owner Robert Levin created a stir in 1999 when he handed out VSG samples at an industry trade show. The cigars grabbed attention with their dark color and invigorated the palate with a blast of undeniable power. Blended by the Fuentes, the VSG line helped usher in the era of the strong cigar. More than seven years after their debut, they remain immensely popular among those who prefer their cigars with full flavor. The 6 1/2-inch x 55-ring Torpedo is superbly crafted, with an earthy, cedary flavor and a full body.