Ashton Estate Sun Grown - ESG Review

[Isombitch]

Ashton Estate Sun Grown - ESG

This 6 3/4 inch X 49 ring double corona has created a splash by force of preconception. The combination of its price(MSRP - $1 and scarcity, coupled with the powerful act it had to follow (the beloved Ashton VSG), works to set one up for a disappointment. I was NOT disappointed.

I picked this up on my trip to Philly to check out Holt's Cigars, Mahogany(cigar club upstairs), and meet Master o' Mayhem at Twin Shoppe in South Philly. Holt's is one of the few local places which stock the ESG and you have to go there to get them - two of them is the limit per customer. They have been resting in my 65% humi the five weeks since.

This stick has a Dominican sun grown wrapper that is dark brown, a bit toothy, and had two medium veins. It feels firm and solid and the band is very gaudy. A bit showy for my tastes. Straight clip reveals good draw and a taste and odor of barnyard and cocoa.

1st Third: Toasted with my cheapo triple-flame and first draw is mostly leather - really tasty leather - with light cocoa notes. Very nice start, IMO. I try to put the price and hype out of my mind and imagine a blind taste test. As I close my eyes and focus on the cigar, I realize I simply like this flavor at this point. Sweet cocoa and other spices are starting to make an appearance now. A very pleasant finish is starting to linger on my lips.

2nd Third: Through this period the sweet flavors slowly increase and begin to balance the leather much better. The aroma is very pleasant and would be accepted in polite company more readily than some. Burn wanders a bit but self-corrects. The sweet, spicy flavors include cocoa, cinnamon, and raisin.

Final Third: Sweet spice has continued to build throughout this smoke. They now overpower the leather flavors and remind me more of a VSG. The colorful band is easily removed now. Body and strength also have increased to medium-full from medium. I nub this with 3/4 inch to go quite satisfied.

Conclusion: I thought this was an enjoyable, well-balanced, and complex cigar. It was not as in your face as some sun grown cigars. It starts with a very good leather taste and is slowly and gradually balanced by the sweet, spicy flavors of cocoa, cinnamon, and raisin. Even though I am fortunate to be so close to one of the few places that sell ESGs for MSRP, I doubt I will buy many more. Although I like this cigar, it is out of my normal price range and, unlike the LA Cien Anos Belicoso, this cigar is not a great value in spite of it's price. In my imaginary blind taste test, I would love this cigar but be put off after learning the price.


Summary:

Construction: 10 of 10

Draw: 10 of 10

Burn: 9 of 10

Flavor 8 of 10

Complexity 8 of 10

Finish 9 of 10

Value 6 of 10

Hand-mades start with 30 points. . . .

Total Score: 90 of 100

[TheDirector]

Originally Posted by Isombitch

Ashton Estate Sun Grown - ESG

Conclusion: I thought this was an enjoyable, well-balanced, and complex cigar. It was not as in your face as some sun grown cigars.

Good review. U got style.

I have enjoyed the VSG line but they can be "in your face". I am intrigued about this ESG now.

[yourchoice]

Wow, love the format of your review! And I'm also very glad to hear a positive review on this cigar. I've had an ESG resting in my humi for about 3 months now.... think I'll light that sucker up soon!

[omowasu]

Thanks for the review, I have two ESG's sitting in the humi now. I have been somewhat skeptical of the sun-growns (all brands), but the RP sungrown started to convince me. I have a feeling the Ashton may push me over the edge!

[Airborne RU]

Great review. My local B&M has a whole box laying around untouched in the main walk in humi. He is charging 24 beans for it which isn't that far off MSRP (hey it might be taxes as well) so I think that I will investigate.

Seems like they smoke good young.

But is it worth 18-24 beans?

[Blaylock]

Headin' over to Holts tomorrow for some smokes and to have one upstairs.

Nice review!

[TMoneYNYY]

Great review!!!!! I haven't had the Sun Grown yet, and I can't wait to pick one up!

[Isombitch]

Originally Posted by Blake Lockhart

Headin' over to Holts tomorrow for some smokes and to have one upstairs.

Nice review!

I wish we could pick up Carlito's Way there but I understand why they do it that way. I'd be there until they figured out all my disguises!

Oh, and if you stop in at Twin Shoppe at 10th and Tasker you won't regret it. It's a great place to hang and smoke and the selection and prices are as good or better than Holt's. They don't have some of Holt's exclusive Fuente stuff but they get more OpusX for some reason. All at MSRP, too!

[CEC_Tech]

This is one of the first positive reviews I've heard about the ESG. I have one in my humi right now resting. I'll give it a go in about another month though. Good job on the review.

[SMOKESTACK]

Originally Posted by Airborne RU

Great review. My local B&M has a whole box laying around untouched in the main walk in humi. He is charging 24 beans for it which isn't that far off MSRP (hey it might be taxes as well) so I think that I will investigate.

Seems like they smoke good young.

But is it worth 18-24 beans?

INDEED

[jimmy]

i've had 1 of the few i got so far. it was a couple months ago, and i think still too young. a fairly strong smoke, but i was so pumped up for it, between the hype and how much i love the VSG's. i'm looking forward to trying another. probably the next time i have a long ass drive.

isombitch-yours sounds better than mine. since you're in newark, maybe i'll come by and steal yours
jimmy

[kheffelf]

Nice review, I have been wondering about this smoke.

[stesom]

Great review. I have have smoked 4 so far, but I did it the first week I got them and did not let them rest in my humi. I found them to be good and smoky, well made and burned well. But in the end, they mostly were a strong leather flavor that really did not change for me during each stick. I am letting the others sit in my humi for a while and see if they develop some more character.......Steve

[Isombitch]

Originally Posted by jimmy

i've had 1 of the few i got so far. it was a couple months ago, and i think still too young. a fairly strong smoke, but i was so pumped up for it, between the hype and how much i love the VSG's. i'm looking forward to trying another. probably the next time i have a long ass drive.

isombitch-yours sounds better than mine. since you're in newark, maybe i'll come by and steal yours
jimmy

I was put off by the bad reviews but I have learned that tastes differ widely and you always have to try it yourself to see if you like it. I doubt one stick is much different than another except for storage differences. Remember, I pointed out I let it rest 5 weeks at 65% to make sure it was at a good burning RH before I smoked it. Who Knows? That could be the difference in SOME of the reviews. B&Ms always keep their humi's RH too high to protect the sticks from damage. I rarely smoke a stick right out of a B&M.

[hdroadking]

Originally Posted by Isombitch

I was put off by the bad reviews but I have learned that tastes differ widely and you always have to try it yourself to see if you like it. I doubt one stick is much different than another except for storage differences. Remember, I pointed out I let it rest 5 weeks at 65% to make sure it was at a good burning RH before I smoked it. Who Knows? That could be the difference in SOME of the reviews. B&Ms always keep their humi's RH too high to protect the sticks from damage. I rarely smoke a stick right out of a B&M.

i felt the same way. i had too many preconceived ideas about this stick, but luckily i decided to find out for myself. the first one i had was enjoyable and made me very sure that the next one would be aged for a while. sometime next year it should be fantastic.