Ashton ESG 22 and 23 Year Salute Review
By Mariana Heredia
Ashton ESG cigars are puro Dominican sticks. The binders, fillers, and wrappers come from the Fuente family’s prized Château de la factory. Their oily, shiny, and brownish wrappers come from a rare Cuban tobacco seed varietal sun-grown in the DR. This is unique as growing wrappers in the DR is an uncommon phenomenon. Read this review of the blend and price range before committing to a whole box of Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown) 22 and 23-Year Salute cigars!
Ashton ESG is nicknamed “the Velvet Hammer” due to its sneaky strength profile. They have a mellow start but become more intense as you smoke. They have a complex nutty and creamy taste profile, all thanks to their Dominican wrappers.
The Ashton 22-year salute was crafted to commemorate the brand’s 20th anniversary in 2007. It ranked 8th on the Top 25 Cigar Aficionados cigars of 2014. On the other hand, the Ashton 23-year salute was released in 2010.
Features
- Country of origin: Dominican Republic
- Wrapper: Dominican
- Binder: Dominican
- Filler: Dominican
- Sizes: 6” by 52 ring gauge (22-year salute), 6.25” by 52 ring gauge (23-year salute)
- Ratings: 93 by Cigar Aficionado
Ashton ESG Cigars Price Range
Critics often call them pricey. Standing at $500 for a box of 25 sticks. A stick can go for as high as $20. However, they hardly factor in the ingenuity of such a plethora of flavors on a medium-strength cigar.
Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown) 22-Year Salute Review
The cigar is beautifully constructed, it’s 6 inches long with a pyramid shape tapered into a triple cap. The wrapper is shiny and has a caramel hue to it. The gold, white, blue, and black color of the band with its minimal floral patterns adds to its aesthetics.
The Torpedo shape allowed me to control how intense I wanted the smoke to be with my cut level. My palate was welcomed with notes of almonds, coffee, and hints of spices as I sniffed in its unlit foot. The cold draw consisted of cashew, graham crackers notes, and a tinge of black pepper.
Upon lighting up, the initial puff was filled with creamy, rich notes of almonds, chestnuts, and cashew. The smoke was intense but cool. Its retrohale was filled with spices as they found their way around my nostrils. As I approached the middle third, notes of butter, brown sugar, and graham crackers lingered on my palate.
The last third came with a hush of cedar, spices, and molasses, rounding off my one hour of smoking time.
Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown) 23-Year Salute Review
A few hours later, I picked up the 6¼” Toro. Although they both have the same ring gauge, it felt fatter between my fingers. The aroma was identical, but the major differences came from the smoking. The smoke was less intense, and the draws were colder and calmer.
The complex nutty and creamy taste profiles these cigars offer are amazing. It was a perfect balance between flavor and strength. Although they cost a pretty buck, I want to always keep one of these around to celebrate those special occasions.
About Cigar Country
Established in 2000, Cigar Country has risen to the position of Dominican Republic’s premier Tobacconist and Cigar Expert. Dedication, passion, and amazing customer service make us the default place to buy from either on a visit to DR or online. With a vast portfolio of premium cigars and accessories like cutters, lighters, and humidors, we have kept our customers coming back for more than 2 decades. Moreover, we offer the best prices in the market with our price match policy. Cigar Country guarantees you premium cigars from the factory to your doorstep, in perfect condition.