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Ashton — A Dominican Classic Made by the Fuente Family

Founded in 1985 by Robert Levin, owner of Philadelphia cigar and tobacco shop Holt's Cigar Company — it is the legend of a "cigar retailer entering cigar manufacturing."

If Avo represents "an Armenian pianist entering the cigar industry" — then Ashton represents "an American cigar retailer entering the cigar industry".

Even more special: the Ashton blends were entirely led by Carlos Fuente Sr., founder of Arturo Fuente — and produced at the Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. factory in the Dominican Republic. So smoking Ashton = smoking a dual-lineage cigar "made by the Fuente family but sold by the Levin family".

Origins: Philadelphia's Holt's Cigar Company

Robert Levin was the owner of Holt's Cigar Company in Philadelphia — this cigar and tobacco shop was founded by the Levin family in 1898 and is one of the oldest cigar retailers in Philadelphia.

In the early 1980s, Robert Levin wanted to create his own cigar brand — he approached Carlos Fuente Sr., founder of Arturo Fuente:

• Carlos Fuente Sr. operated the Tabacalera A. Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic — he was one of the most respected cigar makers in North America at the time
• The relationship between Levin and the Fuente family — Holt's Cigar Company was a long-term distributor of Arturo Fuente in Philadelphia

Fuente Sr. agreed to design an exclusive blend for Levin — this was the origin of Ashton.

Origin of the Name "Ashton"

The name "Ashton" comes from the middle name of Robert Levin's son, Sasha Ashton Levin:

• Sasha Ashton Levin (who later became the brand successor)
• The father named the brand after his son's middle name
• It represents the brand philosophy of "family heritage"

Ashton officially launched in 1985 — marking the beginning of the brand's founding legend.

Ashton Classic — The Flagship Tradition

Ashton Classic is the brand's founding series:

• Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut Shade (light-colored)
• Binder + Filler: Dominican Republic (tobacco grown by Tabacalera A. Fuente)
• Strength: mild to medium
• Characteristics: "creamy floral notes, cedar, light coffee, light cocoa — an elegant version of the Fuente family flavor profile"

Ashton Classic quickly earned 90+ points from Cigar Aficionado — making it a representative example of "Dominican Connecticut-wrapper cigars."

Cabinet Selection — The Aged Version

Ashton Cabinet Selection (later renamed Cabinet) is the brand's "aged version":

• Tobacco aged for at least 4 years — deeper than Classic
• Strength: medium
• Characteristics: creamy depth, cedar, light coffee — "aged elegance"

Cabinet Selection has repeatedly earned 90+ points from Cigar Aficionado — and represents Ashton's "aged cigars."

Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown) — The Full-Strength Flagship

Ashton VSG was launched in 1999 — the brand's "full-strength flagship":

• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown (sun-grown, dark brown)
• Strength: medium to full
• Characteristics: spicy pepper, dark coffee, dark cocoa, leather, cedar — "the other pole of Ashton's full spectrum"

"Virgin" refers to the "first harvest of the Sun Grown wrapper" — an indicator of premium tobacco leaf.

Ashton ESG (Estate Sun Grown 22) — Limited Top-Tier Series

Ashton Estate Sun Grown 22 is the brand's "top-tier limited" series:

• "22" commemorates Sasha Ashton Levin's 22nd birthday
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sun Grown
• Strength: full
• Released in limited quantities each year — a rare collectible pursued by collectors

Ashton Aged Maduro — Dark Maduro

Ashton Aged Maduro uses Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper — the brand's Maduro version:

• Strength: medium to full
• Characteristics: dark cocoa, coffee, creamy caramel

Ashton Symmetry and Heritage Puro Sol

Ashton Symmetry (launched in 2014): the brand's exploration of a "symmetrical blend" — precise proportions of multiple tobacco leaves. Ashton Heritage Puro Sol: a tribute to the Cuban Puro Sol tradition.

Ashton and Other "Fuente Family Sub-Brands"

The Dominican Tabacalera A. Fuente factory does not only produce Arturo Fuente's own brands — it also manufactures for other brands:

• Ashton (1985): Levin family
• Diamond Crown (1995): J.C. Newman family
• A. Trader Hand: limited

These 3 brands are the "three giants of Fuente family sub-brands" — sharing the Fuente family's craftsmanship while each maintaining an independent brand positioning.

Why Taiwan Enthusiasts Should Smoke Ashton

3 reasons:

1. Made by the Fuente family: smoking Ashton = smoking a blend "personally designed by Arturo Fuente founder Carlos Fuente Sr."
2. Diverse spectrum: from the mild Classic to the full-strength VSG — "one brand through which to experience the diverse styles of the Dominican Republic"
3. A story of family heritage: the name "Ashton" comes from the son's middle name — one of the most moving examples of "family naming" in the cigar industry

Pairing suggestions:

• Classic + Champagne (Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label) + cream cheese
• Cabinet Selection + aged red wine (Bordeaux 2010)
• VSG + aged bourbon (Pappy Van Winkle 15 Year) + dark chocolate
• ESG 22 + aged single malt whisky (Macallan 25 Year)

You are welcome to visit W Cigar Bar in Daan District, where Cigar Prince Wilson Tsai will personally accompany you in experiencing Ashton's "Dominican classic made by the Fuente family."

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Further Reading: Ashton's Complete Product Spectrum

Ashton Classic — The Flagship Tradition

Classic formats:

• No.10 (5" × 50 Robusto)
• No.20 (6" × 50 Toro)
• 8-9-8 (6½" × 44) — "8-9-8" three-layer stacked packaging
• Magnum (5" × 50)
• Cordial (5" × 30 Lancero)
• Imperial (7" × 52 Churchill)

Ashton Cabinet Selection — The Aged Version

Classic formats:

• No.1 (9" × 52 Gran Corona)
• No.2 (7" × 48 Churchill)
• No.6 (5½" × 50 Robusto)
• No.7 (5½" × 44 Corona)
• No.8 (4¾" × 56 Robusto Extra)
• No.10 (4½" × 50 Petit Corona)

Ashton VSG — The Full-Strength Flagship

Classic formats:

• VSG Robusto (5½" × 50)
• VSG Wizard (7" × 48 Churchill)
• VSG Tres Mystique (5½" × 56 Belicoso)
• VSG Pegasus (6" × 47 Corona Gorda)

Ashton ESG 22 — Limited Top-Tier Series

"22" commemorates Sasha Ashton Levin's 22nd birthday:

• ESG 22 Year Salute (limited release)

Ashton Aged Maduro — Dark Maduro

Classic formats:

• Aged Maduro No.10 (5" × 50)
• Aged Maduro No.20 (6" × 50)
• Aged Maduro No.50 (7" × 52)

Ashton Symmetry — Symmetrical Blend

Classic formats:

• Symmetry Robusto
• Symmetry Belicoso
• Symmetry Sublime

Ashton Heritage Puro Sol — Tribute to Cuban Tradition

Classic formats:

• Heritage Puro Sol Robusto
• Heritage Puro Sol Toro

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Collection and Aging Recommendations

Beginner (NT$5,000-15,000)

• Ashton Classic No.10 × 5
• Ashton Aged Maduro No.10 × 5

Advanced (NT$30,000-80,000)

• Ashton Cabinet Selection No.6 × 5
• Ashton VSG Robusto × 5
• Ashton Symmetry Belicoso × 3

Collector (NT$200,000+)

• Ashton ESG 22 Year Salute limited collection
• Complete Cabinet Selection No.1 → No.10 collection
• Complete VSG vitola set

Aging Recommendations

• Classic: can be smoked immediately — fresh and full creamy floral notes
• Cabinet Selection: tobacco has already been aged for 4 years — can be smoked directly or aged another 2-3 years for greater depth
• VSG: recommended aging of 2-3 years — allowing the full strength to unfold into complex layers
• ESG 22: recommended aging of 5-10 years — allowing the limited flagship to mature in depth

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The Cigar Prince's "Ashton Advanced Appreciation Path"

Stage 1: Understanding (Cigars 1-3)

Start with Ashton Classic No.10 — experience the elegant starting point of the Fuente family's "Dominican Connecticut wrapper."

Stage 2: Aged Experience (Cigars 4-6)

Move into Ashton Cabinet Selection No.6 — experience the brand's "aged elegance."

Stage 3: Strength Progression (Cigars 7-10)

Smoke Ashton VSG Robusto — experience the brand's "full-strength flagship."

Stage 4: Limited Collection (Cigar 10+)

Smoke the Ashton ESG 22 limited collection — enter Ashton's complete spectrum.

You are welcome to visit W Cigar Bar in Daan District and experience the "Dominican classic made by the Fuente family" together with the Cigar Prince.

W Cigar Bar is an authorized dealer of Pacific Cigar Company (PCC is the official and regular import channel of Habanos S.A. Cuba in Taiwan) — and also offers a Taipei experience of the complete Ashton spectrum.