Ashton

Ashton stands as one of the most revered premium cigar brands in the world, renowned for its unwavering commitment to quality, tradition, and excellence. Created by industry veteran Robert Levin in 1985, Ashton has maintained its position as a perennial 'Top 3' brand in the U.S. market for over thirty years while achieving global recognition across more than 60 countries. The brand is distinguished by its exclusive partnership with the legendary Fuente family, who handcraft every Ashton cigar in their celebrated Tabacalera A. Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic using only the finest aged tobaccos. Ashton represents the pinnacle of premium cigar craftsmanship, combining traditional entubado rolling methods with meticulous attention to detail that results in cigars of superior quality and lasting prestige.

Background

The Ashton brand was born from the deep cigar industry expertise of Robert Levin, who grew up working in his father's historic Philadelphia cigar shop, Holt's Cigar Company, during the 1950s and 1960s. After taking over the family business in the 1970s and successfully expanding its retail and mail-order operations, Levin applied his passion and industry knowledge to create his own premium cigar brand in the early 1980s. The brand officially debuted in 1985, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most successful partnerships in the cigar industry. Levin's vision was to create super-premium cigars that would set new standards for quality and consistency, initially pricing Ashton cigars between $1.70 and $2.50, making them among the most expensive cigars available at the time. This bold positioning established Ashton as a luxury brand from its inception, focusing on discerning cigar enthusiasts who valued exceptional quality over price considerations.

History

Ashton's journey began in 1985 when Robert Levin, drawing from decades of experience in the family cigar business, launched the brand with a focus on creating super-premium cigars that would redefine quality standards in the industry. Shortly after its debut, Levin forged a partnership with Carlos Fuente Sr. and his son Carlito Fuente, whose family had been crafting premium cigars for generations with uncompromising standards for taste, construction, and consistency. This collaboration, built on mutual respect and shared ambition to produce the finest cigars in the world, has remained the foundation of Ashton's success for over three decades. The brand has continuously evolved its portfolio to satisfy changing consumer tastes while maintaining its core commitment to excellence, introducing iconic blends that have become benchmarks in the premium cigar market.

Reputation

Ashton enjoys an unparalleled reputation as one of the world's most prestigious premium cigar brands, consistently ranking among the top sellers in the United States and earning recognition from critics and enthusiasts worldwide. The brand is celebrated for its exceptional consistency, superior construction quality, and the distinctive terroir achieved through its exclusive partnership with the Fuente family's Dominican operations. Industry professionals regard Ashton as a benchmark for premium cigar excellence, with many of its releases receiving high ratings from leading cigar publications and becoming sought-after collectibles among aficionados. The brand's reputation is further enhanced by its selective distribution network and the personal involvement of the Levin family in maintaining quality standards, making Ashton synonymous with luxury, tradition, and uncompromising craftsmanship in the global cigar market.