Match M4 brought together two full-bodied cigars searching for their first Group A victory. Ashton VSG had opened the tournament with a loss to Padrón 60th Anniversary Perfecto. My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro had also fallen to Padrón in its first appearance.
The matchup paired two very different traditions. Ashton VSG Sorcerer combined an Ecuador Sumatra sun-grown wrapper with Dominican binder and filler tobaccos at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. Le Bijou delivered an all-Nicaraguan interior beneath a dark Habano Oscuro-Oscuro wrapper.
Both cigars had the construction, complexity and strength to recover from an early loss. With advancement still available, M4 became a test of which blend could turn full-bodied power into the more polished complete experience.
Matchup at a Glance
| Category | Ashton VSG Sorcerer | My Father Le Bijou 1922 |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Ashton | My Father Cigars |
| Origin | Dominican Republic | Nicaragua |
| Wrapper | Ecuador Sumatra Sun-Grown | Habano Oscuro-Oscuro |
| Binder | Dominican Republic | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Dominican Republic | Nicaraguan |
| Vitola | Sorcerer, 7 x 49 | Toro, 6 x 52 |
| Strength | Full | Full |
| Ashology score | 28.5/30 - Elite | 27.5/30 - Superior |
| M4 result | Winner | Loss |
Ashton VSG opened with toasted cedar, dark earth, black pepper and bittersweet cocoa. Espresso, leather and baking spice emerged as the Sorcerer became richer, while dried-fruit sweetness kept its full-bodied profile from turning overly dry.
Le Bijou began with a stronger pepper impression before settling into dark chocolate, earth and toasted wood. Espresso, leather, nutmeg and molasses-like sweetness created depth in the middle. Black pepper, dark-roasted coffee and charred cedar drove the closing section.
Both cigars delivered dark flavor and significant intensity. Ashton expressed its power through cedar, spice, cocoa and controlled sweetness. Le Bijou leaned harder into pepper, dark roast, earth and char, producing the heavier and more forceful personality.
Where the Matchup Was Decided
The official scorecards were close. Both cigars earned 5 out of 5 for construction and flavor complexity, 4.5 for burn, and 4 for balance. Those equal marks showed how evenly matched the core performances were.
Ashton won M4 through draw and finish.
Ashton received a perfect 5 for draw and finish. Its dependable resistance, firm ash and generally even combustion supported a long finish that stayed spicy and slightly sweet. The cigar's cocoa and leather remained present even as pepper and charred oak increased.
Le Bijou earned 4.5 in both categories. Its draw remained consistent and its smoke production was abundant, but Ashton's draw felt more effortless. Le Bijou's bold, warming finish was persistent, yet its dark-roasted coffee, pepper and charred cedar became more dominant than Ashton's more layered closing profile.
That half-point advantage in each category produced the final one-point separation: Ashton VSG at 28.5 and My Father Le Bijou 1922 at 27.5.
Official Result: Ashton VSG Wins Match M4
Ashton VSG defeated My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro and improved to 1-1 in Group A. The victory restored Ashton's advancement path after its opening loss and gave the cigar control of second place behind undefeated Padrón.
Le Bijou fell to 0-2 and could no longer reach the Top 16. It still had one group-stage matchup remaining, where it would defeat CAO Arcana Firewalker and finish 1-2.
Ashton followed M4 with a victory over Firewalker, completed group play at 2-1 and advanced as the Group A runner-up. It later finished #9 overall after reaching the Top 16, confirming the importance of this recovery win.
Final Ashology Verdict
My Father Le Bijou 1922 Toro brought bold Nicaraguan character, rich dark flavors and excellent craftsmanship to M4. Its performance was strong enough to earn Superior recognition and remained close to Ashton across nearly the entire scorecard.
Ashton VSG delivered the more refined draw and the more complete finish. Those advantages allowed its full-bodied strength to feel controlled and distinguished rather than simply forceful.
Match M4 was decided by one point, but that point changed Group A. Ashton moved back into contention, while Le Bijou's advancement hopes ended. At tournament level, the smallest refinements can determine the entire path forward.
Tasting notes reflect the cigars and vitolas evaluated during the 2026 competition. Flavor, strength and burn performance may vary based on storage, age, vitola and individual palate. Tobacco products are intended only for adults of legal smoking age.