It is no secret that I usually find older pipes to be superior to modern ones — but there are a few real exceptions, and Ashton is absolutely one of them.

Alongside exceptional briar quality and craftsmanship, Ashton is one of the very few brands that still uses an oil-curing method, similar in spirit to the approach that made Dunhill pipes so famous.

Sovereign is Ashton’s highest grade, known for its warm natural color and smooth finish. “XXX” is the size stamp, indicating the biggest “regular” size, with only oversized models above it.

The only reason I graded this pipe as A4 is a very small repair mark on the underside of the button. It’s purely visual — the button is completely smooth to the touch.

Ashton easily sits in my personal top 5 brands, and I currently have 9 Ashton pipes in my own collection.