Background

Now owned by Habanos S.A., Ramon Allones was founded in 1837 and is one of the oldest cigar brands in the world. According to their website;

All the cigars are filled with a blend of tobaccos from the Vuelta Abajo region, characterised by their intense and complex taste.

I have not yet had the opportunity to try anything from this brand, so I was happy when fellow BOTL Mark gifted me this stick during the recording of Episode 8 of the podcast last week. Let’s get to burning!

 

Stogie Stats

Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Strength: Medium
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 4.8 (124 m) x 50
Age: Six Years
MSRP: Around $8.00 a cigar (but can vary widely)

Review

The cigar is firm throughout the length of the stick and the wrapper is a uniform light brown with several small veins throughout. The wrapper is dry but feels sturdy. Pre-light smell and draw contains a small amount of wood and a delicious spice I cannot put my finger on.

Once lit, the draw is perfect and copious amounts of smoke begin pouring from the cigar. Initial flavors include some wood and spice. Thus far the cigar is mild/medium in flavor and strength. The burn is very jagged but has not interfere with my enjoyment thus far. So far this is an enjoyable New Years Day smoke.

The second third brings the addition of oak, spice, and some floral notes. The ash is holding for a good 2 inches and falls for the first time at about the halfway mark. At this point the finish has become incredibly toasty. Fantastic! The burn continues to be jagged but the draw is perfect.

The last third continues with the the same core flavors but i am detecting the addition of some nuts and that delicious toastiness continues. There is no harshness whatsoever and the flavors are perfectly balanced. I nub the cigar down to the last one inch and burning my lips but loving every last minute of my New Years Day smoke. Smoking time is just under 60 minutes.

Conclusion

This was a wonderful cigar and a well appreciated gift. The cigar was flavorful, smooth, and balanced. With the exception of the uneven burn, which did not impair the smoking experience at all, I cannot find anything negative to say about this stick. Consequently, I am going to give the Ramon Allones Specially Selected a Stogie Geeks Rating of “Box Worthy”. You can be certain I will be seeking these out in 2012.