Stogie of the Week

Ramon Allones Specially Selected

Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuban
Binder: Cuban
Filler: Cuban
Strength: Medium
Vitola: Robusto
Size: 4.8 (124 m) x 50
Age: N/A
MSRP: About $155.00 for a box of 25

Paul’s List

  • PG Symphony 20 Salamone – Knock out of them the park flavors. Cedar, earth, very cuban like. Perfect draw and great balance of flavors. They have mellowed a bit. “Box Worthy”
  • Partagas Lucitania – Plugged. I finally gave up and smoked a PG Symphony 20.
  • Jamie Garcia Limitada 2011 – Started slow, but once it got going it was great. Think these might need some more age. Great construction. “The Fiver”
  • Illusione 888 Candela – Enjoyable! Has some kick with those subtle herbal flavors. Medium/Full bodied. One of the best balanced Candela’s I have had. “The Fiver”.
  • Quesada Espania Corona – Plugged. Disappointing. Will definetly be revisting.
  • Bolivar Petit Corona – Awesome! Flavors very different. Had a bit more of punch for a Cuban. Earthy and definitely a “fiver”
  • Bolivar Belicoso Finos – Didnt like the first stick I smoked. Second rocked my world. Draw was awesome. Versatile smoke for anytime of the day.
  • Opus X Chili Pepper – Unqiue format (It is shaped like a chilli pepper). Started off with blast of pepper and strength. Good but extremely strong.
  • Cusano Lancero – Gifted by stogie santa as an unbanded. Pig Tailed cap lancero , it unravled so couldnt make it all the way through it. Need to revisit.
  • Davidoff Aniversario No. 1 – Hint of grass, very smooth, well aged. Fantastic “The Fiver” Very different flavor profile.
  • Arturo Fuente Untold Story – Underwelmed. I remember these being better.
  • Four Kicks Robusto – Solid medium bodies, caramel sweetness. Good summer time smoke. A definite “fiver”. Good grilling smoke, strong enough but not too strong.
  • Litto Gomez Small Batch #4 – Good but needs some age.

Tim’s List

  • Rocky Patel Decade Lonsdale (2008) – This Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapped beauty offered up some rich flavors including cherry, leather, and some pepper. Construction was perfect but I found the flavor profile a bit boring. Or maybe it was just the drunk homeless man that kept insisting Al looked like Whitey Bulger (he doesn’t really). In the end, this stick was good but didn’t change up much. “The Angler”
  • Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Machito (2004) – I wanted to pair something with a glass of Benjamin Prichard’s Rye Whiskey I had just poured. That meant something that was a quick smoke but with a full flavor profile. I grabbed an original release of the Joya de Nicaragua Antano 1970 Machito that Stogie Santa had gifted me. This Petit Corona was probably the best smoke I had all weekend. Wow! I forgot how good the Antano is and the age only added to the experience. In conclusion, it paired perfectly with the Whiskey. “Box Worthy”
  • El Triunfador Lancero Limited – Big Al had gifted me this beautiful 7 1/2 x 38 lancero. This Nicaraguan puro sports a triple cap with pig tail and unlike the regular line of El Triunfador, a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. This stick started medium in strength and body and went great with my AM coffee. Flavors were rich and included espresso, cedar, and some spice. The strength and body picked up a bit as it progressed. Construction, burn, and draw were perfect in every sense. A definite “Fiver”!
  • LFD El Jocko No. 1 Maduro – Available in either an Ecuadorian Connecticut or Mexican Maduro wrapper with a Nicaraguan binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano filler, this blend has been around for more than a decade. With it’s LFD sweetness (Ligero maybe?) and A+ construction, I enjoyed it a great deal after a good meal. A definite “Fiver”.
  • La Aroma de Cuba EE No. 2 – The a Aroma de Cuba EE No. 2 is a 5 x 50 Robusto that sports a Ecuadorian wrapper and pairs perfectly with a morning cup of coffee. It is also versatile and flavorful enough to smoke anytime of the day. Made by Ashton, these always burn and draw perfectly. The only negative thing about smoking this cigar is it was my last one. I will need to pick up some more of these ASAP. “Box Worthy”
  • My Father Le Bijou 1922 Federal Cigar 91st Cervantes Connecticut – The My Father Le Bijou 1922 Cervantes is an exclusive release for Federal Cigars in New Hampshire which is celebrating their 91st Anniversary this year. This 6.5 x 42 Lonsdale is available in either a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro and a Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. In this case, I smoked the CT in which only 50 boxes of 23 cigars were made and available for in store purchase only. Wow! Began with a blast of intense pepper and then quickly transitioned into a nice balance of roasted nuts and butterscotch with a nice buttery finish. The second third became more toasty with cedar and some spice and the last third amped up in body with the pepper returning. Hands down the best smoke I had all week. “Box Worthy” assuming they have any left.
  • La Aroma de Cuba Robusto – Good smoke but I am more partial to the EE and Mi Amore. I have had this blend in the lancero however which really shines.