Ramon Allones Specially Selected Robusto
Oct 27, 2009 Cigar
Tonight’s review is the Ramon Allones Specially Selected Robusto.
Ramon Allones established this brand under his own name in 1845.
Extremely stylish cigars, whose sizes and shapes are carefully selected with elegance in mind. Reminiscent of Bolivar these cigars are not for the fainthearted, definitely not a beginners cigar.
They are medium to full flavoured, extremely complex with rich chocolate and leather overtones. Smooth, rich cream and peppery spice notes predominate, rather opulent with an unexpectedly floral aroma.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Origin: Cuba
Wrapper: Cuba
Binder: Cuba
Filler: Cuba
APPEARANCE and CONSTRUCTION – (18 of 20 pts.)
The RASS has a slight box press to it that feels nice in the hand. Wrapper is medium brown in color. The RASS is somewhat rustic looking. Triple cap is a little sloppy and there are some small veins running along one side. No soft spots at all. Pretty firm, actually.
SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS – (23 of 25 pts.)
Wrapper has an aroma of toasted wood, like when you first light a fireplace. There’s also a sweet spiciness on the foot. Cold draw is a little tight for my liking but not too bad. Lit perfectly with my Blazer Torch. Burn line was pretty thin and remained even throughout. Despite the somewhat rustic look, the cigar burned very evenly and cleanly. Ash was a light gray and stayed firm. Required a good tap to knock it off actually.
FLAVOR – (27 of 30 pts.)
Initial puffs were layered with a combination of leather and nuttiness. The nutty flavor reminded me of almonds and was pretty evident in the first third. The cigar was medium to full bodied. The draw remained slightly tight even after lighting. Again, it didn’t bother me that much, but it was definitely noticeable in the low volume of smoke produced on each puff. The second third had notes of more leather and a light spiciness. I also picked up something that tasted a little like allspice or some other mulling spice. Final third saw the strength pick up a bit to move it from more medium to full bodied. The almond flavor also appeared again in the final third along with some cocoa flavors.
OVERALL IMPRESSION – (22 of 25 pts.)
Despite the slightly firm draw, I enjoyed the RASS very much. This stick almost always delivers in the flavor department and it is generally a very good value as well. I’ve seen some solid websites offering boxes for under $165 which is a great price for a stick of this quality and pedigree.
TOTAL SCORE – 90
Tags: Cuba, Ramon Allones, Specially Selected
Obama to Loosen Cuba Restrictions
Apr 14, 2009 News
The Obama administration announced today it is lifting travel and remittance restrictions on Cuban-Americans and taking steps to spur telecommunications with the island nation.
The move comes just four days before the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago is set to start.
Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said Cuban-American families can now freely travel to visit relatives in Cuba, and that limitations on money transfers are abolished, effective immediately.
According to Newsweek, Gibbs described the major shift in policy as “reaching out to the Cuban people.”
The press secretary also announced that the president was permitting U.S. telecommunication companies to apply for business licenses in Cuba. Gibbs said the president specifically encouraged companies to focus on strengthening cell phone, Internet, radio and satellite television technologies between the United States and Cuba.
From CigarAficionado.com
