Ramon Allones Extra

[El Presidente]

Ramon Allones Extra

I have enjoyed 3-4 of these since last Friday. They have all been from the same box so take the following with a pinch of salt.

Lovely wrapper with great oil content.

Aroma at cold Pungent. Barnyard and sweat.

Draw at cold…perfect, slightest of pull required.

Opening

Spice, Liquorice, medium Full. Full through the nose, medium full on the palate. Liquorice again through nose and palate. Very interesting flavour profile and personality. You feel it wants to punch you in the nose but restrains itself.

First Third

Balanced out. Rich but now smooth. Soft spices through the nose, velvet palate. Flavours of clove, anise, nuances of stewed fruit and the RA DNA is there but closed. elements remind me of the Partagas Serie connaisseur No 3 ....probably why I keep going back to them.

Second Third

No changes

Last third

No real changes. Licorice long gone. No bitterness whatsoever. It has shut down its flavour delivery. Simply quality tobacco.

Summary

They have been consistent from this box. Big brutal opening, settles down ito some excellent exotic flavours and then reverts by the halfway point to a good solid cigar of straight quality tobacco.

I have only had a few but this box is a sleeper. 3-5 years. Potential plus. I will enjoy them now....don't know why...but there is something there that draws me.

Would love to get the thoughts of those that have tried them?

[Ryan]

Thanks for the review, good to hear. I must say I've always liked the idea of these. Any pricing yet?

[android]

Those look great...

[nubchin]

Gorgeous simply gorgeous

[thechenman]

Can't hardly wait. Those cigars look delicious. Thanks for sharing your thoughts Rob.

[IcedCanuck]

Thanks for sharing your review! I have a box on the way and can't wait to try them. So far all the reviews I have seen and read suggest aging them for a minimum of three years. I used to not like the ELs but the more of them I try the more I have to admit liking them. The 2009 H.Upmaan Magnum 48 EL is one of my goto sticks right now!

[Dbone]

Thanks for the tasting notes, Rob. Is that band suppose to be a throwback from the past?

[riazp]

I think the band is a throwback from this cigar that they discontinued in the 70's. This is one of those LE's that i'm really looking foward to trying. I might buy a single this winter from the LCDH and give it a try. This is one of those boxes that on top of my list of cigars when I go to cuba in end of january.

[Lotusguy]

Sell us some, Rob, and we'll gladly post our impressions

[Colt45]

Any thoughts on how these compare to the similarly sized Superiores?

[smokinpeace]

Really looking forward to this release. Thanks posting your thoughts Rob.

[Hohenthal]

Thanks for the review, that's the info I was hoping for.

Best regards, Alex

[dB69]

...Would love to get the thoughts of those that have tried them?

Thanks for the review!

Pretty much the same feelings, but I got spice from start to finish and couldn't recognize any finer flavours clearly. However, I felt the flavours are there somewhere behind the terrible strength and the curtain of youth.

If I had a box (will have) I wouldn't smoke them yet, although there are something really cool in those bastards. A positive torture! Extras are also very different from any other LE cigar I have smoked.

Any thoughts on how these compare to the similarly sized Superiores?

Only smoked one of each, but I would say they are totally different cigars, like day and night. If I compare them to something I have smoked recently, the style of Superiores (medium) is a bit like HU M46 and Extras (full+) is somehow close to RA Belicosos RE Germany and if speaking of strength then some of the strongest Bolivars.

[vivalanation734]

sounds delightful. I'd love to get my hands on a few of these.

[El Presidente]

Any thoughts on how these compare to the similarly sized Superiores?

Chalk and cheese mate.

Superiores is refined class featuring the best traits of impeccable RA breeding.

Extra got thrown out of junior school. Something there however...and wouldn't surprise if it ends up trumping the rest of the family.

[Pilgrims]

How much might these be? Is there a need to get on a list for them?

I love the size as well as all the above. Great stuff.

[Nino]

Rob,

been smoking these here in La Habana for the last week, received a box and just had one after lunch at La Moraleja / very good, and a lovely vitola !

Will post a list of new releases and prices here right away on my Quick Hello from HAV thread.

Saludos de nuestro buen amigo !

[Charltonc]

sounds great.

[CanuckSARTech]

Put me down for a box. These seem interesting to me. These are one that I mentioned to Lisa that I'd want, but that may have fallen by the wayside. Di/Smithy, please put me down for a box, and let me know what pricing would be on these.

Thanks.

[Lotusguy]

Put me down for a box. These seem interesting to me. These are one that I mentioned to Lisa that I'd want, but that may have fallen by the wayside. Di/Smithy, please put me down for a box, and let me know what pricing would be on these.

Thanks.

Here you go for pricing and info on the new LEs...

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=108328&pid=266432&st=0entry266432

[mnzoui]

The wrapper is fantastic.

[CanuckSARTech]

Here you go for pricing and info on the new LEs...

http://www.friendsofhabanos.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=108328&pid=266432&st=0entry266432

Perfect, thank you! Didn't see those updates yet.

[nick17]

I hope to have one tomorrow and if i like them I will be getting a box i will report back once i have smoked it (AKA tomorrow night)

[jedipastor]

These are intriguing as I'm starting to get into RA lately. Do these come in 10-counts as well? I love 10-count boxes, lol.

The only LE that I'm going to get for sure at this point is the Upmann. Upmann has been top-notch lately and this is an interesting size.

[Hohenthal]

Tried one today which turned out to be very good, but surprisingly different.

Ramon Allones Extra

I have enjoyed 3-4 of these since last Friday. They have all been from the same box so take the following with a pinch of salt.

Lovely wrapper with great oil content. / Lighter wrapper shade, not as oily

Aroma at cold Pungent. Barnyard and sweat. / same

Draw at cold…perfect, slightest of pull required. / old style draw, very restricted (which I like)

Opening

Spice, Liquorice, medium Full.

Not much spice, no liquorice, but tons of roasted, almost burnt nuts (almond, walnut)

Full through the nose, medium full on the palate. / Yes

Liquorice again through nose and palate. / More nuts and dark honey, bitter-sweet

Very interesting flavour profile and personality. / Yes

You feel it wants to punch you in the nose but restrains itself. / again yes.

First Third

Balanced out. Rich but now smooth. Soft spices through the nose, velvet palate. Flavours of clove, anise, nuances of stewed fruit and the RA DNA is there but closed.

No dried/stewed fruit, except for one puff - even then I was not sure if it was my imagination (because I would expect this profile from RA)

Again no spice, more of that bitter-sweet forest honey.

elements remind me of the Partagas Serie connaisseur No 3 ....probably why I keep going back to them.

Second Third

No changes / Coffee and leather coming along

Last third

No real changes. Licorice long gone. No bitterness whatsoever.

/ Underlined bitterness all the way through, but still the bitterness comes with true flavours (coffee, overdone roasted/burnt nuts, dark honey)

It has shut down its flavour delivery. / No

Simply quality tobacco. / Yes

Summary

3-5 years. Potential plus. / Yes, if not 10

Would love to get the thoughts of those that have tried them?

Dear Rob,

sorry for using your review like that, just thought putting my impressions next to yours will make it an easier read.

However, there seems to be some blend variation - as you, Ken and Smithy pointed out on the vid review as well.

Nevertheless the Allones Extra, in my estimation, is in great contrast to many habanos of today a classic, old style cigar and a few months (or years, if one has the patience) down the line they will be nothing short of sheer delight!

Best regards, cheers everybody,

Alex