RASS - Another Tosser What Gives?

[SaintLuis]

I disagree. Up until 2013 RASS were notorious for being great when young. Maybe just a **** year

Screw that. The only problem with RASS is that you have to wait years for them to shine. All that rich earthy plum and jam glory took my last box three years to arrive. Great cigar, but having them in a regular rotation requires some real estate for aging.

[Bruce15t]

Everyone has always said rass is great out of the box. This year went to my local lcdh and picked up a few. Some were plugged and one tasted horrible. Will say one out of the group was great. So like most will say its kind of a crap shoot what you get out of Cuba.

[Larsy]

My end of '13 50 cab is sex in a wooden box.

Right there with ya

[Laxman]

For me I hated ever rass i had from 06 to 12. I thought they were horrible fresh. The 2013 50 cabs on the other hand where great ROTT. They have now gone to sleep.

I put my 06-08 boxes down for 5 years and was planing on selling them as I hadn't liked them fresh. Luckily I decided to try one before I sold them. They were so good I ended up smoking through most of them. So for me I like 5 plus years on my rass.

[Smallclub]

Everyone has always said rass is great out of the box.

Where? I attend cigars boards since 2002; prior to recent years the RASS was unanimely considered unsmokable during its youth.

Around 2011 (approx.) one could begin to see people who raved about young RASS, most often newcomers; but I don't think the "old hands" have changed their minds.

[Bruce15t]

Sorry Smallclub I should not generalize like that. In my past few years living in Asia and Europe some people I have encountered like rass young. As for the states most people think it is probably uncool to smoke anything that has not laid down for a year. This of course is a whole other topic. I'm sure opinions vary on this, as it usually does for most topics.

[Rye]

All of my friends that have said they liked fresh RASS have quickly changed their minds as soon as I gave them one from my 2010 box.

This cigar really does need the age to flower, where I actually prefer my RASCC young and fresh

[LeafLover]

Smoked one out of the may 13 box the other day to see how they were coming along. Was wonderful. The first 10 was not ready. Kept checking and checking. The 9th and 10th cigar were better and better. But the 11th was superb. Hope it means it's ready. Have another 13 box that is waiting. Minimum of two box concept is a good thing.

[JHands]

Things are getting a bit twisted as the topic goes on. I have had many RASS that have been great rott 2013 boxes. This particular box is trash. What has been said is accurate: a bad blend tastes bad regardless of age. These sticks taste like straight feces

[dowjr1]

Hmmmm. I wonder what the cause of such a flavor difference could be?

[gcman68]

I opened a 2012 box recently and had a surprisingly bad RASS and said the same thing to a friend who has been in the cigar business 30+ years and he just said it likely was in its summer slumber and that try again in the Fall and it should be better. It sounds crazy to me but at least with the old Cuban cigars he really believes that young cigars are in their slumber period during the summer months. Then again it could be a bad box but only time will confirm that.

[actzz541]

Was anxious to try the RASS after hearing so many good things. Ive had a few singles from the past 2 or 3 years, have yet to find what the draw is. Glad to hear Im not the only one...

[Smallclub]

… and he just said it likely was in its summer slumber and that try again in the Fall and it should be better. It sounds crazy to me but at least with the old Cuban cigars he really believes that young cigars are in their slumber period during the summer months.

I seem to remember that it is a theory put forward by Zino Davidoff. Have to check.

[CaptainQuintero]

I seem to remember that it is a theory put forward by Zino Davidoff. Have to check.

Wasn't it something to do with the end of the rolling season? Something along the lines of the stormy season meaning that production was halted, so in theory the year 2014 in theory ran from end of 2014 into half way through 2015, so a 2014 box could (in the past) be a lot younger than the buyer thinks so needs that extra time to come around?

No idea if its complete rubbish or not but remember reading something along those lines once.

If it is/was true I wouldn't know how it fits into modern production methods with aged harvests and resting/freezing periods being used.

[Smallclub]

Wasn't it something to do with the end of the rolling season? Something along the lines of the stormy season meaning that production was halted, so in theory the year 2014 in theory ran from end of 2014 into half way through 2015, so a 2014 box could (in the past) be a lot younger than the buyer thinks so needs that extra time to come around?

errr, not really

TMK, the boxes are stamped with the codes shortly before they leave the factory, thus when they already contain the cigars…

[asmartbull]

Lots of fuss about a cigar that hasn't made it through puberty. ...and let's be clear, the RASCC gets a lot of love a out being smokeable young. ..The RA SS has always needed yrs.....done hear

[JHands]

Alright so now that that seems settled and we have determined that the 13 50 cab is the only way to seemingly smoke young, what robustos can be smoked rott without being green or having ammonia? Aside from epi 2. Already have my fair share.

[Smallclub]

what robustos can be smoked rott without being green or having ammonia? Aside from epi 2. Already have my fair share.

JL2, Upmann Connoisseur No.1 in first place, IMHO.

[charlesod]

I bought a HQ box from FOH last month. It was a 50 cab. Absolutely fabulous. Previous recent boxes (2) of 25 (not purchased from FOH) were garbage.

[CaptainQuintero]

errr, not really

TMK, the boxes are stamped with the codes shortly before they leave the factory, thus when they already contain the cigars…

I'm putting it down to too much cheese before bed

[SaintLuis]

Alright so now that that seems settled and we have determined that the 13 50 cab is the only way to seemingly smoke young, what robustos can be smoked rott without being green or having ammonia? Aside from epi 2. Already have my fair share.

For Robustos, SLR Regios smoke nicely when young, as do the Boli RCs (though admittedly, are sometimes hit/miss).

[earthson]

I disagree. Up until 2013 RASS were notorious for being great when young. Maybe just a **** year

I disagree with this whole-heartedly. I tend to smoke cigars young and my rule of thumb for RASS has always been a 2 year minimum before being approachable.

Just smoked a MUR 13 I got as a freebie in a trade and I couldn't resist - I smoked it. What a waste of a robusto! Fortunately, the 12s I've got are just lovely.

[earthson]

Now, if you're looking for the RA profile and don't want to wait as long, the RASCC seem to ripen after a year for me. The 12s I have of these are out of this world!