Popular Post CoCigarSmoker Posted April 3, 2015 Popular Post Posted April 3, 2015 So here I am, lying in bed having only been asleep for five hours and yet I’m awake. Maybe it’s the fact that I know my first round of Johnny O customs are being delivered today, or maybe it’s the anticipation of the upcoming 48:48, or maybe it’s just indigestion haha. Either way, no point in laying around in bed when we could be gallivanting through a wondrous Ramon Allones Small Club Corona! So out of bed I got and here we are, alas, on the deck in the sun enjoying a beautiful RASCC. To start off this cigar’s box code is uknown, but I am sure it is 2014 as I have zero aged stock whatsoever. I chose this little guy because I just wanted a nice smoke with my cup of coffee that will hopefully give me super powers to stay up all night again (I work nights). I’ve recently been working more on my appreciation of the smaller gauge/size cigars and previous to my entrance into the CC word I rarely smoked anything smaller than a robusto. That being said I’m really loving these Minutos, Coronas, etc… for those times when I just want a quick(er) smoke. Ramon Allones Small Club Corona: 4 3/8” x 42 Construction This cigar felt just ever so slightly soft to the touch as the wrapper was gently pressed from foot to cap, but this did not in any way affect the draw one the punch was used. The wrapper shade is what I would call right between a Colorado and Colorado Claro. There are mostly deep and golden browns but the wrapper also has just a pinch of red. No other defects were detected and there were just minor veins throughout the wrapper, nothing to scoff at. This cigar also sported just a slight box press as well which was a nice attribute. Pre-light Coffee, Cocoa, and Cuba OH MY!!! As said earlier, despite being a little under filled the draw is actually quite perfect. BIG notes of coffee and cocoa hit your palate during the cold draw and they are finished with that lovely Cuban twang and a bit of toasted tobacco. So far this cigar has some big shoes to fill as the pre-light cold draw was most enjoyable. First Third SPICE!!!!!! Once the foot was properly toasted and it was time to start slowly drawing smoke I was “wowed” with huge bold notes of spice. Now I love me some spice and found this to be a wonderful little surprise, total little spice bomb. However, shortly after the initial 5 minutes of this third the cigar slowly settled into its own and relaxed. Now, being a recovering NC smoker I love me some spice and this little guy was a welcome change to what I would consider a much milder/medium bodied line up the CC’s embody. That being said, as the spice slowed the notes of toasted tobacco, coffee, just a pinch of cocoa, and earth came to light. Second Third For whatever reason almost immediately while entering the second third the cigar became almost plugged. I’m really not sure what causes this and I can’t say I’ve ever had a draw change this much “mid smoke”. However, even though I’m working a little harder for each draw this cigar is still a pretty cool dude. I must admit sitting on the deck in the sun with some coffee and this little bugger is totally worth waking up in the middle of the night, what a treat!! Flavor wise the cigar has eased a bunch. The notes of spice have settled way down and this second third has evolved from the first. Notes of earth, leather, and tobacco are on the palate and the cocoa has completely disappeared. The ash held on just about all the way through the second third and once it fell I decided to open up the cap with a guillotine cut to see if that eased the draw. Lucky for me that fixed the problem with the draw and we are back to smooth sailing!! Final Third As I’m sitting here just about to enter the final third my phone went off……THE JOHNNY O CUSTOMS ARE HERE!!!!!! So normally when I’m smoking I don’t get up until I’m done but man o man did I run to the mailbox. Good lord aren’t they beautiful. Gotta give a shoutout to my man Garbandz, thanks for hooking me up my brother! Anyway, continuing on with the final third brings us some more spice. As I site right now I’d peg this cigar as medium in body with little to no felt nicotine but I suppose given the amount of spice one could argue this is a med-full bodied cigar. I wouldn’t call it cream, but the spice medley is almost cooled and coated with a creamy like texture that makes it smooth on the mouth, not intense or harsh, but very enjoyable. The spice does tend to cover up the more complex and finer notes of this little guy but I can still savor some toasted tobacco, earth, and pepper. Towards the very end of nubbing this little cigar the final third turned out to be the most enjoyable of the whole stick. The spice was met with a smooth cream that smoothed out the entire flavor profile and brought back those beautiful notes of coffee and earth. I must say I wasn’t expecting this change so close to the cap of the cigar, bravo Ramon Allones, Bravo! Overall This was one heck of a little cigar. I have to say this will be immediately put on my “buy a box” list and I’ll be hunting for these on the upcoming 24:24’s. I find that this cigar is perfect for a morning cup of coffee, a quick lunch break, or perhaps after a quick dinner when time is of the essence but you just HAVE TO HAVE THAT SMOKE! Construction is good, but somewhat inconsistent. However, overall given the price point on this cigar I’d say that the value is well worth the small dollar amount paid. I think you can expect a good quick smoke with big notes of spice followed by finer and more complex notes of coffee, hints of cocoa, earth, leather, and pepper. Guys, BUY THIS CIGAR! Total smoking time for me (I’m slow I know) is 50 minutes. But even for me this was a while. I really enjoyed this cigar and smoked it rather slow, just savoring the experience. I suppose under different circumstances I could even cut this down to a 30 minute smoke. Comparison As requested on my previous reviews of the Bolivar Petit Corona and Partagas Short I will attempt to compare and contrast this cigar with the others. I find that this cigar is very similar to both the Bolivar and Partagas. Of the three I’d still say that the Party Short is my favorite, but this is a close second. However, the Boli was under filled and I think it would be unfair to judge that vitola solely off that one experience. I enjoyed all three of these cigars and would love to have cabinets of them all on hand for a good rotation for quick smokes. I think the RA has much more spice than what I found in the other two cigars but I rather enjoyed it. Due to the other cigars lack of spice I think it was easier to discern more intricate flavors and that was also enjoyable in its own right. Overall, you can’t go wrong with any of these three small sticks and I’d say that chances are, if you enjoy one you will equally enjoy them all. Cheers and happy Easter to everyone. Hope you guys enjoyed and if all goes well this is just the first of many a fine stick this weekend!! Take care, Seth 7
iGrizz Posted April 3, 2015 Posted April 3, 2015 Great review! What's the box code for this RASCC? I have a box in route.
bradbrennan Posted April 3, 2015 Posted April 3, 2015 Very nice, Seth! View from your deck looks a lot like mine, cool pics!
CoCigarSmoker Posted April 3, 2015 Author Posted April 3, 2015 Very nice, Seth! View from your deck looks a lot like mine, cool pics! Yea, my camera phone doesn't capture it but you can see the mountains in the distance. I live along the front range of Colorado, it's a great view! Great review! What's the box code for this RASCC? I have a box in route. I bought this cigar as a single so I don't have the box code. I would guess though that it's late 2014 perhaps oct-dec? Cheers, Seth
Carpenter69 Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Awesome morning cigar. I smoke a box about every six weeks. I like to alternate my morning cigar between these,party shorts,plpc,boli pc's,huhc,and last but certainly not least el principe. Thanks for a great review.
soutso Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Nice review. This has just .... only just, overtaken the Party Short as my favourite minuto. Flavour wise I detect everything you describe but I would add hazelnut to the flavour wheel as well.
Ramrod918 Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Gonna have to look to try this one out in the near future, thanks
JohnS Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Thanks Seth for another great review my friend. Again, you've reviewed a marca that's sitting in my humidor ready to smoke and compare notes. Thanks too for the helpful comparison to Partagas Shorts and Bolivar Petit Coronas.
shlomo Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Nice review. Is there a competition? Or are you entering last year's comp? lol 1
Hunter1974 Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Awessome review ! Havent had this one yet but if its anything like the SS I got in a sampler from rob its on the hit list!
rmill3r Posted April 4, 2015 Posted April 4, 2015 Nice review and good cigar. I find these much better than the Specially Selected too. Same with Bolivar's Corona Junior vs. the Royal Corona. Seem to get a lot more flavors out of these little minutos...
TBone Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Great review man! Would kill to know where the custom rolls came from.
CoCigarSmoker Posted April 5, 2015 Author Posted April 5, 2015 Thanks T-bone, they are "Johnny O Customs". Cheers, Seth
dflan82 Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Awesome review Seth! These are definitely on my radar.
backslide Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Great review Seth, it's a beautiful Easter morning here in Colorado Springs. Sent from my Nexus 5
oljud Posted April 5, 2015 Posted April 5, 2015 Great review, loved it. RASCC is a great little cigar, got myself a box just a few days ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
CanuckSARTech Posted April 12, 2015 Posted April 12, 2015 Very nice review, and nicely laid out pictures too! Thanks for sharing.
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