RA 898 review - Original vs. RE Alemania

[Laxman]

Thanks for the reviews!

[ChanceSchmerr]

Thanks for the props, all! I'm glad I finally got around to this, as I know a lot of folks I've talked to over the last 6 months have had the same thought about comparing both. My question is - did the blenders (either German or Cuban) taste old RA 898 cigars to try and come up with the blend for the new one? It can't be that easy just to pick up the recipe from 2002 and crack on as if nothing has changed with the tobacco in 12 year. Or maybe I'm wrong?

Excellent review Chris

I am a fan of RA. The 898 is a classic. The RE 898 needs a little time to my mind. I haven't had one since December but you have peaked my interest to delve in again!

Thanks Rob - do try another of the RE's if you've got enough to delve in, I think you'll find they have gotten a little better bur I still think the best is yet to come from them. The classic one - no need to wait LOL!

Great and very detailed review of my favourite Marca, Chris, thanks for sharing !!

When you come back to the pharmacy we can smoke both versions here ...

Thanks Nino - I would love another Pharmacy night - you just better be there, this time LOL!!! I look forward to it mate!

Thank you for this side by side review. It's exactly what I've been waiting for.

I have some of the RE's and love the one that I've smoked so far, but was very curious how they compare to the original.

You did a great job reminding us all that its a subjective comparison, reviewing fresh to aged.

-Dan

Thanks Dan - and that's one of the key points of the whole thing - it's tough to review fresh to aged, especially with such a broad range as this. What gives me hope is the commonalities, the fruit notes and creamy overtone (though light in the RE) - that's what tells me that they share the same common DNA, even with a decade+ between them.

I much prefer the original but again, at the same age the original was almost unsmokable. I doubt the german release has the same ability to age that long; I may be wrong but I believe in 2029 the german release will be a very weak cigar, past his prime…

I guess we'll see, mate - I'll bet you a Partagas Corona that the German RE will not be weak and past it's prime in 2029 - but you gotta keep at least one in your humi until then to try at that point! LOL!

Thanks for a great review and comparison!

While I haven't had the pleasure to enjoy the original, I fully agree with your assessment of the ER. Whether it has the legs we'll see (I believe yes, ...perhaps just because I want it to...), but it certainy is an excellent cigar. And, unike some other recent releases, I find them to be very consistent.

I'll admit - I want it to age well also....not just because I went deep on them, but because the original was known for that, so I feel the RE needs to have that capacity to be true to the blend and intention.

The '02 898's and their brothers the RAC's were "strong as death" when first rolled. I can still remember getting sick after smoking one in 2012 when they hit 10 years. Haven't had the opportunity to smoke a German 898, but it sounds like they weren't rolled to the same strength for the long haul. Doesn't mean they are a bad cigar though. 898's from 1998 and 2001 didn't have the strength of those '02's either.

I've had a few folks tell me this, actually, that they were just killers at an early age - I can't corroborate as I got my box about 5 years ago, so the youngest I smoked one was 8 years old. Mine never made me sick from strength, but they were medium-full when I got them 5 years ago, and now tend mostly to medium. I can agree with your last point though - I've had one from '98 and '01 as well, and neither was anywhere close to the '02s, either in strength or in flavour. In fact the '98 was flat boring. Was kind of depressing to smoke......