Things to do with a questionable box of Cigars

[luckme10]

So I'm pretty new to Cubans and cracked open a box of RASS from TOR SEPT 16. Picked it up blind from the LCdH off of 5ta Avenida y Calle 16 in Miramar from Havana earlier in the year. I've heard mixed reviews about smoking RASS young. The wrappers are double claro/claro color with not much fragrance. I had quite a few fresh cigars when I was over there but this was the first time that I smoked something like this. I could faintly detect nodes of fruitiness but the cigar had an overwhelming sense of bitterness to the first 3rd. Like I was sucking on a pill. The wrapper came apart towards the end and the draw was pretty tight. Coming from the NC world, most of the stuff I've smoked hasn't really had this flavor before. I was curious to see if this taste was something to be expected of some young premature cuban cigars and hopefully, will go away as they age?

If not, maybe it's time to throw a cuban cigar party...

[ayepatz]

I'd give them a bit of time, if I were you. Reassess in a couple of years.

[SCgarman]

I have smoked RASS with as little as a year of box age, and they can be very good. Of course tobacco crops from year to year can change. What humidity range are they being stored at? If you are at 70%, they will draw tight and will be bitter. Try dry boxing one for a day or two and see if there is any improvement. RASS is one of my favorites and I have many boxes in inventory.

[Riverstyx]

I'm a noobie myself, but I shared the same experience.  I bought 9 boxes from Havana earlier this month and the only one that was really bitter was the RASS.  As they say, let 'em rest.

[soutso]

Bitterness to me is a strong sign of a wet cigar. Do the cigars feel soft or spongey?

Let them settle and dry out a little. This brings out the flavours in CCs.

Before smoking a cigar I look for the following attributes:

1. A hard or stiff feel from head to foot. 

2. The band freely moves or is loose.

3. With a very gentle squeeze you can hear crackle sounds

These factors usually indicate the the water content has decreased and the cigar will  give you its best chance to show you it's true flavours 

[luckme10]

Humidity was running in the high 60's for awhile and the temperature is probably around mid 70s during the day.  I've been trying to keep the humidity around 62% lately.  I believe it was running a little higher with  summer seasons as it get a little tricker with the natural humidity. So I added some bowls of dry rice to help lower it. lol

The other boxes of Cubans I've had from the humidor haven't exhibited that predominating intense bitter node.

The cigars feel quite dry and I can hear the faint crackling sounds when I lightly squeeze them.  My NC humidor, on the other hand, do feel softer but I keep them around 70%.

I'll try the dry box idea for a few days and give it another go. If that doesn't work, maybe it's best to just let the CCs rest for a few years. They're all pretty young and I really should work on the NCs which don't tend to age as well anyways.

It's so tempting to get into them though. I swear I just had an HUPC that pulled me right to the pinar del rio.

Appreciate all of the wonderful suggestions guys.

[SCgarman]

1 hour ago, luckme10 said:

Humidity was running in the high 60's for awhile and the temperature is probably around mid 70s during the day.  I've been trying to keep the humidity around 62% lately.  I believe it was running a little higher with  summer seasons as it get a little tricker with the natural humidity. So I added some bowls of dry rice to help lower it. lol

The other boxes of Cubans I've had from the humidor haven't exhibited that predominating intense bitter node.

The cigars feel quite dry and I can hear the faint crackling sounds when I lightly squeeze them.  My NC humidor, on the other hand, do feel softer but I keep them around 70%.

I'll try the dry box idea for a few days and give it another go. If that doesn't work, maybe it's best to just let the CCs rest for a few years. They're all pretty young and I really should work on the NCs which don't tend to age as well anyways.

It's so tempting to get into them though. I swear I just had an HUPC that pulled me right to the pinar del rio.

Appreciate all of the wonderful suggestions guys.

HUPC's are another favorite of mine. Have 5 boxes. What a shame they are discontinued, fools at HSA

The key is to build yourself a big enough inventory of cigars where you have a rotation. This way you can be smoking through a box of RASS and other boxes of different cigars while you have a few full boxes that are sleeping for a year or two or three. This way you always have some aged stock to smoke and are not smoking fresher stuff ROTT. I am working through an MUR12 box of RASS and they are fine. But, light one up outside in 70% dew point humidity summertime on the east coast and even then the cigar will absorb the moisture even as you smoke it. I will need to re-light several times and baby it.

[dicko]

RASS has a reputation as needing time away. I would agree they taste way better after 3 years

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[garbandz]

"Picked it up blind from the LCdH off of 5ta Avenida y Calle 16 in Miramar  in Havana......."

 

you should freeze these asap........................if you have not already.

 

ANY CIGARS FROM HAVANA  directly need this..............

[cigaraholic]

I've never had a good RA with sissy bland wrappers, I want my RA's to taste like fruitcake.....and look like fruitcake.

[Corylax18]

2 hours ago, luckme10 said:

The wrappers are double claro/claro color with not much fragrance.

 

This could be a major contributing factor as well. Post a photo if possible. I am used to seeing most RASS looking at least colorado, I prefer mine bordering on maduro and oily as can be. 

[BrightonCorgi]

Stash them away come back to check them in 3-6 months.  Humidity will solved and you'll have a better idea of what's what then.  I am not really big the RASS (haven't seen a box I wanted in many years)...  This is one cigar where dark oily wrappers are must.  Similar to what Corylax18 said; buy RASS dark...

[earthson]

Likely too young and/or too humid.

RASS can be downright awful when they're too young, but once that transformation starts setting in, watch out! They're excellent!

As for humidity, it's a personal preference, though I'd avoid going near or above 70%RH

[Projectal]

I had much the same experience as you with young RASS. It's no exaggeration when I describe it as the worst cigar I've ever had. I'm hoping some time will turn it around, but it's hard to imagine that it will.

[El Presidente]

Claro RASS devoid of sheen/oils are generally rubbish. Same goes with colorado/maduro RASS with thick rough dark wrappers.  Rubbish in, rubbish out. 

[Colt45]

Readily

Available

Substandard

Sticks

[luckme10]

Here are some pictures. On closer inspection, maybe they are a little darker than I thought. I'm not sure if I'd describe the wrappers as thick. Then again I'm probably more used to what you see in Nicaraguan / Dominican wrappers. Definitely not much odor when unlit though.

[Guest Nekhyludov]

In my limited experience with RASS, I would think that if the wrappers are dull and the aroma is flat, they're just not gonna become great. I'd write it off as a dud box - just the breaks of the game. But they're great for handing out to friends and family who are only casual smokers and are just happy to have a habano. 

[PigFish]

I am stuck here between Ross (Right On Substandard Stogies) and Nik, your smoking wet cigars.

These are not claro cigars! As a matter of fact, they look very nice to me. Welcome to Cuban cigars. Buy what proves to be good (to you), not the favorites of boards and cigar authors!

I may just pull out a 10yo RASS to remind myself why I have not bought them in 10 years...! -LOL

My two pennies! -Piggy

[dicko]

I'm gonna report Ross's post to another mod. How dare you!

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[BrightonCorgi]

Cigars look decent to me.  Just hang tight on them.