RASS

[Ritch]

Am I missing something? Everyone raves about them but if I'm honest I just smoked my second and all I got was the taste of cedar wood. It was a 2017 Orchant Selection RASS. However I had a 2018 RASS a month ago and it was delightfully creamy and nutty...if albeit a bit tight on the draw

 

 

 

[soonerwings]

The few I’ve had were outstanding, but people like different things. To me, they seemed to have that signature “Cuban twang” (which I oversimplify as a sort of sourdough bread taste), a decent dose of spiciness, a floral component that I can’t put my finger on, and a fantastic sweetness.


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[Ritch]

None of that for me. Just cedar wood. And burnt wood. Yet the first one I had was spicy and sweet!

[soonerwings]

None of that for me. Just cedar wood. And burnt wood. Yet the first one I had was spicy and sweet!

I had a Curvari Seleccion Privada that tasted like nothing but a big ole wallop of nothing but cedar. I try to give sticks the benefit of the doubt and smokes few before I pass judgment, but I haven’t gone back to that one yet. Blech.


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[Derboesekoenig]

I have no idea what those "Selections" are you speak of. Are you smoking non cubans?

[NSXCIGAR]

I've been trying RASS for 15 years and I've yet to understand what folks like about it. I find them frankly bland and uninspiring. It's popularity is one of the most mystifying phenomena I've encountered in 20+ years of smoking CCs. I find nothing redeeming about this cigar nor have I ever had a very good one and I've probably smoked 100 sticks over 15 years out of at least 50 different boxes.

This is coming from someone who is a huge RASCC fan and regular RAS smoker and usually won't turn down a RAG. 

[soonerwings]

I have no idea what those "Selections" are you speak of. Are you smoking non cubans?

Curivaris are Nicaraguan puros. Let the public shaming begin. That being said, there’s also room in my liquor cabinet for bourbon AND scotch.


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[soonerwings]

RASCC > RASS

I’d be hard pressed to pick between those two, but I do generally gravitate toward smaller vitolas.


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[SCgarman]

3 hours ago, Ritch said:

Am I missing something? Everyone raves about them but if I'm honest I just smoked my second and all I got was the taste of cedar wood. It was a 2017 Orchant Selection RASS. However I had a 2018 RASS a month ago and it was delightfully creamy and nutty...if albeit a bit tight on the draw

 

 

 

They are usually a hint of dried fruit, notes of subtle nuts and Cuban earth. Try to get boxes with lighter shade wrappers, colorado/Colorado claro. I have a box with thick Maduro shade wrappers and they are horrible. The dark wrapper changes the delicious profile and makes them taste like crap.

[Hammer Smokin']

often the case with dark wrappers.

to be honest, I'm not sure why so many folks love the dark wrappers...but ya'll smoke way more cigars than me, and especially the Prez!

But always when wrappers are "dark and oily" they are heavily valued.

So I'm quite sure there is validity to the argument, just my pallet doesn't see (or taste) it.

[TBird55]

But always when wrappers are "dark and oily" they are heavilyvalued.

 They need to be put down for 5 years or so before they are ready to smoke, then you will see.

[SCgarman]

36 minutes ago, TBird55 said:

But always when wrappers are "dark and oily" they are heavilyvalued.

 They need to be put down for 5 years or so before they are ready to smoke, then you will see.

RASS with light brown matte wrappers are killer cigars with just a year of box age. Dark and oily means nothing to me. All the best cigars I have experienced over the years have lighter shaded matte wrappers. Just goes to show everything about this hobby is subjective! Cheers

[Cep]

I enjoyed the first box of RASS i bought a few years ago.  I then traded a member here and received 7 or 8  2007 RASS.  

Ummmmmm   ya i was blown away.  They were incredibly sweet and had those signature RASS flavors.  I have been chasing that experience ever since.  Yet to find it. 

I also agree about the wrappers.  These RASS had light non oily wrappers.  I would love to trade someone for some RASS from 2007ish....   pm me i have a bit of everything in the OLH

 

[Lucass111]

I just bought a cab of RASS so about how long should I lay them down for before I get into them? 5 Years?

[dicko]

I just bought a cab of RASS so about how long should I lay them down for before I get into them? 5 Years?

This is purely my experience only but I find RASS really do better with at least 2-3 years. Having said that ive had few aged examples (8+ years) and I think they lose a little zing.

With a cab you can always try a couple every 6 months and when they hit their sweet spot get stuck in!

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[dicko]

RASS with light brown matte wrappers are killer cigars with just a year of box age. Dark and oily means nothing to me. All the best cigars I have experienced over the years have lighter shaded matte wrappers. Just goes to show everything about this hobby is subjective! Cheers

I am with you. The dark and oily thing is not my speed either.

Although i do still enjoy them i much prefer a mid brown and especially rosado wrappers on RASS. All things being equal quality wise of course and ive got both dark and light cigars and enjoy both.

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[Ritch]

The Orchant Selection RASS I currently have are hand picked by one of the UK cigar merchants from the Habanos importer. They were imported in 2017 and honestly all I can taste is wood.

Yet the first one I had which was from 2018 and had a much darker wrapper I loved it...

 

[alloy]

Maybe a dumb question, but what is an "Orchant Selection?" Never heard of it.

[Derboesekoenig]

42 minutes ago, alloy said:

Maybe a dumb question, but what is an "Orchant Selection?" Never heard of it.

Sounds like something NC. Anyone know?

[Drguano]

Mitchell Orchant is a cigar merchant in the UK with an online presence and a number of small shops. 

[luv2fly]

MO has Cuban and non-Cuban with this designation.

These are some pics of Cubans.

[Lucass111]

Well I'm hoping the HQ cab I just bought from the 24:24 taste delicious.

[TheLiquidGator]

I have a HQ CAB with about 5 years of age. I have smoked about half of them. I have never found even one of them to be better then just OK. Not that they are bad, but the flavors are always muddled. I smoke them in environments where I know I won't be able to concentrate much on the flavor.

[Ritch]

Does that not kind of defeat the point of smoking something for the taste?! 

[Ericbrobes]

I have to give the RASS ????, always seem to enjoy them.