RASS

[The Real McCoy]

Newbie here. Not new to cigars or habanos (20 years experience with both); I'm just new to the forum.

I've seen a lot of hype about the Ramon Allones Specially Selected cigars. It inspired me to buy a couple of boxes. I don't have them in front of me but I believe they are OCT 18. 

I've smoked 3 of them so far.

All three were literally the three worst tasting cigars I've ever had. I wasn't able to even finish the first half. They all tasted like mud; one-dimensional mud, at that.

What am I missing here? Granted, I only let them rest for a couple of weeks but I've done that many times with other brands and they've been fine (not peak but still tasty). In fact, I bet we've all done that before and gotten away with it.

Do these just need to go down for several years or something? They are just so bad now, even at 1.5 years old, I have a hard time believing a few years will create a miraculous turnaround.

What am I missing?

UPDATE: I went home and looked at the boxes. They are MSU OCT 18

Edited April 30, 2020 by The Real McCoy
Update added

[mrmessy]

Odd. Those tend to be pretty good for me even young. Only thing to do is wait a few weeks and test another. If after a few months you don't like it still, maybe RA isn't for you?

Sent from my SM-N976U using Tapatalk

[NSXCIGAR]

First, I would never recommend buying a box of something you're not familiar with, let alone multiple boxes. Not only might you not like them but they may also be dud boxes. 

Second, I'd let them rest for at least 90 days at 65% rH max. Can only help.

Third, I have regularly sampled RASS for 20 years and found them to be the embodiment of mediocrity. Also, if you look hard enough, few actually truly rave about the RASS. Yes, they are a staple in many people's rotations and yes, they sell well and yes, they're much talked about. But when the rubber hits the road even their biggest fans will admit that these cigars are not the best Cuba has to offer. Yes, I said it. I like to think of RASS as a ceiling cigar. Might get a very good one but never a great one. Never going to find a 97 pointer RASS. And I've had many bad ones that taste almost exactly like you describe. Muddy, muddled, flat, dirty, one-dimensional. Too many.

I'll get some heat for this opinion but I stand by it after 20 years of trying this cigar again and again and again trying to figure it out. I think the RASS fans that think about it can't really avoid the conclusion if they're honest with themselves. RASS is just not a cigar that embodies greatness. And it's not alone, but its higher popularity among other mediocre CCs has always been a mystery to me. 

I would especially not recommend that cigar for a CC beginner. Get one of the samplers here. With CCs, try every brand (only 27) and once you like a brand try every cigar in the brand to refine your taste. 

[Markspring1978]

37 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

RASS is just not a cigar that embodies greatness.

I completely agree. And I’d add a lot of other robustos to this list, Epi 1, D4, and countless overhyped REs in the size. Many are okay, and even good, but rarely great. 

[The Real McCoy]

35 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

First, I would never recommend buying a box of something you're not familiar with, let alone multiple boxes. Not only might you not like them but they may also be dud boxes. 

Second, I'd let them rest for at least 90 days at 65% rH max. Can only help.

Third, I have regularly sampled RASS for 20 years and found them to be the embodiment of mediocrity. Also, if you look hard enough, few actually truly rave about the RASS. Yes, they are a staple in many people's rotations and yes, they sell well and yes, they're much talked about. But when the rubber hits the road even their biggest fans will admit that these cigars are not the best Cuba has to offer. Yes, I said it. I like to think of RASS as a ceiling cigar. Might get a very good one but never a great one. Never going to find a 97 pointer RASS. And I've had many bad ones that taste almost exactly like you describe. Muddy, muddled, flat, dirty, one-dimensional. Too many.

I'll get some heat for this opinion but I stand by it after 20 years of trying this cigar again and again and again trying to figure it out. I think the RASS fans that think about it can't really avoid the conclusion if they're honest with themselves. RASS is just not a cigar that embodies greatness. And it's not alone, but its higher popularity among other mediocre CCs has always been a mystery to me. 

I would especially not recommend that cigar for a CC beginner. Get one of the samplers here. With CCs, try every brand (only 27) and once you like a brand try every cigar in the brand to refine your taste. 

Thanks NSX. I've been smoking cigars for 20 years and have been off and on with cuban cigars for just as long so I'm certainly not a beginner. I've tried most of the brands. I have a pretty wide appreciation for different style cigars so I rarely hesitate to buy a box of something when I've heard many good things from others. Although, you bring up many good points. Lesson learned. I'll put them down and try them again in a few years.

[zappaFREAK]

I think of rass as a rotation filler, they are well priced, even affordable. Not a great cigar but passable in a pinch! 

[rcarlson]

Hogwash!  RASS can be a fine smoke, albeit inconsistent.  I have always found that they improve with some rest, but no need for aging IMO.  

[Chibearsv]

I think of RASS like it's the Christmas fruitcake of cigars.  Some people may like it enough that they need to have it; I don't understand who could possibly like such a thing.  I've got a box of RASS that I will sample from once a year only until I enjoy one - the box may last 25 years.  

[SmokyFontaine]

Add me to the list of people who bought into hype and bought a box, gave them 60 days, 3 months, 6 months, and figured maybe it was a dud box. Plugged, fairly flavorless, burn issues. Bought a second box thinking surely I'm wrong, (this one happened to be a desirable box code) and I've smoked one out of it, at 2yrs old. Boring. That's the best way I can describe it. A chore to smoke, none of the fruitiness people talk about. Just tobacco and ash. The ash being a result of having to relight it a dozen times. I have about 35 left, and I know they'll be 15yrs old by the time I smoke the last of them because I think so little of them at this point. 

I feel the same about a box of cigars I wouldn't wish on my worst...well, sure I'd wish them on my worst enemy. I'm a spiteful bastard. A box of cigars I would wish on my worst enemy, of Punch Punch. Compared notes here, and others are shocked by how bad this particular box code and date was. 

Cuban inconsistency is still the thing I struggle with more than any other part of the hobby. I carve out time for a cigar, and it's an experience. When the cigar is a turd, the experience is crap. :/

[NSXCIGAR]

38 minutes ago, rcarlson said:

RASS can be a fine smoke

Yes, it can be a fine smoke, but not an outstanding smoke. That's my point. And often they are just blah or worse.

41 minutes ago, zappaFREAK said:

I think of rass as a rotation filler, they are well priced, even affordable

Rotation filler would be a fair categorization. But at $7-8 for a Robusto it's certainly not a phenomenal deal by any means. VR Famosos are the same price and are indisputably a cut above. 

1 hour ago, Markspring1978 said:

I completely agree. And I’d add a lot of other robustos to this list, Epi 1, D4, and countless overhyped REs in the size. Many are okay, and even good, but rarely great. 

Have to agree. Cuban Robustos are really missing the mark IMO since 2000. Hate to say it but I can tell you there's no Robustos I buy on a regular basis. Zero. Even CoRo falls into that good but not outstanding category to me as well as super inconsistent. Give me a Medio Siglo or even Siglo I instead.  I would say maybe the ONE exception is the JLS2. It's not exactly my cup of tea but I would have to say the JLS2 is the best Cuban Robustos in current production, and the only one that I'd call a cut above. 

Now, Hermosos No. 4 on the other hand...good luck finding a bad one. Not impressed with RyJ Ex 4 recently but can't think of another that's in the doghouse. Several I buy on a regular basis, obviously Famosos, Connie 1 at the top.

[rcarlson]

20 minutes ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Yes, it can be a fine smoke, but not an outstanding smoke. That's my point. And often they are just blah or worse.

I didn't mean "fine" like, "the meatloaf's fine, Dear."  

I meant "fine" like, "Fine Corinthian Leather."  

Like all of 'em, RA either do it for you or they don't.  I really like the club allones with some time down.  Willing to bet that most here consider them double-banded dog rockets.  They have a strange fruit tanginess unlike any others that works for me.  

Gotta admit though, I am trying to choke through a box of RASS I recently got that just plain suck and won't stay lit.  But I can't say that there's any box of CC s that hasn't disappointed me at one point or another.   

 

[Lefty1989]

I disagree. I had one last night that was outstanding.

[El Presidente]

2019 RASS in general are as good as any other Robusto out there. 

2018 RASS had some ups and downs. a fair bit of It comes down to the quality of the boxes you picked up. Another part of the mix is that they may just not resonate with you the same way one person hated D4 and another JLS2 and another CORO. 

[JY0]

RASS lover here. I love them fresh and I love them with with age. I smoke one almost every day. I buy a bunch of boxes, 25’s and 50’s when I find them at a decent price. Yes, I’ve had a fewRASS dog rockets on occasion but generally I just really enjoy them. 

[Wookie]

3 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

 

I'll get some heat for this opinion but I stand by it after 20 years of trying this cigar again and again and again trying to figure it out. I think the RASS fans that think about it can't really avoid the conclusion if they're honest with themselves. RASS is just not a cigar that embodies greatness. And it's not alone, but its higher popularity among other mediocre CCs has always been a mystery to me. 

I would especially not recommend that cigar for a CC beginner. Get one of the samplers here. With CCs, try every brand (only 27) and once you like a brand try every cigar in the brand to refine your taste. 

Interesting. RA is a favorite of mine since mid 1990s. Construction issues from time to time esp with RAG. RASS are usually consistent for me. I have stuff from 2014 onward. All consistent. 

Id be interested in what @NSXCIGAR considers favorite sticks just to understand how your palate may differ from mine. 

[Lefty1989]

The one I had last night was the first from a MSU NOV 2018 box, and it was truly superb.

[jazzboypro]

4 hours ago, The Real McCoy said:

Newbie here. Not new to cigars or habanos (20 years experience with both); I'm just new to the forum.

I've seen a lot of hype about the Ramon Allones Specially Selected cigars. It inspired me to buy a couple of boxes. I don't have them in front of me but I believe they are OCT 18. 

I've smoked 3 of them so far.

All three were literally the three worst tasting cigars I've ever had. I wasn't able to even finish the first half. They all tasted like mud; one-dimensional mud, at that.

What am I missing here? Granted, I only let them rest for a couple of weeks but I've done that many times with other brands and they've been fine (not peak but still tasty). In fact, I bet we've all done that before and gotten away with it.

Do these just need to go down for several years or something? They are just so bad now, even at 1.5 years old, I have a hard time believing a few years will create a miraculous turnaround.

What am I missing?

To be honest, i never had a good RASS (in the 2 boxes i had)

[xelzh]

My ENE 2019 box smoking really good right now. It's not the best smoke but at the price it's really good and I can't be smoking cohibas everyday.... I would say for that price it's a good smoke! 

[cigaraholic]

I love Ramon Allones, it’s the fruit cake of Cuban cigars. The good kind of fruit cake, homemade, not that crap they sell in stores with green candied cherries. And I want my RA to look like fruit cake, dark oily monsters, colorado maduro and darker wrappers glistening with oil. Very hard to find these days? I see much better examples in the RASCC than RASS, and finding a great box of Gigantes is very rare.

I’m afraid you’ve got a couple of boxes of mud duds.

[Sorrowful]

I got into the hype on this and got a box.  I think I've had 4 or 5 at this point from that box at 2-3 years of age.  Terrible.  I tried them from some LCDH on occasion as well, and never found one I like.

[Diabolicalpherpher]

I love the stewed fruit profile of Ramon Allones.  But most of the RASS or other RA vitolas for that matter has not scratched that itch recently. The Silver Jubilee came close but it was brief.  Only box that consistently delivered was the Superiors from an DEC 2016 box.  Chasing the dragon since.

[DaBoot]

What 97 rated stick are you expecting for the price point of Ramon Allones? I enjoy them, not expecting perfection though

[earthson]

Don't shoot me for saying they're not as good as they used to be, but for me, they are the quintessential robusto with the honey notes.  I remember ones from 2007ish that were much more with the mustiness and less with the fruit, which I prefer, but still love them all the same.

To my taste, they need significant age (3-5 yrs bare minimum) and I've seen some abysmal construction before.

[ElReyDel757]

I know everyone has their own tastes, but I’m stunned hearing this.  My 2016 RASS are my favorite, I’ve never had a bad stick.  My # 1 cigar, and I have 1 box of every regular production Habanos.

 

[Hoepssa]

 

I Love RASS from code 2019, one cab tastes even better than my 2016 PSP cab.

Find smoke, not great smoke indeed, and that reflects on the price.