CRC: Ramon Allonnes Specially Selected ESB OCT 24

[Dlowil]

Orange chocolate on the cold draw. An absolutely delicious cold draw. Almost reminiscent of Cointreau. On the initial light, I get twang and chocolate. The first third delivers citrus and chocolate layered with that familiar twang. The retrohale has some bite with black pepper.

I had to touch it up a few times. I was outside dealing with wind while cheffing up a huge batch of stir fry on the Camp Chef (meal prep is everything with a young family), so I’ll chalk that up to conditions rather than construction.

From the second third on, the profile shifts to chocolate and dark fruits, a really enjoyable combination. The final third introduces espresso and toasted tobacco. The sweet bakery aroma throughout was excellent and added to the experience.

Overall, a great stick. This is one I need to sit down and fully enjoy. I was a bit impatient and wanted to try it, but it deserves your attention. I’m a big fan of this marca and need to secure some Small Club Coronas to keep on hand when time is short.

Side note: Hats off to the Fabrica 5 team for the blending on the N2 Piramide. They absolutely nailed the flavor profile using no Cuban tobacco, in a larger format, and at a $12 price point. Bravo.

[WestCoastSmokin]

Huge fan of the RASS. I need another box but I'm hoping to come across a cab.

[Dlowil]

16 hours ago, WestCoastSmokin said:

Huge fan of the RASS. I need another box but I'm hoping to come across a cab. 

These in a cab would be stellar! I believe the Ramon Allones Small Club Corona would suit my palate alongside current time restraints.

[WestCoastSmokin]

12 hours ago, Dlowil said:

These in a cab would be stellar! I believe the small club Corona would fit my palette alongside current time restraints.

What’s the smoke time on a RA Small Club Corona? Honestly, it’s very hard to go smaller than a Robusto for myself these days. Even with time restraints. I feel like a Robusto is my sweet spot, long enough to actually make the effort to smoke worth it, short enough to where I’m not ignoring my family for two hours or more, lol. 

[KCCubano]

9 hours ago, WestCoastSmokin said:

What’s the smoke time on a RA Small Club Corona? Honestly, it’s very hard to go smaller than a Robusto for myself these days. Even with time restraints. I feel like a Robusto is my sweet spot, long enough to actually make the effort to smoke worth it, short enough to where I’m not ignoring my family for two hours or more, lol. 

I have had RASCC in my cabinet for decades. I love all the minutos. I can get 45 mins out of them. 

[Ford2112]

12 hours ago, Dlowil said:

These in a cab would be stellar! I believe the Ramon Allones Small Club Corona would suit my palate alongside current time restraints.

I prefer the RASCC by a mile. Great smokes!

[NYGuido]

3 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

I prefer the RASCC by a mile. Great smokes!

So interesting! I prefer the RASS and think the RASCC has too much edge for my taste. The RASS feels like a more complete experience to me. So do you find the RASCC is materially better with a lot of age?

[Ford2112]

1 hour ago, NYGuido said:

 So do you find the RASCC is materially better with a lot of age?

Not really. Maybe 6 months. But I am a rapscallion.

[zacca]

Awesome review, both on the RASS and the Camp Chef. Sounds like we’ve both been dealing with the enemy known as wind. I think it’s kept me to probably 5 sticks in the last month.  

It's been a bit since I’ve had a RASS and I’m intrigued now to give one a go soon.