Gloves Off: Ramon Allones Specially Select vs Bolivar Royal Corona

[El Presidente]

Gloves Off:  Ramon Allones Specially Select vs Bolivar Royal Corona 

Again, two excellent cigars with distinct personalities. 

Answer the poll questions assuming age of the cigars and construction quality being equal. 

Of course, answer only if you have tried both. 

 

[Li Bai]

Wow, that's a tough one. I love both but I'd put the RASS a tiny bit above (the BRC) when both are under the 5 year mark. After that, I can't tell.

[ha_banos]

I'm working through a '17 box of BRC and '21 box of RASS at the moment. So not a fair comparison 😁 The BRC has mellowed somewhat. The RASS is fuller. The RASS is more inconsistent cigar to cigar. I enjoy both differently. Great vitola of course.

[vvvendo1969]

Based on my personal experience, good Bolivar Royal Coronas are much more complex and flavorful than RASS. But average BRCs are not as good as RASS.

[Joeyjojo]

Bit of a Sophie's Choice for me - I love both. I think RASS just edges it out as far as being a regular and more consistent smoke.mBRC can be exquisite, even more so than a RASS, but not quite as consistent.

[joeypots]

RASS. The cigar has one of the best aging profiles for me. Granted I haven't had a lot of post 2000 BRCs but I did make the choice to hoard the RASS and not the BRC. 

[BrightonCorgi]

BRCs have fallen so far off the decades that I am not even considering them. Would love to be proven wrong. Trades welcome.

[Duder]

RASS are completely underwhelming to me with less than 20 years age. BRC are delightful with as little as 5 years age. Vintage RASS are special but I smoke a lot more BRC. Smoking some ‘09 Tubos right now that are terrific. My second favorite Robustos after the king Cohiba. Bolivar Royal Coronas wins this one handily. 

[BrightonCorgi]

7 hours ago, Duder said:

RASS are completely underwhelming to me with less than 20 years age. BRC are delightful with as little as 5 years age. Vintage RASS are special but I smoke a lot more BRC. Smoking some ‘09 Tubos right now that are terrific. My second favorite Robustos after the king Cohiba. Bolivar Royal Coronas wins this one handily. 

No kidding.  I should reconsider then! At this point, any box of anything in size I like I'll buy if can without jumping through hoops.

BRC was the first Habanos I bought in person. It was at Hajenius, Amsterdam in '96. They were such powerhouses. That set the bar on what I associate with BRC's in my head. First time with the RASS was '00 at LCDH in Montreal. To me, the RASS taste closer to back then today, than the BRC does.

[Havanaaddict]

Two of my favorites very hard call! I picked RASS, young with dark oily wrappers STRONG and flavorful. Aged 10, 20 years sublime! The BRC seem to be more approachable younger!

[JohnS]

I also find it hard to split these two cigars. Honestly, I wouldn't mind smoking either as my next cigar from my humidor.

[Chas.Alpha]

BRC is what God intended the entire Boli line to be.☮️

[El Presidente]

On 7/2/2026 at 10:27 AM, Chas.Alpha said:

BRC is what God intended the entire Boli line to be.☮️

I am taking young BRC over young RASS every day of the week. 

That begins to change at the 4/5 year mark.  Aged, I would always take RASS. 

Side by side tasting of young BRC and a Padron 1964 Maddy. I really enjoy the 1964 maddy line but a BRC blows it off the park. To me they share very similar profiles. 

[Watchcigar]

RASS has a slight edge IMHO. I've gone through several boxes of each over the years and my stock has dwindled. I currently have a pretty young box of BRC that have been in my humidor a few years now (code UBL NOV23)) and only three RASS left from of box coded PUL DIC00. I can't bring myself to get to them before getting another box. First world problems! 😆

[Nevrknow]

BRC!