Ramon Allones Specially Selected POS JUL06

[BigSlick]

Wish this cigar got a better young review, but to be expected. I bought a cab to lay to rest and refuse to smoke one. Why? You ask. I have not seen too many vendors with stockpiles of aged RASS to unload. Can't wait for 2011.

[Guest cohiba]

I'm with you BigSlick, i have a box from 05. Havent touched any of them. I tried a couple of singles bought from Rob, saw a future, bought a box and put her to sleep. I look at them frequently, just wont take one. Tempted to in about 6 months.

[stever]

Interesting Rob. In early January I smoked the RASS from your 12 Days of Christmas sampler and it was very good, with none of the negative qualities you picked up in the sample you've reviewed. It was from early '06 and a different factory code. Is there an overall blend change or inconsistecy, or are certain factories not getting the same quality of tobacco that others are?

[jqmunro]

My experience with recent RASS has been one lacking complexity, with a bit of dark fruit. Not the full body that I would expect, and a bit of a let down. I much prefer the PSD4... or even a BRC

[El Presidente]

» Interesting Rob. In early January I smoked the RASS from your 12 Days of

» Christmas sampler and it was very good, with none of the negative

» qualities you picked up in the sample you've reviewed. It was from early

» '06 and a different factory code. Is there an overall blend change or

» inconsistecy, or are certain factories not getting the same quality of

» tobacco that others are?

I can't recall having a bad Jan/Feb 2006 cigar. I am not sure what is going on with RASS but I will endeavour to find out.

[jqmunro]

The box I have are from DIC05 ... I wouldn't say they are bad, but not on par with many of the great "06" production vitolas that have been available.

[shrink]

Thanks for the candid review. I don't like fresh RASS, period. I was sufficiently impressed with the ABR06 potential to put some down, but they won't come out for a few years. That's OK, it's just the nature of the beast.

[Cam]

Great review Rob! Thanks Im going to buy a few

[pnutbutrsangwich]

I have a cab from MAY 06 that is quite dissimilar to those that you just described. I would describe them as more nutty and lightly floral. My inly complaint with them is that the first half is generally very good but they go down hill very quickly into a woody mess. I hope that more sticks from the box give you better results because the 06 RASS production has been pretty good in my experience.

[Cohiba007]

I am a big fan of this robusto. I am going through a box of 02's not that are fabulous. I have 2 other boxes of 04's that will not be touched until 09. 5 years makes a world of difference to this beauty.:-)

[stickman]

» I have a cab from MAY 06 that is quite dissimilar to those that you just

» described. I would describe them as more nutty and lightly floral. My

» inly complaint with them is that the first half is generally very good but

» they go down hill very quickly into a woody mess. I hope that more sticks

» from the box give you better results because the 06 RASS production has

» been pretty good in my experience.

Mine are from FEB 06 and they are awesome in the begining for about 2/3 in and then fall off

[Tampa1257]

I really enjoy the RASS, yet I personally have remarked that I have never cared for a young RASS, I have smoked many that were 5+ years old and the difference in the depth of flavor and complexity is like the difference of Piper Cub and a 747 Jumbo Jet. 3-5 years makes a huge difference in the flavor IMHO.

[Well Armed]

» I really enjoy the RASS, yet I personally have remarked that I have never

» cared for a young RASS, I have smoked many that were 5+ years old and the

» difference in the depth of flavor and complexity is like the difference of

» Piper Cub and a 747 Jumbo Jet. 3-5 years makes a huge difference in the

» flavor IMHO.

I completely agree. I have this same box code as El Prez and I have tried a few but they were seriously saying to me the whole time, "WTF are you doing? I am underage!"

My box of '02 RASS is one of my most precious boxes of cigars. I have many boxes and cabs in deep storage and a few to dabble in here and there but nothing beats an aged RASS. Maybe a CoRo but damn they are awesome.

[GoatLocker]

RASS? The sides of my boxes all read "Allones Specially Selected", or ASS. Like others have said, I like my ASS with a little age on it!

[El Presidente]

It has been a little while since I have had a spectacular RASS. I have always liked Young RASS for their full flavour of sheer Tobacco, black coffee and a touch of brown sugar. Lately however, young Rass have left me a little flat.

This July 2006 RASS is a nice looking example. Perfectly rolled, nice wrapper, good aroma at cold of pure Cuban tobacco. In the vernacular of NASA...."All systems ready to launch"

Cerrated the cap and the draw was indeed perfect. On the lips was a slight sweet and sour sensation.

I torched the end and was welcomed by a medium bodied sour sweetness. I hate sour cigars. It has a grapefruit quality without any of the redeeming features. I think it is the result of poorly aged/fermented tobacco and I have seen it far too often in RASS of 2006 for my liking. This intrigues me....why RASS? I don't get it in D4's, E4's, CR, ERDMCX, SLR, JL of 2006....why consistently in RASS? I can only suspect it is an intentional blending decision.

The RASS has settled down. It is one of the few 2006 cigars I have had which really tastes young. The cigar has the right level of body...it has that sweet black coffee and toasted tobacco RASS note...but the flavours are muted....almost as if they are locked up just waiting to burst out. I know that the sourness will disappear in time and the flavours of the RASS will explode. From experience I know this will be 2-3 years.

There are no changes in flavour to this cigar. The sourness is really starting to upset me. Less grapefruit and more wet grass. Blech.

I still get constant notes of the Rass's true self....but they are more like screams in a dream sequence through a cloud of sourness.

I didn't enjoy this RASS. Yet, I would lay a box aside on ageing potential alone as long as you would be prepared to wait 3-5 years.

Will try again in six months.

84/100 3/6 smokerings