Ramon Allones Estupendos Regional Release

[Mr.T]

Well, I though I would post my first review. There are some excellent reviews on this forum of this particular cigar and this won't come close. I purchased a single while on a work trip to Kuala Lumpur at the Davidoff shop at the KLCC. The whole humidor was over humidfied so after a long trip home I put it in the humi which is set at 65 and let it sit for a couple weeks.

After a great evening at the lake, some beer (well lots of it), some fishing, and steak sandwiches, I decided to fire it up. The cigar was firm, but supple. The surface of the cigar was smooth and silky. I clipped the cap and tested the draw, it wasn't too loose or too tight, but just enough resistence to make for a great draw (depending on how you like your draw). I torched the foot and away I went. The cigar offered a wonderful amount of thick smoke. The taste was predominately creamy with a hint of cinnamon in the first third. The creamy profile remained in the second third and throughout the rest of the cigar. Although in the last third that good ol' Cuban toasted tobacco flavor kicked in and I could detect some woody flavors. Towards the end the cigar picked up ini intensity. The burn throughout the cigar was excellent with a solid white ash and the classic 'rib' styled flakes. I had a rum and coke with this cigar, but I think I should have gone with some Knob Creek because of the sweet aromas and taste profile of the burbon.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cigar. The cigar was smooth to the end. I highly recommend this cigar. I would give it a solid 92. I think with some more years on it will be even better. I have a box of RA Belicosos and was thinking it would be a good idea to do a taste comparison between the two and see how and if the blends differ. Well, I think I know what my first purchase is going to be.

[Tampa1257]

Nicely Done!!!

Thank you for sharing. I have only sampled a single as well, but I experienced more subtle fruitiness (which I tend to taste on the Ramón Allones Marca). I believe that this cigar needs more time, but I am also sitting on a box of 2002 898's that I don't want to crack yet as well.

[Mel]

My box of Estupendos is half gone what does that say about them. Some guys save their best cigars, I smoke mine.:-D

[Colt45]

Great cigars. I smoked another this past weekend. They are beautiful, with some of

the thinnest wrappers I've seen - handle with care :-) .

They are good now, but to me, are still coming together, and I anticipate them to be

that much better down the line.

[josie67]

» Great cigars. I smoked another this past weekend. They are beautiful, with

» some of

» the thinnest wrappers I've seen - handle with care :-) .

» They are good now, but to me, are still coming together, and I anticipate

» them to be

» that much better down the line.

Well, of the 4 I have smoked, 2 were so plugged I had to toss, them, and the other 2 were bitter. So, I still have 46 left, and I am about to throw them away pretty soon if they don't turn around. BTW, all were dry boxed before smoking, and the last 2 my friend and I smoked in Vegas about 3 weeks ago, so they have had a bit of age. NOT impressed at all.

[Colt45]

Josie, I know there have been discussions here regarding construction.... My first

sample was very hard and tightly rolled. What started as an overly tight draw worked

itself into a nice one. Flavor wise, it started very nicely, but quickly showed it's youth.

This latest sample showed much better construction, and had a great draw from the

get-go. The youthful bitterness was gone, but it still is disjointed.

I went and checked the rest of the box (25 count), and they thankfully seem

to resemble the latter rather than the former.

If you have some time, check the construction of the rest of your cab, and don't give

up on the flavor. Leave them alone and check again in six months or so.

[jqmunro]

» I believe that this cigar needs more time, but I am also

» sitting on a box of 2002 898's that I don't want to crack yet as well.

Tampa, the 898's are the epitomy of raisin pre-light aromas with subtle fruit flavors. I'm sure you've smoked plenty of these, but the box i have has been great!

[jwm8592]

Nice review Mr. T, thanks. I just last week received 6 singles of these due to the reviews I read being outstanding for this cigar. No idea of the box date on these or how long I should sit on them. Probably should wait at least 3 months if possible. Question, what does "dry boxing" mean. I know you didn't use the term but another did in responding to your post.

[Professor Twain]

» So, I still have 46 left, and I am about to

» throw them away pretty soon if they don't turn around. BTW, all were

» dry boxed before smoking, and the last 2 my friend and I smoked in Vegas

» about 3 weeks ago, so they have had a bit of age. NOT impressed at all.

Don't throw them out! Give them to your friends. :-)

[El Presidente]

»

Question, what does "dry boxing" mean. I know

» you didn't use the term but another did in responding to your post.

Dry Boxing is the process where you place cigars you are going to smoke in the next 24-48 hrs into an unhumidified desk top humidor or empty cigar box.

Dependent on the ambient humidity it works a treat as the moisture content of your cigars will drop by a few % points leading to fuller flavour.

I also use this technique for plugged cigars where I dry box them for up to 2 weeks. Suprising how many become smokeable and suprisingly good.

[GoatLocker]

» Well, of the 4 I have smoked, 2 were so plugged I had to toss, them, and

» the other 2 were bitter. So, I still have 46 left, and I am about to

» throw them away pretty soon if they don't turn around. BTW, all were

» dry boxed before smoking, and the last 2 my friend and I smoked in Vegas

» about 3 weeks ago, so they have had a bit of age. NOT impressed at all.

Just smoked my first out of the cab last week. Gotta agree, not impressed. Draw was tight, flavor muted, grassy and slightly bitter. Not what I expected from RA, one of my favorite marcas, especially at the price point. I can only hope 5 or 10 years will bring them around, but I'm not counting on it.

[Mel]

»

» Well, of the 4 I have smoked, 2 were so plugged I had to toss, them, and

» the other 2 were bitter. So, I still have 46 left, and I am about to

» throw them away pretty soon if they don't turn around. BTW, all were

» dry boxed before smoking, and the last 2 my friend and I smoked in Vegas

» about 3 weeks ago, so they have had a bit of age. NOT impressed at all.

Josie67, I told you I had half a box left I did not say how many I got to smoke. I too have had tight ones that have hurt my enjoyment of the the cigar. I am going to try another box and if they are all plugged I will give them back to Rob.;-)

[jdbrown]

» »

» Question, what does "dry boxing" mean. I know

» » you didn't use the term but another did in responding to your post.

»

» Dry Boxing is the process where you place cigars you are going to smoke in

» the next 24-48 hrs into an unhumidified desk top humidor or empty cigar

» box.

»

» Dependent on the ambient humidity it works a treat as the moisture content

» of your cigars will drop by a few % points leading to fuller flavour.

»

» I also use this technique for plugged cigars where I dry box them for up

» to 2 weeks. Suprising how many become smokeable and suprisingly good.

I have a box of 1998 Lusitanias that are all plugged. I was going to pitch them a few weeks ago when doing clean up..I had heard of dry boxing but never tried..Maybe I should pull one out for 48 hours and try on the weekend???

[tigger]

I'm sorry to hear that folks have been having trouble with these. The handful I've smoked, while a bit firm, were very pleasant.

[jwm8592]

» »

» Hey Pres, thanks for the "dry boxing" definition. Another question, I just ordered and rec'd the 6 RA Estupendos spoken about above, is there any way to determine the box codes for these, that would possibly help determine when best to smoke. I know no time like the present, but lets say I'm skilled at letting them sit a while to hopefully enhance the experience.;-) If not no worries.

[josie67]

What I meant by dry boxing was your definition Rob.....Leaving in a non humidified box for about 2 days before smoking. My humidor runs around 65% humidity, 65-66 degrees F , and none of my other cigars have had a tight draw in a LONG time. I will give them another try in about a month and see how they are.

[shrink]

I am also sitting on a box of 2002 898's that I don't want to crack yet as well.

Chuck, the longer you sit on those cigars, the more 'barnyard' aroma they will have when you finally sniff 'em. Unless, of course, they hatch first... :-P

Interesting comparison between the Estupendos and the Belicosos. Both are among the finest that RA has ever produced. The Estupendos are classy and smooth, but the Beli's are rich and flavorful.

[Mel]

» Chuck, the longer you sit on those cigars, the more 'barnyard' aroma they will have

I almost had the ultimate barnyard aroma last night. While at the horse show sitting in my chair with a PLPC and horse nearly **** on me. I'm talking a pile three feet from the chair. I just don't get the fascination with the barn smell on this board.;-)

[El Presidente]

I try to avoid people who stand so close to the back of a horse that they look like a farmyard Leggo piece ;-)

[TexaSmoke]

Nice post. I'm in a group buy and this is our next box we are purchasing. I can't wait to try them.