Back from Vacation

[josie67]

Hey all, we just got back from London and Italy and had a great time. The cigar scene is London is pretty happening, but as I knew ahead of time, the sticker shock just about bowled me over. Fortunately I brought my own cigars with me, but my main goal there was to try out the new Ramon Allones Belicoso ( at a whopping $23 USD per stick). I bought 2 (smoked one there and brought one home for aging). I must say that it was a HUGE disappointment; It literally tasted like an ashtry from the moment I lit it till the time I mercifully extinguished it. Who knows, it could have been just me; Maybe it was what I ate/drank before I smoked it, but it was one of the worst cigars I have ever tried. Granted, I am not going to discount the RA based on one cigar, but that first time was not pleasant. I will age the other one I have for about 6 months, and then I will post a full review exclusively for FOHers. Take care, I missed you guys, and it's great to be back!

Here are a couple of pictures of the beast; it sure looks beautiful

[cvm4]

Thanks for the pics...I hope they release this vitola worldwide

[waldo]

Sorry to hear that it sucked. Pretty much how I felt about the last two Upmanns I smoked.

[harwellplant]

looks great. i am surprised to hear that they sucked - may have been turning to the sick period. that would give some hope. others have said they were spot on good even though young.

[Curmudgeon]

I'm sorry to hear the one you had wasn't great. I was hoping they would be.

[dysfunctional]

bummer....pity they sucked....

I as told that in the UK they tend to keep their smokes preety wet... wanted to know if you noticed this.....

[Chicago]

» Hey all, we just got back from London and Italy and had a great time. The

» cigar scene is London is pretty happening, but as I knew ahead of time, the

» sticker shock just about bowled me over. Fortunately I brought my own

» cigars with me, but my main goal there was to try out the new Ramon

» Allones Belicoso ( at a whopping $23 USD per stick). I bought 2 (smoked

» one there and brought one home for aging). I must say that it was a HUGE

» disappointment; It literally tasted like an ashtry from the moment I lit

» it till the time I mercifully extinguished it. Who knows, it could have

» been just me; Maybe it was what I ate/drank before I smoked it, but it

» was one of the worst cigars I have ever tried. Granted, I am not going

» to discount the RA based on one cigar, but that first time was not

» pleasant. I will age the other one I have for about 6 months, and then I

» will post a full review exclusively for FOHers. Take care, I missed you

» guys, and it's great to be back!

»

» Here are a couple of pictures of the beast; it sure looks beautiful

»

»

»

»

Did you visit any of the shops like J.J Fox etc.? I have heard they are classical London but as you said, PRICEY!

[argon345]

Hope we all get a chance to give these a try!!!

[josie67]

Yes I visited JJ Fox, Davidoff, the 2 humidors in Harods, a shop in WIndsor, and 2 others I can't remember. Actually, I passed through the DUTY FREE shop in Heathrow on the way home (not the regular stores, but the duty free), and the prices were near HALF of the rest of England. Also, they pretty much had every cigar you could think of. For example, the price on the Ramon Allones Belicoso normally in England varied between 12.3-13.5 pounds while at the duty free they were 8 pounds.

Don't get me wrong, RA is one of my all-time favorite brands, and I have no doubt that the Belicosos are going to be top notch. Like some of you have mentioned, the cigar was probably going through a sick period. I still have one left, and it will nap in the humidor for at least 6 months (maybe a year) before I try it again. I was told by 2 different merchants that the RA Belicoso will not be available to the rest of the world for 3 years ( hopefully Rob has more info on this).

[Trevor2118]

Actually, I passed through the DUTY FREE shop in Heathrow on the way home (not the regular stores, but the duty free), and the prices were near HALF of the rest of England. Also, they pretty much had every cigar you could think of.

Hi Does anyone have any comments on departure from Frankfurt Germany regarding duty-free prices?? :-|

[CIGARHead]

Welcome back Josie.

I have had that burnt/ashtray taste in an '03 RASS so I know your disgust. Thankfully I have not had this happen with the rest from that box.