Colt45 Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 Just thinking out loud - when these draw properly, I love them. Deep, dense, full, rich, concentrated. I have crushed and pitched a few in disgust due to plugged draws, but a recent sample was perfect. If they ever bring these back, I hope they can replicate the depth and intensity. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vinny Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 i agree. this was a must when drawing... it's a shame they chose to stop the production. I don't think there has ever been a dalia that got this intensity and dept since this they stop this one... :-( but there is still some casa or passionate vendors who sell some '02 and 01 i think... but it's very, very hard to find..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anacostiakat Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 » Just thinking out loud - when these draw properly, I love them. » Deep, dense, full, rich, concentrated. » I have crushed and pitched a few in disgust due to plugged draws, » but a recent sample was perfect. » If they ever bring these back, I hope they can replicate the depth » and intensity. While I have had some good stock from '00 and '99 it really is a crap shoot. I have some '02 I think that are very, very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colt45 Posted May 8, 2008 Author Share Posted May 8, 2008 Vinny, you are correct - they can be found - at HIGH prices! I recently tried an '02 given to me by a generous member. It was very good as well, but I think the '00 has just a bit more depth and richness. I agree with '00 being hit or miss, but as much as I hate to admit it, because the properly constructed have been so good, I'm willing to overlook the poor samples. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PartagasIV Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 I have had 2 from an '00 fiver...both were ethereal, mindblowing smokes. One of those was pretty tight but not unsmokeable. I just picked up a partial box of '02's from a BOTL...incredibly bloomy, and the RA bands are very oxidized (green tinges, apparently from the bronze powder). Look good enough to eat, can't wait to try one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizedean Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 » I just picked up a partial box of '02's from a BOTL.... Trying not to appear stupid, but can you tell me what "BOTL" means? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrink Posted May 8, 2008 Share Posted May 8, 2008 The RA 898 is the cigar I most hated to see on the cut list. I love everything about it... the presentation, the size, the blend, and the flavors. And yes, the early 2002 stock is the most reliable, IMO. I liked the 2002 stock when they were young, in 2003 and 2004. Yes, they were a bit rambunctious, but enormously flavorful with a "unique blend of herbs and spices" that characterizes Ramon Allones. Interestingly, some 2003 boxcoded stock came on the market last year, and I picked up a box, more out of curiosity than anything else. There is no doubt whatsoever about authenticity. I have smoked a couple of these, and enjoyed their relative "youth", so to speak. For anyone who never had the opportunity to smoke a young RA 898V, and wonders what these were like, you need look no further than the current (2007) stock of RASCC. The flavor profile is almost identical. It was the first thing that came to mind when I fired up my first '07 RASCC. So, the moral of the tale is... If you didn't get the chance to grab some of the 898V's, don't miss the chance to stock up on the '07 RASCC. Hell, you can always smoke a couple back-to-back! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa1257 Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 I smoked a 97 RA 898 this weekend that would rate as a Top 10 ever smoked IMHO. The stewed fruit, earth and leather flavors blanketed my palate the entire time and was absolutely great. I just do not understand why Habanos decided to discontinue this vitola. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdbrown Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 That is a great comparison between the flavour profile of the two. I picked up four boxes and I look forward to seeing how they evolve over the next ten years. These are 03 and they definitely have the substance to go for a long haul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSU OpusX Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 » » I just picked up a partial box of '02's from a BOTL.... » » Trying not to appear stupid, but can you tell me what "BOTL" means? Hello fellow Philadelphian! BOTL =Brother of the Leaf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dizedean Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 » » Hello fellow Philadelphian! BOTL =Brother of the Leaf Hello Nittany Lion, Thank you. Where are you from? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassman Posted May 9, 2008 Share Posted May 9, 2008 » I smoked a 07 RA 898 this weekend that would rate as a Top 10 ever smoked » IMHO. The stewed fruit, earth and leather flavors blanketed my palate the » entire time and was absolutely great. I just do not understand why Habanos » decided to discontinue this vitola. 07??? A typo I hope. My only experience with these is a single box of 01s, which quite frankly, was very bland and a box of 02s that was so good I quickly grab the vendor's remaining 2 boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Curt Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 » I smoked a 07 RA 898 this weekend that would rate as a Top 10 ever smoked » IMHO. The stewed fruit, earth and leather flavors blanketed my palate the » entire time and was absolutely great. I just do not understand why Habanos » decided to discontinue this vitola. I'm assuming '07 is a typo, Chuck. Are you raiding Bill's humidor again?:-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shrink Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 » I'm assuming '07 is a typo, Chuck. They're '07s all right... Chuck has 'em custom rolled by Cuban virgins... well, at least they were virgins. Right, Chuck? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 » » I'm assuming '07 is a typo, Chuck. » » They're '07s all right... Chuck has 'em custom rolled by Cuban virgins... » » well, at least they were virgins. Right, Chuck? Juan and Jose said Chuck was a perfect gentleman ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tampa1257 Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 » » I smoked a 07 RA 898 this weekend that would rate as a Top 10 ever » smoked » » IMHO. The stewed fruit, earth and leather flavors blanketed my palate » the » » entire time and was absolutely great. I just do not understand why » Habanos » » decided to discontinue this vitola. » » 07??? A typo I hope. My only experience with these is a single » box of 01s, which quite frankly, was very bland and a box of 02s that was » so good I quickly grab the vendor's remaining 2 boxes. Good catch on a Typo, the cigar was a 1997 RA 898 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smokum Posted May 11, 2008 Share Posted May 11, 2008 » Juan and Jose said Chuck was a perfect gentleman ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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