Ramon Allones Gigantes (2007)

kirill · November 24, 2008

I have a prolonged weekend due to mandatory overtime hour reduction before the year ends and so I thought why not contribute to the new forum and the great Ramon Allones review competiton. I'm planning to review all RA vitolas that I currently own, starting with a Gigantes that I got early this year as a single from Rob, so I'm guessing it is from mid-late 2007.

Initially I planned also to contribute to the cigar and champagne testings with half a bottle of Taittinger.

Regrettably, just in time I got a call from my mother that reminded me of some promises that included driving and meeting up with her, so I had to skip the alcohol.

Sadly that was not the only disappointment of the morning as the Gigantes started rather nondescript. The first centimeters there wasn't much going on, some spice and sweetness in the background, but very much subdued, next to no flavor through the nose.

I know that Double Coronas need some time to warm up, but this was taking definitely too long. The first flash of character was showing up when it was about Corona Gorda size. It increased noticeably in strength and became all of a sudden a complex smoke. I got different kinds of nut aromas, I can't really describe properly, definetly almonds, maybe hazelnut, chestnut. In the background, there was an enjoyable leathery bitterness that made for an overall full taste on the palate. At this point it was a great smoke and suitable for consoling me for some pieces of news.

Regrettably, I didn't stay that way. Its youth showed, I guess and it turned unpleasantly bitter toward the end.

I have difficulties to rate this cigar. It obviuosly needs more age, but I can't really get over the fact that I had to burn around 5 cm of the cigar to get more than hints of flavour. Not sure that that is something that humidor time can cure, but anyways I'll smoke the famed Small Club Corona tomorrow and I doubt it'll suffer from the same problem.