Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos PCC RE

[Colt45]

Sorry I do not have an exact box code - this was part of a care package sent to me by a good friend, for which I am very thankful.

Construction: All seems in order - no anomalies to be seen or felt.

Wrapper: Nice colorado, smooth to the touch with a uniform sheen of oil.

Pre-Light Aroma / Draw / Taste: Fine aroma of fruit and sweet tobacco with just a hint of what I can only describe as meaty.

Excellent draw with a straightforward light tobacco taste.

Draw / Burn / Smoke: Impeccable on all counts - bravo!

Taste: First draws are straightforward earthy tobacco. Fairly rich, but with a slight metallic element. Still early in, some doughy notes

with just a suggestion of stewed fruit and very dark cooking chocolate. I'm immediately reminded of a box of RA 898 from 2000 that I've

almost finished - very earthy, meaty cigars. So far, a great draw, plenty of smoke, and a pleasant sweet tobacco aftertaste.

An inch in, the fruit element has picked up noticeably, but it is less stewed - a bit brighter - this on top of an earthy tobacco core. Medium plus

in body, it is fairly smooth with just a touch of dirt on the back palate. Finish is now more earthy rather than sweet.

Into the mid third the doughy element returns in both taste and texture of the smoke, displacing the mid palate fruit, which I now find on

the finish. There is still the metallic element - like biting on tin foil - but it is not overt or off-putting in any real way - just barely detectable.

To this point, this has been a smooth, well balanced cigar which I find indicative of it's marque.

At midpoint it continues it's slow evolution. Some notes of cedar, some hints of walnut. Nothing overt or dominant - deceptively complex.

I find it has a heavy earthy flavor with nice depth, but not overly dense on the palate.

Into the final third the interplay continues. Flavors mingle, come and go. Nothing extreme or out of balance. Body picks up just a bit with

doughy and earthy exchanging places every few draws. Nearing the end, it returns to it's beginning - earthy tobacco with some stewed fruit,

along with the addition of some youthful black pepper, but still very well behaved. And so it remains to the end; and though I don't want

to, I set it down.

Score: 90

Comments: Without having the actual experience, in my mind this is how I imagine "old time" Havanas would be - earthy, meaty,

not extroverted. It only betrayed it's youth with a slightly dirty finish early on and at the end.

And though I fully realize that one cigar can't give an entire picture, I'd be quite happy with a box (or two) of this cigar. My feeling is

that age will not necessarily change the overall profile, but will allow the few rough edges to smooth out and integrate.

[dochowl]

Thanks Colt. I just smoked my first of these a few days ago and had a very similar experience. With all of the bad press that's been around this particular smoke, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who enjoyed them. Unfortunately, I think it has more to say about the consistency of the cigar rahter than the quality. I'm just hoping the other 24 in my cab are just as good as the first one.

[Miami101]

Great review up there with the best.

[simmich]

Had the good fortune to be on the receiving end of a few of these. I tasted one a couple of days ago and was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised with classic Ramon flavors, young but quite smokable now with huge aging potential...yummy stogie!

[El Presidente]

Great review Colt

I smoke about one of these a week from differing boxes. Some are as you have described, some brutally strong, others not so. I think it will be six months until we see a definitive profile but I like what I am seeing. I also agree that these have a very bright future.

[paesano]

Very nice. I'm hope I'm not too late as I know they are limited but I can't wait. Thanks for the review

[vivalanation734]

I smoked one from July I believe. It's my #2 smoke this year. Incredible.

[TrickNick]

I just smoked one of these a couple of nights ago. The first 1/3 was EXCELLENT. Light, fruity and earthy all at the same time. The second 1/3 was INTENSE. Very earthy and powerful. Almost overwhelming. The last 1/3 turned metallic and had a very harsh taste. Almost too much earth taste. As if I had licked rotting wood while sucking on a penny. I had to let it go out at this point.

I have very high hopes for the aging potential of these.