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Having lived in New England for 20 years before moving south (no need for snow), I always feel a bit sheepish this time of year. To be fair, I was a fan in the horrid days, back when Boston sports were a joke except for Larry Bird (and I was a Lakers fan anyway). This year my new bride and I are going to a party at a friends house. I'm going to avoid wearing Patriots gear, but will be rooting for Brady's 6th and Belichicik's 8th. Of course. For this night there may have been a Red Sox shirt under a fleece (warming up, but still a tad cold north of ATL). To kick off the weekend we had friends over for dinner and a nice after dinner smoke and drink. Now before everyone yells, yes, there was Mexican coke AND Seleccion Maestros consumed at nearly the same time. I did make one Cuba Libre, but then we just drank the rum neat and chased with coke. Same thing? Maybe. I was a fan of the SM though. I need to mule back more soon. I chose a RASS from a sampler that Rob put up back in mid Oct. My buddy had a Partagas Serie P No 2 (he's a Pyramid fiend). Construction seemed good on it, and after putting in my usual V cut it drew well and lit well. I'm not super sensitive on tastes typically, but I did get a bit of raisin on this. Toast and a bit of sweetness, maybe a little brown sugar? Faint anyway. Overall a great smoke, I see why everyone raves about the RASS, I need to pick up a box at some point this year. Is it bad that I think "From here, because god only knows what the boxes will be like Cuba." This site is making me a zealot I think lol.

So I couldn't resist, and decided to dip into the Christmas Sampler for my first one. I decided on the RASS, since it's been so lauded on here. They've been sitting in my tupperdor for a couple of weeks, so I figured that while early, it might go ok. TL;DR, was a little tight and had some burning issues. Started with black coffee, my Christmas blend, and was in the middle of making Chex Mix for favors for the wedding at the end of the month. Why not have a(nother) great Cuban while baking and watching the Falcons? First third was a little spice and cedar. Good construction, but some uneven burning as I smoked it down. The kid helped me by chasing squirrels Second was a little bit of leather and cedar, started to flume a bit on one side. I had to relight a couple of times. I switched to a nice Wyoming Whiskey (evidently the only cask in GA? was very nice with some sweet notes) Finish was a bit wonky. Didn't have to relight, but very uneven burn at the end. Got it as far as I could. I'd absolutely smoke them again, but I worry that the sampler is just too fresh and not adjusted enough. Regardless, I'll be smoking a few more before the wedding on New Years Eve, and then searching for good pickups in Israel and Rome!

Wow, what a beautiful wrapper! First 3rd: Tons of dark-roasted coffee notes with pronounced bitterness. Persistent spicy finish. Middle 3rd: The noted astringency on first third finally disappears. The dark-roasted coffee continues to dominate its profile and the spices in first third now become distinguishable as green pepper and cloves. Final 3rd: An undesirable nicotine rush just hit me right at the beginning of final third. Coffee notes galore. I patiently kept on waiting for some cocoa notes to no avail. 89 points at this stage. Lots of aging is required to tame this powerhouse. I'm certain that this puro will get significantly better with time.

My first review of a Cuban cigar and my second review ever. Feedback is appreciated. Marca: Ramon Allones Release: Specially Selected Box Date: Sometime in 2010 Paired with: Spring Water Tools: Montecristo Social Club Punch and Thunderbolt Zippo Torch Lighter Appearance: Just looking at this cigar, you can tell it's been around for a few years. Some damage to the foot, some nicks and a bit of spotting on the wrapper. This cigar certainly looks like it's going on 4 years old. It lends to the appearance to a degree, though. What I love most about this and really any Cuban cigar presented in a dress box is the subtle box press that comes from the cigar actually being tight in the box with 24 of its kin. Unlike Non-Cubans, which are pressed into shape through all kinds of other methods. There's just something about the Cuban press. It seems so pure and so old fashioned, a mere by product of the cigar packaging, but something that I feel greatly enhances the appearance of the cigar. Construction: Well constructed. With the exception of a one soft spot close to the foot, this cigar seems nearly perfectly filled. The foot looks great from a construction standpoint. The cap looks very neatly applied, and when I punched it, I could see that this cigar had been rolled with a pigtail tuck, something I'm told is a signature of very skilled rollers. The cigar feels very good in the hand. Burn: Burn got a bit wavy at times, but overall was straight. The cigar required two touch ups, one in the second third, and one in the final. Draw: Punched clean and the draw is what I would consider perfect. Ideal amount of resistance that remained consistent throughout the entire smoke. Taste: Right away, I'm hit with a mildy sweet, grassy flavor. Not exactly to my tastes, but I wouldn't call it unpleasant either. Smoke is very creamy, and the grassy flavor dies down fairly quickly. After only a couple draws, the “buttery” type of flavor I've tasted in every Cuban springs right to the foreground, with the grassy flavor really only pleasant on the retrohale. That “buttery” flavor, coupled with just a bit of black pepper and some of the grassy notes on the retrohale continue to be the dominant profile. Entering the second third, the grassy & pepper flavors are nearly gone. The buttery characteristic has become what I can describe only as a “buttered toast” flavor. Hints of roasted nuts are present, especially on the retrohale. As these flavors continue to develop and intensify, I can just barely detect a hint of kitchen spices(oregano?) at the end of the draw. Finish is short, but thick with the butter flavor. Spice flavor is undetectable in the next couple of draws. Dominant flavor remains “buttered toast” with a hint of nuts. Black pepper returns at the back of the palate and on the retrohale. Into the final third and the flavors greatly intensify. The nutty flavor from the second third is completely gone, replaced by a strange note only present at the very back of the palate and on the retrohale. I can't find words to describe it, but it's savory and accompanies the dominant butter/pepper very well. These flavors continue until just inside the final inch, where they begin to harshen, so I let the cigar die. Bottom Line: I have almost nothing to compare this to, as this was my first RASS, but I've had two (fresh) RA Superiores and this blows that stick away. This thing was a journey. The flavors developed and changed very well over the course of the stick. Aside from a few minor burn issues, I have very few complaints with this cigar. I don't know if it's because of the 3+ years of age, or if this was just a fantastic cigar, but I definitely want to pick some up fresh and experience them as they age. Appearance: 17 Constuction: 19 Burn: 16 Draw: 20 Taste: 18 Overall: 90/100 Smoke again? Absolutely. I think I've found a box buy in these.