Ramon Allones Club Allones EL 2015 Review

[JohnS]

Ramon Allones Club Allones - Edición Limitada 2015 (AUM Jul 2015) 

Vitola: Club Allones (47 ring gauge x 135 mm or 5.3 inches)

Introduction: Just like the Partagas Seleccion Privada 2014, I've been meaning to visit this cigar for some time now, again as much as 12 months. Again, you rated it highly. A recent thread below discussed the two best Limited Editions of the past three years and the Ramon Allones Club Allones got many of your votes.

Alas, unlike the Partagas Seleccion Privada, the Club Allones has enjoyed a 'longer life' than most Limited Editions by being available for acquisition well into 2017 (well, it didn't come out until 2016 though, didn't it?). In the annual FoH Top 25 Cigars for 2016 poll, you voted it 9th overall  . El Pres requested your thoughts on the Ramon Allones Club Allones when it first came out and the consensus was positive...

A quick note on the wrapper, the Ramon Allones Club Allones has been noted for its dark wrapper, although these aren't Cuban Maduro wrappers, which are a different thing altogether  . I find Ramon Allones, as a marca overall, tends to attract a higher proportion of Colorado Maduro (and darker) wrappers than other marcas, and this has been true of the Ramon Allones Club Allones, like Limited Editions cigars in general. A poll in 2014 indicated that FoH members prefer Colorado Maduro shaded wrappers to other wrappers, is this one of the reasons for the popularity of the Club Allones?

This Limited Edition cigar has enjoyed multiple reviews on our forum, and I must admit that in writing this review I find that I would struggle to say anything new that hasn't been said before. Perhaps I can add what Habanos S.A. wrote about this cigar on their website when it was released...

Ramón Allones Club Allones (47 ring gauge x 135 mm length) is the other 2015 Edición Limitada. This vitola is unique within the range of sizes of the brand and it is characterized by an intense and complex flavour. Club Allones is an opportunity for those smokers who enjoy full flavours Habanos and who now can taste them with the particular characteristics of the Ediciones Limitadas.

Aroma and Cold Draw: Again, as is typical of Limited Edition releases, the aroma was refined yet strong. The wrapper was a distinctive Maduro wrapper shade that is common with this cigar (although please note, they aren't maduro-leafed wrappers). The cold draw exhibited characteristics of strength, with a earthy and tobacco combination, yet the draw was very good and construction was excellent.

First Third: The first few puffs gave me a nice smooth taste of a combination of espresso and dark cocoa flavours. A few more draws and the 'Ramon Allones stewed fruit' profile came to the fore, giving this cigar a nice balance between it pleasant sweetness and its strength. There was excellent smoke per draw.

Second Third: The strength picked up, this is definitely a medium-full bodied cigar, and it remained that way. The combination of espresso and rich, dark cocoa and stewed fruit is similarly intensified. A highly enjoyable cigar!

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Final Third: Normally the final third is where your cigar is most intense, flavours drop off and acridity or bitterness can build up forcing you to extinguish it early. This was not the case today. I had no issue whatsoever with drawing this down to the nub, and although the flavours that I enjoyed in the first two-thirds weren't anywhere near as evident, the wonderfully strong toasted tobacco richness in the final third more than compensated.  

Conclusion: Why this is a great Limited Edition cigar ultimately comes down to a number of factors in my opinion. Firstly, I think the vitola is just right, it would be prefect if it was a 42 ring gauge, in my view, yet the fact that it's not over 50 ring gauge is just ideal, as is its length. At 135 mm in length it is about halfway between the length of a Petit Corona (129 mm) and a Corona (142 mm), which again I consider ideal.

Simon Chase wrote an in-depth article for Cigar Journal last December lamenting the steady decline of Ramon Allones as a marca, yet praising Habanos S.A. for encouraging Regional distributors the freedom to nominate their own marcas and vitolas for their annual Regional releases. Simon stated in his article that around one-third of Regional Editions have been Ramon Allones cigars, thus, amongst aficionados and the public in general, Ramon Allones still courts favour.

Finally, what about comparing this Limited Edition to the LCDH Superiores from 2010? The Superiores is a Corona Gorda at 46 ring gauge x 143 mm (or 5.6 inches) in length and is similarly popular. I find the Superiores a milder smoke, with more elements of lighter cocoa and a sweeter fruit profile. Ultimately, I think there's a place for both the Superiores and Club Allones in your humidor.

Below are some other reviews and discussions on this cigar for your perusement. The Ramon Allones Club Allones is an outstanding cigar, get it today if you haven't done so already.

 

 

 

[westg]

Brilliant John... thanks mate

[LLC]

Great review and a cigar I am a big fan of.


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[fabes]

Thanks for another great review John! 

[Guest Nekhyludov]

I didn't care much for the couple of RACAs I've smoked, but you couldn't ask for a better review than this! 

Great job, John 

[havanaclub]

Nice review John as always!!


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[joeypots]

12 hours ago, JohnS said:

The wrapper was a distinctive Maduro wrapper shade that is common with this cigar (although please note, they aren't maduro-leafed wrappers).

John, my understandings that the EL program uses wrapper leaf from the top of the plant. That accounts for the dark but not madurai shade of the wrapper. If I remember correctly, the top leaf grows thicker and darker because of it gets more sun. I'm no expert and would welcome someone better informed to expand on this explanation. Great review.

[JohnS]

Thanks everyone for your responses. There's been so many accolades in reviews for this cigar that I thought it was best to organise my review the way I did, as a reference topic.

@joeypots, I did some research on maduro wrappers in the last few days and I was surprised that I didn't find more detailed information on the topic, both in print (i.e. books) and on the internet. I know that Cuban maduro wrappers are different from Non-Cuban maduro wrappers due to the fermentation period for the leaves used. I will open up the topic to general discussion in another thread.

[CigSid]

Excellent review John! I have my boxes resting for a few more years, I have found that 5 years is usually a good starting point for what I look for in the RA profile.

[hedgeybaby]

Excellent review John. 

This is one of my favourite cigars. It seems to be on point every time I smoke one. It will be a sad day when these are no longer available.

[joeypots]

You guys can have the Els. I'll take a Cohiba over one any day and twice on Sunday. And a lot of regular production as well.

My .02$

[TheMonk]

Excellent job, John!

[Randy956]

Great review. Thank you.


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[Raskol]

 Nice review! Thanks! John.

[hedgeybaby]

On a further note about these superb cigars, i was walking down the beach smoking one of these with Mrs H. We had a quick smooch and she said mentioned how nice the cigar tasted. She then gave me a longer smooch. 

[Randy956]

On a further note about these superb cigars, i was walking down the beach smoking one of these with Mrs H. We had a quick smooch and she said mentioned how nice the cigar tasted. She then gave me a longer smooch. 

I gotta have one of those!!


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