Pre-light Experience

The double band is what first gets my attention on this otherwise unremarkable wrapper. The construction appears to be good, although a bit more attention to the cap would have been appreciated. Faint leather with some floral at the foot are the initial pre-light aromas. Once clipped, a mellow cedar mixes well with the floral. All of the flavors are a bit muted but nice.

First Third

Floral meets baking spices best summarizes the initial profile. About a half inch in they begin to strike a balance, showing some promise to this cigar. A bit of pepper hits the retrohale near the mid point of this third. Nothing too hot, but it does add some character. Cocoa begins to develop in the background and not only adds another dimension, but also helps tie the other flavors together. The richness of the light chocolate will hopefully continue into the second third.

Second Third

Cedar enters the mix, signalling the transition to the second third. Leather is also developing and provides a creaminess to the floral and cocoa. Allspice and nutmeg on the finish still contribute to the flavors. The balance is near perfect as everything comes together. There is an increase of spice available on the retrohale but, again, not overwhelming. This third is a step up from the first one. Not overly complex, but very nice.

Final Third

The leather and cocoa begin to fade leaving behind cedar, allspice and notes of rose floral. While becoming a bit more one dimensional, the flavors retain a nice balance. Near the end, this cigar begins to heat up leaving a slight bitterness on the finish. Unfortunately, it’s something I usually experience with the Club Allones.

Burn

Not a lot of smoke production but also didn’t require any attention. A nice flaky ash and relatively straight burn line were appreciated.

Draw

This one had a firmer draw than I like, even with a second clip. A looser draw may have revealed some additional flavors.

Overall

Floral, cocoa and cedar are typically what my palate picks out from Cuban blends. This one was no exception. The middle third was the sweet spot for this one. The creaminess provided by the leather really helped balance all the flavors and kept the cedar from overpowering the more delicate floral and cocoa. The bitterness near the end was a disappointment, although not unexpected. Each of the thirds were unique. Despite a slow start and rocky finish, the flavors were well defined and offered a nice smoke, although I missed some of the complexities found in non-Cubans.

Gregg Kramer

SCORE

5.67

Cost/Point

N/A

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Ramón Allones Edición Limitada 2015