Cigar:            Cuba's Famous Brands Ramon Allones Specially Selected

Size:             50 x 4 7/8"

Country:          ?

Wrapper:          ?

Binder:           ?

Filler:           ?

Flavor Strength:  Medium

NicotineStength:  Medium

Date Received:    2005-06-30

Suspected Age:    Unknown

Vendor/Price:     Mr.Bundles / about $3 a stick

Beverage(s):      Costa Rica Tarrazu (La Minita) Coffee, Water

Smoke time:       0:45

Date:             2005-11-12

Posted to ASC:    2005-11-12

Overall score:    2.5/5.0

Overall:    Mostly bitter with some coffee/cocoa/nuttiness in the far background.  Went well with coffee, but once the coffee was finished and I switched to water, the true taste of the cigar came through.  I became reluctant to draw on it, so it was abandoned at the halfway point.  Not recommended at any price.  I'll smoke something good later in the evening to scrub the memory.

This was the fourth vitola of CFB I have tried, Monte 4, Monte 2, PSD4, and this RASS.  Of these the M4 and the PSD4 were passable smokes, but the M2 and the RASS were dreck.  I still have the Bolivar Royal Corona to try.

Ambience:   Afternoon in the sunroom working on FEMA and SBA paperwork with something Baroque playing.  Solid gray overcast with gusty winds, 10-15 kts.  The little woman is on the road to Wenatchee until tomorrow evening.  I am waiting for this evening's horizontal rain to determine if my second round of sunroom external caulking was a success - the joys of home ownership. 

Appearance: Nice looking with a darker than milk chocolate mottled wrapper, small veins, and a slightly yielding light box press. 

Cut & Prelight:   Cut well a month ago, but was nearly plugged, so put back in the humidor.  Somewhat Cubanesque aroma with a bit of sweet barnyard and toffee.  Restrictive draw with a sweet draw flavor and much lip pepper. 

First third:      Initially a bit of pepper, and unripe, bittersweet, walnut.  It is going very nicely with the coffee as the coffee aftertaste sweetness is carrying over into the cigar.  Smoke volume low.  Dark lined compact ash that held to over an inch, exposing a nice burn cone. 

Second third:     Coffee is finished; switching to water.  Smoke volume has increased.  Primary note is somewhat bitter with bitter-sweet aftertaste.  Secondary note is coffee/cocoa in the long aftertaste - wait for it.  Not impressed so far.  I find I am reluctant to draw on the thing.  A sure sign it is time to abandon it.  So, abandoned at about the halfway point.  Once the coffee was finished and I switched to water, the true taste of the cigar came through. 

Third third:  NA