Stogie Reviews: Ramón Allones Specially Selected (Cuban)

Ramón Allones Specially Selected is a highly-regarded robusto from one of Cuba’s lesser-known trademarks.

The brand hails all the way back to 1845 when it was created by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones – neither of whom is related to Antonio Allones, who brought El Rey del Mundo to fame in the late 19th century.

According to legend, Ramón Allones was the first brand to have colorful lithographs for box art, the first brand to utilize bands on cigars, and the first to package cigars in the “8-9-8” style. (Although others also claim to be the first for each of the developments.)

With a classic robusto shape (four and 7/8 inches by 50 ring gauge) and a slight box press, the “Specially Selected” is an attractive cigar. The wrapper is a nearly flawless medium-brown matte color.

Prelight, I take a moment to appreciate its rich and earthy aroma before I clip the head and use a few matches to get a good light. I also notice that the Specially Selected is very firm to the touch and it is denser than most of the other Cuban robustos I have smoked.

Immediately after lighting, I enjoy an abundant amount of leather flavors paired with pepper, earth, and even caramel. As the cigar progresses I find the spice fades out before coming back for a strong finish to this medium- to full-flavored smoke.

The overall construction of the Ramón Allones is also impressive. The draw is firm, but not overly so, and the ash is very sturdy. The only downside is the burn starts off a bit uneven, but fortunately quickly corrects itself.

Ultimately, this is one of the best Cuban cigars I have tasted, and it produced the same well-balanced flavors in each of the sticks I sampled for this review. Because it isn’t as famous as many of its Cuban counterparts, this cigar is available at a reasonable price of just $7.50 per cigar when purchased in a box of 25.

For attractive looks, solid construction, well-blended flavor, and a reasonable price, this Ramón Allones earns a rare rating of five out of five stogies.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys