For a Cuban cigar brand to last as long as Ramon Allones is impressive, and few have as interesting a history as they do. Credited with being the first brand to use cigar bands, once owned by UK importers Hunters & Frankau before being sold to Partagas, and favoured by many distributors when selecting Regional Editions, Ramon Allones have an almost cult status among knowledgeable cigar smokers. It was no surprise when, in 2010, they were chosen as one of the brands to be represented in the illustrious La Casa del Habano Exclusivo series.
The Coronas Gordas – 46 ring gauge by 5 ⅝” – vitola was the one chosen for Ramon Allones’ first venture into the LCDH line-up. It was initially intended to be a limited release (only 5,000 boxes were originally planned) but its popularity led to a regular commission. Today, its cousins who also bear the second, burgundy band, it is an excellent display of value for money from the Habanos portfolio.
Construction: 9/10
- Perhaps a slightly rough grain to the wrapper, but perhaps I’m being too picky. All-in-all, this was a very well-constructed cigar.
Draw: 10/10
- Flawless, from start to finish. Nothing more can be said.
Combustion: 10/10
- From the moment it was lit this cigar burned perfectly. Not too fast, not too quick to extinguish, and with a perfectly straight line.
Ash: 4/5
- There was a slight tinge of grey to the ash, but again perhaps I’m being too picky. Either way, it was solid and compact, clinging to the foot and cooling the smoke so I could enjoy the full flavours.
Smoke: 5/5
- Abundant, fragrant, and steely-blue in colour.
Flavour: 21/25
- Ramon Allones is a pretty punchy brand, and this stick did nothing to alter that reputation. Perhaps suited to a little later in the day than I enjoyed this particular example; nevertheless it more than stood up to a strong black coffee pairing and gave a complex bland of tastes.
Overall: 32/35
- The occasionally lax quality control of Habanos rollers is as much discussed by aficionados as the recent leap in prices of the premium sticks – I have long championed the LCDH Editions as respite from both issues. They’re not the cheapest Havana cigars, but they are far from the most expensive and very near to the best. These cigars should form a part of any serious collection.
Final Score: 91/100
- A sunny Friday afternoon in London is a perfect excuse for a cigar, and from the moment I lit this one I was glad of my choice. The first draw gave an immediate, rich blast of leather and coffee which warmed the palette and continued throughout the first third. A hint of pepper quickly became apparent on the aftertaste, but faded gently out again as I approached the middle third. Here I found more intense leather aromas to be replacing the coffee detected in the beginning, with a creamy undercurrent thanks to the thick body of the smoke. Cinnamon spice replaced the cream as I approached the end of the cigar, and the pepper returned in abundance. An intense end to a wonderful hour of smoking.