At the 2018 Habanos Festival, participants got a glimpse of the new Limited Edition cigars. Amongst them was the Ramon Allones “Allones No. 2”, the Quai D’Orsay Senadores and the Montecristo Supremos. These made up the lineup for the 2019 Limited Edition cigars hailing from Havana. What set them apart from all previous limited editions, was their packaging. Each comes in a semi-lacquered finished box, with the colors respective to the brand. The Ramon Allones “Allones No. 2” comes in a beautiful box of 10. Whether or not all the future limited editions will come in the new type of packaging was not announced, we will find out in a few months when the 2020 Limited Editions are introduced.
ABOUT THE BRAND – RAMON ALLONES
As many of you know, Ramon Allones was a revolutionary and forward-thinking brand and was the inventor of the cigar band. Ramon Allones was also the first to use color lithography on cigar box trimmings, and the first brand to use the “898” form of packaging. It comes as no surprise then that the brand is among the first to introduce the limited editions cigars in a more elaborate and deluxe packaging.
ABOUT THE CIGAR – RAMON ALLONES :: Allones No. 2 :: Limited Edition 2019
The previous Limited Edition from Ramon Allones, “Club Allones”, although being a very decent cigar, did not receive much fanfare and appreciation from the vast majority of aficionados. I was curious to see how the 2019 Limited Edition compared in both flavor and eventually, in popularity amongst collectors. As a reminder, Limited edition cigars contain tobacco that has been aged minimum 3 to 5 years. The cigars are rolled with the aged tobacco, as opposed to being rolled, and then aged.
The Allones No. 2 come in boxes of 10 and it seems they went fast as most retailers in Canada, and Cuba are out of stock. They are quite possibly available in some select tobacconists around the world.
BOX DATE: 2019
SIZE: 52 x 5.5 inches.
FACTORY NAME: Campanas
1st Part
The cigar has a sweetness to it right from the get go. More of a flavor I would expect from Hoyo de Monterrey or Por Larranaga. Definitely not something I would normally expect from a Ramon Allones, and one with aged tobacco used for the Limited Edition. It is very enjoyable though. The strength is typical of Ramon, medium bodied so far.
2nd Part
I am picking up some almonds, mixed with an earthiness. Starting to feel more like a Ramon Allones than on the initial part.
3rd Part
The evolution on this limited edition is missing. The cigar is smooth, and flavor is fantastic. You can feel the age on the tobacco.
SUMMARY
The flagship vitola of Ramon Allones is the Specially Selected, and as such, let’s use that as the bench mark since most of us have tried that one. It is one of my desert island cigars and favorite robusto. The Allones No. 2 limited Edition is very comparable to the Specially Selected. The flavor profile, apart from the beginning third, is similar, and the strength is also similar. The main difference is the Allones No. 2 presents more nuttiness, whereas a Specially Selected, rolled with the exact blend, tends to bring out more cocao bean. Further, the belicoso size, from experience, tend to age better. I am personally setting aside a few boxes of these for ageing, as I believe that in 5 to 10 years, these will be extraordinary cigars. Try one, and hope you enjoy it.
SCORE
Construction: 9 on 10.
Flavor: 9 on 10.
Evolution: 7 on 10.
Overall: 8.5 on 10
