RASS 50 cab - REG MAR 18 (RARW)

[slowsmoke]

I’ve been looking forward to the Ramon Allones review weekend for just this reason.  A PSP 50 cab of RASS, far and away the most beautiful, best smelling box of cigars I have.  As soon as I open it, I am smacked with pungent, dank, manure, with just a tinge of sweetness.  Satin sheen everywhere.  These are the ones Pres says take selfies with ?.  Just hit 12 months of age, and patiently resting in my humidor for 4 months, so I decided it’s time to take a sample.  I pull the first one off the top.

Hallelujah, the draw is perfect.  Cold draw tastes basically like the box smells, funky, pungent, with a hint of sweetness, and a little yeasty bready flavor. My mind is already projecting a waterfall of raisins.  Here we go…

First puffs are all dark soil, mineral, bitter espresso, and it’s tasting more like a Cohiba Secretos than a RASS.  But it is very, very good.

Halfway into the first third, start getting some raisin.  A ripe, fruity raisin, rather than the bready toasty raisin that I lust after in RASS.  Then lots of chocolate, alternating between bitter dark choc, and lighter milk choc.  I have never had anything like this in a RASS.  At times, a faint, green vegetal note.  Lovely white ash, perfect burn.  The finish is like a brownie with walnuts.

Second third, all the same flavors, though the raisin never really shines, just comes and goes.  I am continually reminded of a Cadbury fruit & nut bar.

Final third, the chocolate pretty much disappears, and I am left with just wonderful cuban tobacco, some twang on the finish.  A couple touch ups to prevent slight tunneling, but no harm done to the flavors.  It never gets overly bitter or ammonia or any of the signs I associate with young cigars.  I run it down farther than I normally would, well into some heavy nicotine.  It does finally get a bit hot.

Overall, this was spectacular RASS, easily a 92 cigar, and I am absolutely giddy to have this cab in my life.  My plan was to try one per year after this, though I’m thinking now it might have to be one every 6 months ?

When I have one this good, it is almost equally as disappointing, because it is proof that Cuba is capable of producing such high quality cigars, and yet they let so much crap through.  I have a box of 2016 RASS (not from FOH) that I think I’m just going to pitch in the trash now.  They have been a continual let down, and they are not even on the same planet as this cab.

As a side note, I intended to pair this with an orange juice, in the name of FOH science, but alas there was none to be found in the house.  I went with a San Pellegrino Clementina, which was refreshing, but I don’t think it helped or hurt the cigar.

 

 

[JoeyBones777]

Where is the obligatory selfie pic with the cab??

[slowsmoke]

17 minutes ago, JoeyBones777 said:

Where is the obligatory selfie pic with the cab??

Turns out the cigars are much, much prettier than I, so I quickly deleted them...

[SCgarman]

I am currently burning through an AUM15 box, and they are as good as any RASS I have ever had. Sublime!

[SwissPEP]

Nice review (need to get my hands on a Cab too)

Thanks 

[Bri Fi]

Nice review. One cigar per year for a 50 cab? I hope I’m able to still wipe my own @$$ in 50 years. I’m doing the same with a box of lusi but that’s 25 years lol. 

[TheMonk]

Great job!

[ac031898]

Holy moly, that’s a great looking cab! Nice job!

[slowsmoke]

18 hours ago, Bri Fi said:

Nice review. One cigar per year for a 50 cab? I hope I’m able to still wipe my own @$$ in 50 years. I’m doing the same with a box of lusi but that’s 25 years lol. 

Oh, heavens no ?

I meant one a year while they age, until I decide that they are "ready," which I assume will be 5+ years.  At which point I will leave my family and run away to an island or a cabin somewhere and devour the rest of the cab in solitude while pondering life's meaning.

[Str8BlkCoffee]

Very nice review. They look wonderful.