Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos Asia Pacific Regional Edition 2009

Shape: Perfecto

Size: 46 X 137 (5.4")

Filler: Cuba

Binder: Cuba

Wrapper: Cuba

Smoking time: 1 hour

Beverage: Legendario Rum mixed with espresso

I purchased this solid little perfecto at my local B&M. Somehow the pre-release info on this one had slipped under my radar, so when I spotted it in the merchant's humidor I was surprised and had to give it a try. The cigar I chose was well constructed with few noticeable veins or blemishes, and the triple cap was perfectly applied. However, I had sifted through a few of the singles before I chose this one, as some of the others in the box had irregular caps or soft spots that were immediately noticeable.

After clipping the head with my Palio cutter, my choosiness was rewarded with an excellent pre-light draw that was neither too loose nor too tight, imparting flavours of fresh tobacco and hay. I both charred and lit the foot with a single match and was greeted with a fair volume of smoke. The strength of this cigar was immediately apparent as the back of my palate tingled with spice, leather, and some pleasant hints of citrus.

After smoking my way past the nipple, the initial flavours really started to intensify, as they were joined by a light sweetness and hay. The sweetness crept in and out of the profile for the rest of the first third, while the spice and strength remained immediately present. By the beginning of the second half, I could my head reeling a bit from the nicotine.

The flavours remained on the forefront of my palate for the second half of the cigar, even despite the rum and espresso I was drinking. However, as the burn line moved through the final half an unpleasant bitterness crept in that persuaded me to put the cigar down with about 1.5" left.

Despite the youth of these cigars, they are smoking very well at this stage and my guess is that they would age beautifully. Even despite the bitterness at the end, I enjoyed this cigar and I would certainly smoke it again, especially after it had rested in my humidor for a year or so; therefore, the Ramon Allones Celestiales Finos gets three and a half Castros out of five.