Ramón Allones Belicoso (2005)

In 2005, Habanos S.A. released a limited addition Ramón Allones Belicoso that was only available in the United Kingdom. This release was actually before the Edición Regional program was in effect, so while this release is essentially one of the first ERs, it is not officially labeled as one. In fact, there was almost no fanfare at all when these were released.

Says CubanCigarWebsite.com about the Regional Edition Series:

In 2005, Habanos S.A. introduced the Regional Edition (Edición Regional) Series.The ten worldwide premium Global & Niche brands are excluded from this series.  This leaves the seventeen local and multi-local brands for these regional editions.  As these brands are not promoted worldwide, this series was seen as an ideal marketing method to promote them.  Despite this criteria, in 2007 a previously unheard-of brand, Edmundo Dante (a de-facto Montecristo) was released for Mexico.The series comprises special limited production cigars made exclusively for a regional market, and are available for a one or two year period.  After this, Habanos has the right to add this cigar to the current production range.  The cigars must be selected from current production vitolas that are not already available in that brand.  Some of the newly introduced vitolas from the premium brands are also excluded.Each release is initiated by the Regional Distributor, who under-right the setup costs. Some distributors have elected to reissue in the second year.  Reissue cigars are identical but the box leaflet may have a statement “Its great acceptance encourages us to present this edition again…” or similar, depending on the country of distribution. Regional Editions currently now have a lifespan of 12 months, and have a minimum run of 25,000 cigars. They are usually released in August, September and October of each year.From 2012, it is reported that there will only be one Regional Edition per Distributor.

The U.K. distributor, Hunters & Frankau had the 5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso size made in the Ramón Allones brand specially for its market. There were an unspecified number of boxes of 25 of these cigars released and unlike almost all preceding Edición Regionals, there are no secondary bands. In fact, there is nothing at all about the cigars outward appearance that signifies it is special in any way, other than the vitola, which has never been a regular production size in the Ramón Allones marca.

Here is what the boxes for the 2005 release of the Ramón Allones Belicosos look like:

• Cigar Reviewed: Ramón Allones Belicoso (2005)
• Country of Origin: Cuba
• Factory: Francisco Pérez German
• Wrapper: Cuba
• Binder: Cuba
• Filler: Cuba
• Size: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 52
• Vitola: Belicoso
• Est. Price: $30.00 (Boxes of 25, $750.00)
• Release Date: 2005
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 5

The Belicoso itself is a excellent example of a perfectly made Cuban cigar. It has a gorgeous milk chocolate brown wrapper with just a bit of oil present, but is fairly dry to the touch and has the perfect give on the obvious box-press when squeezed. The wrapper smells strongly like a combination of cedar, barnyard, manure and chocolate.

The first third of the Ramón Allones immediately starts off with strong flavors of coffee, sweet cedar, earth and nuts. There is also a bit of black pepper on the retrohale and a touch of spice on the tongue,  enough of both to keep things interesting in that department. There is also a sweetness in the background, that at various points in the third feels like it is trying to break through. The Belicoso has a very dry profile, but the strength is virtually nonexistent by the end of the first third. Draw and burn are both perfect, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.

Coming into the second third of the Ramón Allones Belicoso, and the profile keeps the cedar and nuttiness, loses almost all of the pepper, but really ramps up the sweetness. It tastes like caramel to me, a wonderful, rich note that goes almost perfectly with the nutty flavor that has also increased in intensity. The strength is a solid medium at this point and does not seem to be increasing at all, and construction remains excellent in every way.

The final third continues the roller coaster of flavors for the Ramón Allones Belicoso. Although the sweetness has died down quite a bit, it is still present, just not as strong as the second third. There is a bit of a floral note along with amazing flavors of espresso, cream, earthy spice and nuts. Construction ends as it began, perfect, and the strength finishes  at a solid medium. I am able to nub the cigar very easily, and there is no harshness to be had no matter how far I smoke them down.

Final Notes

• The Edición Regional program was so new when the RA Belicosos were released, there was no secondary band on the cigar, like there has been in subsequent ER releases.
• Although the Ramón Allones Belicoso was one of the first Cuban cigars released for a specific country, there are many who believe that the idea for the Edición Regional series was thought up after the success of the reintroduction of the Bolivar Gold Medal, which was reintroduced in (and sold only in) Germany in 2004 after being discontinued in 1992.
• Although the Belicoso UK release in 2005 was the first time Ramón Allones used the Belicoso vitola, it was defiantly not the last. In fact, the exact same size (5 1/2 x 52 Belicoso) was used for three different releases: the Belicoso (Edición Regional United Kingdom) in 2005, the Especial de Allones (Edición Regional France) in 2008 and the Belicoso (Edición Regional Alemania) in 2010.
• Despite the fact that they were not officially limited, these specific cigars are extremely difficult to find, and when you do see them up for sale, they are almost outrageously expensive.
• This release has one of the richest and longest-lasting finishes I have ever tasted. It is just wonderful in every aspect.
• Mitchell Orchant of C.Gars Ltd has a special Orchant Selection version made for his stores. Around 60 boxes were made.
• Flavor bomb is a pretty good description of what I was tasting when smoking these.
• The construction is excellent throughout the cigar. Both burn and draw were almost perfect throughout the smoke on all of the samples I have ever smoked of this release.
• The box press is really more of a square and reminds me strongly of an OpusX Shark or Añejo Shark.
• The final smoking time averaged around one hour and 40 minutes.