Reviewed by Joe Gellman (27th November 2000)
Some time ago I did a tasting note on this cigar. I was moderately enthusiastic about the selection I bought from C.GARS Ltd. Over the past several months I have been gifted, have traded, and have bought, other RASS. The following is an updated review of these cigars.
This brand and vitola are some of the best Cuba has to offer. There are, however, differences in almost all aspects of this cigar, depending on where it is bought and how old it is. All cigars were at least 6 months old and one was two-years old. The samples tasted were from C.GARS Ltd, Switzerland, Spain, and Germany. Each cigar was laid to rest at least 60 days before tasting in my humidor. The settings in this particular humidor were 66/66, and I keep my best cigars in it.
The sample from C.GARS Ltd and from Germany were the best of the lot. The ones from C.GARS Ltd were 50 x 4 7/8 and the German, 50 x 5. Each weighed 11g. The German selection was two-years old and C.GARS Ltd's were 8 months old. This vitola was originally produced for Hunters & Frankau, the UK importers, and C.GARS Ltd's source. Not unexpectedly, C.GARS Ltd's selection had the mark of perfection; they were exactly the same gauge, length, and weight.
The German selection was less attractive; none were the exact same shade nor did they all have the same feel or sheen. They were not the silky smoothness I found in C.GARS Ltd's selection yet they were attractive; the German selection was duller. The test between the two, of course, was in the smoking.
Both selections lit well. The draw on the German selection was not as easy as C.GARS Ltd's and I had to relight the cigar twice. In addition, the German selection "ran" after about 5 minutes whereas C.GARS Ltd's burnt evenly to the very end.
I expected a darker ash on the aged German but this was not to be the case. The ash was uneven and had was spottily gray. C.GARS Ltd's was a deep, dark gray and was somewhat powdery in appearance.
Having just returned from Cuba I have to make a somewhat subjective comparison regarding the color of the selection from C.GARS Ltd; the silky, rich, dark, smooth appearance was not unlike some of the most beautiful women I observed in Havana. When asked by a friend, which I liked better, the Cuban women or the Cuban cigars, I was left in a quandary. Frankly, I want/like both, one after the other!
C.GARS Ltd's selection was earthier and had a more pronounced cedar/musky aroma. In fact, the Swiss and Spanish selections lacked the depth of aroma of the others. Only C.GARS Ltd's selection had a woody aroma.
The German, Swiss, and Spanish selections had a subtle spice to them but, C.GARS Ltd's selection had a deeper spiciness, lasted throughout the entire smoke, and was never overpowering. As with my first tasting, C.GARS Ltd's selection had a delightful sweetness the others lacked and carried an almost imperceptible fruity/floral undertone. All the other selections were spotty in this category marking the distinction between the best and the "others." As with my first tasting notes, C.GARS Ltd's was the most well balanced and firm to the very last draw.
As for the Swiss and Spanish selections, I would hesitate to purchase them as they do not represent the best this vitola has to offer. Because of the differences between the German and UK selection, I have to opt for C.GARS Ltd's selection. One ought to be mindful that C.GARS Ltd gets to select the primo cigars from Hunters and, in my opinion, that makes the difference in me decision to buy his.
This cigar remains one of the best to buy and never be out of.