Ramon Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024: Strength and Heritage in the Nuevos Format

Konstantin Denishev
Sep 22
9 min read

The Ramon Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024 is not a casual release. It is a statement piece, a cigar that merges one of Cuba’s most historic brands with the prestige of the Habanos Edición Limitada programme. Announced at a gala in Basel on 3 February 2025 and reaching La Casa del Habano shops in Switzerland on 23 April 2025, the Absolutos was the final Edición Limitada of the 2024 cycle. Priced at CHF 45 per cigar and CHF 900 per varnished box of twenty, it set itself apart immediately as a collector’s item. Its vitola, the Nuevos (49 × 156 mm, 6 1/8 inches), had never before appeared in the Ramon Allones portfolio, and that novelty alone made it one of the most discussed releases of the year.

The Ramon Allones Legacy

The Ramon Allones marca is among the oldest in the Habanos catalogue, founded in 1846 by brothers Ramón and Antonio Allones. Unlike Cohiba, which was born in the 1960s out of Fidel Castro’s private blends, Ramon Allones is a pre-revolutionary survivor. Its endurance through wars, embargoes, revolutions, and industry upheavals is testimony to both the strength of the brand and the loyalty of its aficionados.

From the beginning, Ramon Allones was a pioneer. It was one of the first brands to introduce lithographed box art and decorative cigar bands, innovations that set a precedent for Cuban packaging. At a time when many Havana factories shipped cigars in simple wooden crates, Ramon Allones understood the value of presentation. Their boxes became works of art, with colourful designs that advertised quality as much as flavour.

The Allones brothers also secured prime growing land in the Vuelta Abajo, the region still regarded as the source of Cuba’s finest tobacco. Owning the El Corojo finca, they had access to leaf that would define the house style: robust, earthy, and savoury.

The brand changed hands multiple times. In 1911, it was sold to Hunters & Frankau, strengthening its presence in the UK, a key market for full-bodied cigars. Later it came under the ownership of the Cifuentes family, who ran the Partagás factory, one of the most famous cigar houses in Cuba. This ensured Ramon Allones was produced alongside some of the most respected brands in the world.

Post-revolution, when the Cuban cigar industry was nationalised, Ramon Allones remained in the streamlined Habanos S.A. portfolio. While not as heavily marketed as Cohiba or Montecristo, it gained cult status for its bold character. Today, it is known for its flagship Ramon Allones Specially Selected (RASS), a robusto beloved worldwide for its power and consistency, as well as the Gigantes and Small Club Coronas.

In addition to its regular production, Ramon Allones became a popular choice for Regional Editions, which gave distributors exclusive cigars for their markets. These include famous regionals like the Ramon Allones Phoenicio for the Middle East and the Ramon Allones 225 Aniversario for the UK. Its frequent appearance in the Regional and Edición Limitada series reflects both the brand’s flexibility and its popularity among seasoned smokers.

The Absolutos, therefore, is not just another cigar. It is part of a narrative stretching back nearly 180 years.

The Edición Limitada Programme

The Habanos Edición Limitada programme was launched in 2000 with a simple but powerful concept: showcase the best of Cuba’s tobacco in formats and blends outside the regular catalogue. Three rules govern these releases:

Only Vuelta Abajo tobacco is used, from Cuba’s most prized growing region.
All leaves—wrapper, binder, filler—are aged for at least two years.
Each release must feature a non-standard vitola for the brand.

The result is a series of cigars that are both familiar and novel—anchored in a marca’s DNA but given a new shape and often a deeper maturity.

The programme has produced some of the most talked-about Cuban cigars of the 21st century. Collectors still chase the Cohiba Sublimes (2004), widely regarded as a benchmark of power and complexity. The Montecristo Sublimes (2008) set new standards for balance in a large format. The Partagás Serie D No. 3 (2001) and Bolívar Soberanos (2018) also stand as references.

For Ramon Allones, the Absolutos marks the fourth time the brand has been invited to participate. Earlier entries were the Allones Extra (2011), the bold and cultish Club Allones (2015), and the Allones No. 2 (2019). Each was distinct, but all carried the marca’s reputation for strength and savoury character. With the Absolutos, Ramon Allones continues this tradition while introducing an entirely new format.

The Significance of the Nuevos Vitola

The Nuevos format is unique. At 49 ring gauge and 156 mm (6 1/8 inches), it sits in a fascinating position. Longer than a robusto and slimmer than a Sublimes, it provides a smoke that feels both grand and approachable. Unlike the massive 54-ring Sublimes, the slightly narrower gauge allows the wrapper to play a larger role, giving more aromatic nuance while still offering a long, full-bodied journey.

In essence, the Nuevos combines the elegance of a Grand Corona with the depth of a Sublimes. For Ramon Allones, a brand defined by power and mineral strength, this format is a perfect canvas. It extends the smoking time to around 90 minutes, allowing the blend to unfold in deliberate stages, while ensuring that the wrapper’s quality shines through.

Packaging is in 20-count varnished boxes, each cigar dressed with both the Ramon Allones band and the black-and-gold Edición Limitada 2024 band. The presentation is luxurious, signalling its role as a special edition.

First Impressions

The Ramon Allones Absolutos is a cigar that makes its presence felt before a flame is struck. The wrapper is a dark colorado shade with a satin oil sheen. Veins are minimal, seams nearly invisible, and the triple cap is expertly applied. Each cigar feels balanced in the hand, neither too heavy nor too light.

At cold, the aromas are powerful: black pepper, barnyard hay, earth, cocoa, and a saline mineral note that is instantly recognisable to seasoned Ramon Allones smokers. The cold draw reveals wood, nuts, peat, and a trace of raisin sweetness, giving a preview of complexity to come.

Once lit, smoke production is immediate and generous. Some of the cigars showed a slightly uneven burn in the first few minutes, but this corrected itself quickly. The draw is perfect: smooth resistance, producing thick, oily smoke that coats the palate.

Flavour Profile

First Third

The opening is commanding. The first puffs deliver black pepper, sea salt, and mineral sharpness. The retrohale is bold, almost biting, with a combination of white pepper and charred almond. As the burn line settles, underlying notes of charred oak and light molasses appear, giving sweetness to balance the salty attack.

The texture of the smoke is dense and chewy, clinging to the palate with velvety weight. There are moments of wet slate minerality, a trademark of the brand, and flashes of liquorice and floral edges that flicker in and out. Strength is medium-full but feels stronger because of the directness of the flavours.

Second Third

The cigar deepens. Now the core flavours shift to dark chocolate, espresso grounds, leather, and burnt caramel. The sweetness increases slightly, introducing dried fruit tones of fig and date, with undertones of walnut and paprika spice.

The retrohale becomes more sophisticated. Cedar, black tea, and a balsamic tang appear, creating a mouthwatering savoury-sweet interplay. At this point, the Absolutos feels like it has found its stride: strong, complex, and perfectly balanced.

Combustion is steady, the ash firm and layered, often holding beyond two inches. Draw remains open and consistent, producing plumes of thick, aromatic smoke.

Final Third

In its closing act, the Ramon Allones Absolutos returns to primal power. Strength climbs into full-bodied territory. Flavours of raw cacao, charred wood, truffle, toasted clove, and anise dominate. The saltiness that was so prominent early fades, replaced by delicate floral notes at the edges of the palate.

The retrohale intensifies again, showing pepper, cedar resin, and molasses. Smoke grows heavier and more savoury, echoing dried meat and umami richness. The finish is long, layered, and commanding—an unforgettable closing statement.

Construction and Performance

The Absolutos demonstrates the precision of top-level Cuban rolling. Each cigar feels carefully packed, with consistent weight across boxes. The draw is exemplary, producing abundant smoke without effort. Ash is solid, silver-grey, and neatly stacked, reflecting quality filler bunching.

The burn may need one correction in the opening third, but once settled, it runs razor-sharp. Even as combustion advances into the final third, the cigar does not overheat, and flavours remain clear and distinct.

This reliability is essential for a cigar of this length and strength. The Nuevos vitola demands balance, and the Absolutos delivers.

Ideal Pairings

The boldness of the Ramon Allones Absolutos requires equally commanding pairings.

Coffee: A strong Turkish coffee or a sweet café cubano highlights roasted notes and balances salt and pepper.
Rum: Aged Cuban or Caribbean rum (15+ years) enhances molasses and nutty undertones.
Whisky: A peated Islay Scotch such as Lagavulin 16 or Ardbeg Uigeadail resonates with truffle and smoky wood.
Armagnac: XO or Hors d’Âge expressions bring dried fruit and oak sweetness to complement chocolate and leather.
Sherry: An Oloroso or Palo Cortado sherry mirrors nut and woody tones, softening the edges.
Amaro: Italian bitters like Averna or Fernet Branca cleanse the palate between draws, making long sessions more comfortable.

For a non-alcoholic match, a thick espresso works beautifully, intensifying the earthy and cocoa notes.

Collector and Ageing Notes

The Ramon Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024 entered Swiss La Casa del Habano shops with fanfare, and boxes disappeared almost immediately. Within days, the secondary market was active, with prices climbing above retail as collectors scrambled to secure stock.

For serious collectors, the Absolutos ticks every box. It is the first and only use of the Nuevos vitola in the Ramon Allones line, making it historically unique. It is the fourth Edición Limitada for the brand, linking it to the Allones Extra (2011), Club Allones (2015), and Allones No. 2 (2019). It carries the prestige of the limited programme, which ensures aged tobacco, restricted production, and distinctive presentation.

Ageing potential is strong. The Club Allones 2015 matured beautifully after five to seven years, gaining roundness and sweetness. The Absolutos, with its mineral backbone and peppery edge, is expected to evolve similarly. After five years, spice will soften, sweetness will deepen, and the floral notes of the final third will become more pronounced. At ten years, this cigar could stand alongside some of the best Edición Limitadas of the last two decades. For those fortunate enough to have multiple boxes, this is both an indulgence for today and an investment for tomorrow.

Cultural Significance

The Ramon Allones Absolutos represents more than tobacco and format. It symbolises the role of Ramon Allones in the modern cigar landscape. In a world where brands like Cohiba and Trinidad dominate the luxury conversation, Ramon Allones has retained a reputation among purists—those who seek strength, savoury depth, and authenticity.

The Absolutos positions the marca at the heart of the Edición Limitada conversation, proving that Ramon Allones belongs alongside the giants. It tells aficionados that this is a brand still relevant, still innovative, and still capable of producing a cigar worthy of travel, collection, and discussion.

Smoking an Absolutos is not just personal pleasure. It connects the smoker to nearly two centuries of Cuban craft, to the legacy of the Allones brothers, and to the cultural endurance of Habanos itself.

The Absolutos Experience

To sit with the Ramon Allones Absolutos is to take part in ceremony. It is not a cigar for quick breaks or distracted moments. It demands time, patience, and attention. From the first peppered draw to the savoury, floral finish, it evolves in ways that remind us why Cuban cigars remain the standard.

This is a cigar that tells a story: of history, of resistance, of innovation, and of craft. It shows how a brand like Ramon Allones, once nearly eclipsed, continues to thrive by appealing to those who want strength and authenticity. The Absolutos is both heritage and modernity, both rarity and ritual.

Rating for Ramon Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024

Appearance: 10/10 – Dark colorado wrapper with satin oil, flawless seams and cap
Aroma: 9/10 – Pepper, cocoa, raisin, and earth on cold draw
Flavour: 18/20 – From pepper and salt to chocolate, truffle, and floral nuance
Draw: 10/10 – Consistent, smooth resistance, effortless smoke production
Burn: 8/10 – Minor early correction, razor-sharp thereafter
Construction: 9/10 – Balanced weight, strong ash, precise rolling
Strength: 8/10 – Medium-full, intensifying into full body in the last third
Finish: 9/10 – Long, savoury, with umami depth, molasses, and floral echoes
Overall Experience: 9/10 – A memorable and age-worthy Edición Limitada

Total Score: 90/100

YouTube Review

The full Ramon Allones Absolutos Edición Limitada 2024 experience is captured on KD Leaf Diaries YouTube. From unboxing to the final third, the review analyses construction, transitions, and pairings. Watch the cigar evolve in real time and share your own impressions in the comments. Subscribe for more reviews and updates on rare Cuban releases.

Also my travel Vlog and the actual Launch of the Absolutos in Basel Switzerland.

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