Ramon Allones Belicosos — A Full-Bodied Belicoso With Old-School Havana Backbone
Few cigars wear the Ramon Allones badge with as much blunt authority as the Belicosos. This is a cigar for the smoker who wants the brand's trademark intensity delivered in a tapered format that concentrates flavour at the lip. The Belicosos has been a quiet favourite among Cuban cigar enthusiasts who appreciate a torpedo-shaped cigar that doesn't ask permission — it simply arrives fully loaded and expects you to keep pace.
Tasting Notes
Light the Belicosos and the first thing that registers is a wall of cedar and dry earth — not gentle, not coaxing, just immediate. The tapered head funnels the smoke into a concentrated stream that sits heavy on the palate. Behind the initial woodiness comes black pepper that builds across the first inch, settling into a charred toast character that holds firm through the first third.
The middle third is where the cigar opens up. The pepper recedes to the background and a dark cocoa note pushes forward, joined by a leathery sweetness that reminds you of a well-worn saddlebag. The draw tightens just slightly through the tapered section, which some smokers find annoying but others appreciate as a natural flavour concentration point. A mineral streak — think chalk or damp limestone — threads through the finish and gives the smoke a savoury edge.
The final third returns to the pepper but layers it over espresso and roasted nut. The smoke remains thick and cool right through the band, which sits high enough that you can smoke well past it without the wrapper unravelling. Ash is light grey, slightly flaky, but holds for a respectable inch and a half before dropping. This cigar does not fade — it finishes the way it started, with conviction.
Construction & Draw
Ramon Allones cigars are rolled at the La Corona factory in Havana, and the Belicosos reflects the house style: firmly packed with a slightly resistant draw that opens up as the cigar warms. The wrapper is typically dark and oily with visible veins — this isn't a cigar that pretends to be pretty. The tripa larga (long filler) blend uses ligero leaves from the Pinar del Río region, which accounts for the full body and the cigar's refusal to go soft in the final third. The belicoso head is hand-rolled rather than moulded, so expect minor variation in the taper from stick to stick. This is normal and doesn't affect the smoke.
Pairing Recommendations
The Belicosos demands a drink with backbone. Aged dark rum — think 15+ years — works beautifully because the cigar's cocoa and leather notes find a natural partner in the spirit's molasses sweetness. If rum isn't your preference, a double espresso or a peaty Islay single malt will stand up to the pepper without being overwhelmed. Avoid lighter pairings; the cigar will simply steamroll them.
Value & Collectability
The Belicosos sits in the mid-tier of Ramon Allones pricing — not a budget cigar, but not the premium you'd pay for a Limited Edition. What you get for the money is one of the most uncompromising full-bodied cigars in the regular Habanos portfolio. It ages well; three to five years in the humidor rounds off the pepper and deepens the cocoa. Boxes of 25 are the standard format, and sealed cabinet boxes carry a modest premium among collectors.
Brand Background
Ramon Allones is one of the oldest Cuban cigar brands, founded in 1837 by the Galician immigrant of the same name. The brand is credited with being among the first to decorate cigar boxes with lithographed branding — a practice that became standard across the Cuban cigar industry. Today the brand forms part of the Habanos S.A. portfolio and occupies a niche as a no-nonsense, full-bodied marque favoured by smokers who want intensity without theatricality. The leaf is sourced exclusively from the Vuelta Abajo region. Learn more about the brand's parent company at Habanos S.A. or the brand itself at Ramon Allones.
Storage
Store at 65–70% relative humidity and 18–20°C. The Belicosos has a thick wrapper that handles dry-boxing well if you find the draw too tight. Given the 52 ring gauge, expect a slower dry-down than thinner cigars — plan on 48 hours minimum outside the humidor if you've been cellaring at 70%. Avoid going below 62% RH; the ligero-heavy blend will lose its texture and become one-dimensional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Ramon Allones Belicosos stronger than the Specially Selected?
Both are rated Full strength, but the Belicosos tends to smoke slightly more intense due to the tapered head concentrating the smoke stream. The Specially Selected has a more even-keeled progression.
How long does the Belicosos take to smoke?
Expect 70 to 85 minutes depending on your pace. It's not a cigar to rush — the final third rewards patience.
Does the belicoso head need a punch cut or a straight cut?
Either works, but a straight cut gives a more open draw. A punch cut intensifies the pepper on the palate because it narrows the smoke stream further.
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