Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas

Ramon Allones Small Club Coronas

There is a particular discipline required to craft a cigar that delivers a complete journey in under an hour. The temptation, when working with limited canvas, is to simplify—to offer a straightforward smoke that asks nothing of the palate. Ramón Allones has never been interested in taking the easy path. The Small Club Coronas stands as proof that compression need not come at the cost of complexity, that a cigar measuring just 110mm can still unfurl layers of flavor typically reserved for its grander brethren.

Specifications

A Storied Small Format

Before the era of 60-ring gauge goliaths, before the obsession with smoking times measured in hours rather than minutes, there was the petit corona. It was the workingman's format—the cigar a merchant might enjoy on a short break, the companion to a midday espresso, the reliable constant in a smoker's rotation. Ramón Allones introduced the Small Club Coronas well before 1960, and in the decades since, it has quietly accumulated a devoted following among those who understand that true craftsmanship reveals itself not in size, but in intention.

The brand itself carries the weight of history. Founded in 1837 by Ramón Allones, a Spanish immigrant who arrived in Cuba via Galicia, the marque predates many of the island's most celebrated names. Allones is credited with being the first to color-band his boxes, a practice now standard across the industry. That spirit of innovation, tempered by nearly two centuries of tradition, runs through this diminutive offering. The Small Club Coronas arrives in an elegant dress box of 25, each cigar wearing the brand's distinctive bands, the dark and slightly oily wrapper hinting at the depth contained within. This is not a cigar designed for ceremony. It is designed for those moments when time is scarce but the desire for a genuine Cuban experience is not.

The Tasting Experience

First Light

The opening draws you in with an unexpected richness. Chocolate and toasted nuts emerge immediately, supported by an earthy foundation that speaks to the Vuelta Abajo tobacco at the cigar's core. The draw offers just enough resistance—a characteristic some attribute to the compact format—and the smoke arrives with a texture that belies the cigar's dimensions. There is nothing thin or reedy here. Instead, a creamy density coats the palate, with subtle cocoa powder notes dusting the finish.

The Journey

As the burn progresses past the first third, the Small Club Coronas begins to reveal its layered nature. The initial chocolate sweetness gives ground to woody undertones—cedar and dried oak—while leather enters the profile with quiet authority. A dried fruit quality, reminiscent of raisin, threads through the middle, adding dimension without overwhelming the core flavors. The balance here is noteworthy: this is a medium-full smoke that never loses its composure, even as the complexity builds.

The Finale

The final act brings a satisfying intensification. Black pepper emerges on the retrohale, and an intriguing orange peel brightness cuts through the darker base notes. Coffee bean and wood dominate the finish, leaving a lingering impression that invites another cigar rather than fatigue. The tight draw some smokers note can become more pronounced in the final inches, but for those willing to nurse the ember with patience, the rewards are considerable.

Who It's For

The Small Club Coronas is the thinking smoker's short-format cigar. It suits the experienced aficionado who has moved past the need for ostentatious ring gauges and smoking times measured by the clock. This is a cigar for the mid-morning break, the post-lunch interlude, the moment between obligations when only something genuine will do. It rewards those who approach it with attention rather than distraction—a compact masterclass in why Ramón Allones has endured for nearly two centuries.

Pairing Suggestion

A double espresso with minimal sugar provides the ideal counterpoint, its bitter intensity amplifying the cigar's cocoa and nut characteristics while the caffeine mirrors the pepper notes in the final act. For those preferring spirits, a young rhum agricole offers grassy brightness that complements the orange peel finish.