Cigar Ratings & Reviews

My favorite Rocky Patel cigars

The Vintage 1992 Toro has a long-aged Dominican/Nicaraguan blend pressed in buttery-smooth, perfectly-aged Sumatra wrappers. I also love the way this leaf has been cured. It offers an appealing caramel-like flavor and aroma. Plus, the box-press shape gives you a longer smoke. It’s creamy, earthy, sweet, nutty, and these medium-bodied cigars have never failed me.

Another favorite is the Rocky Patel Sun Grown in the Robusto and Toro. These cigars have a 7-year-aged Brazilian, Dominican & Nicaraguan core rolled in 5-year-aged Ecuadorian Sun Grown Rosado wrappers. I was privileged to be among the first to smoke these when Rocky introduced them in 2004. (I even remember Nish Patel handing it to me.) They start off with a little shot of spice that rounds out to a creamy, woody smoke with a little spice remaining on the finish. I find them especially enjoyable after dinner. Rumours to them having a traditional “Cuban-like character” should not be discounted.

A cigar that I wrote about as far back as January was the Rocky Patel 1961 Toro. This is one of Rocky’s cigars blended by Amilcar P. Castro. One of the things I like about this cigar is its wider 52 ring. The cigar is perfectly packed, rolled and capped, plus the dark Ecuadorian Habano wrapper lends a great aroma to the mix. The first few puffs are quite peppery, then the smoke settles down to an earthier smoke with some roasted nut and sweet wood flavors. It packs quite a wallop, too. For pairing, I suggest a good sweet Port to tame some of the spiciness.

As “everyday cigars” go, I’ve really taken to the Conuco Robusto. This medium to full-bodied blend was created by Rocky Patel in Honduras. They’re affordably priced and pair well with my morning coffee. A dark Habano wrapper caps a well-balanced blend of Honduran, Costa Rican, Nicaraguan, and Panamanian tobaccos with an ample amount of ligero. The smoke has semi-sweet, woody base with hints of coffee in the finish, and they improve nicely with age.

Sometimes you discover something great by accident. Such is the case with the Rocky Patel Decade Short Robusto. Rocky gave me one of these 4 x 54 box-pressed beauties at an in-store event. It was my first and really blew me away, making my all-time best list. The blend is all vintage Nicaraguan with a drop-dead gorgeous Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. This is a deliciously creamy, sweet, and ultra complex smoke that should be smoked slowly to really appreciate its more subtle nuances. Because they’re made in such limited edition they’re not sold as online cigars.

The Rocky Patel American Market Selection Toro has become one of my top “go-to” mild cigars, and I’ve probably recommended this edition more often than any other cigar in its class over the past two years. Blended with long-aged Nicaraguan & Honduran longfillers rolled in silky, Ecuadorian Connecticut wrappers, the smoke is medium-bodied, creamy, and very aromatic with subtle caramelized flavors of sweet cedar and spice. Here again, I’ve never had a bad one.

Some might argue that Rocky’s The Edge is his most potent cigar, but if you’re looking for a really “heady” smoke, the Rocky Patel Honduran Classic Toro is pure dynamite. I prefer the Corojo wrapper, but the Maduro will really rock your world. A ligero-studded blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran longfillers lies at the core offering a creamy, earthy, semi-sweet character with dark, spicy tobacco flavors. Ideal after a big meal, this is a really stealth smoke, so don’t be surprised if its potency continues to affect you even after you’ve put it down.

Finally, I was so impressed with the new Signature by Rocky Patel edition I had to include it here. Here we have another Rocky/Amilcar creation blended with long-aged Nicaraguan longfillers and a dual Mexican binder rolled in dark Habano wrappers. A shot of pepper opens the first act, then rounds out to a mix of wood and sweet tobacco with some coffee and spicy notes on the finish. The smoke is complex and highly consistent down to the nub. Experienced cigar smokers should relish these, plus the price is extremely reasonable for this level of quality.

So there you have it. I’d be curious to read your take on any of the aforementioned cigars, or some of your own favorite Rocky Patel cigars, so please leave a comment.

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