Rocky Patel Sun Grown Toro
Size – 6.5 x 52
Age – 6 months
Cost – $5 online
Wrapper – Sun Grown (Ecuador)
Construction – Nearly flawless appearance and construction that was marred by a small wrapper tear during smoking. The symmetry and firmness were very good.
Burn – Slow and even with one relight in the beginning of the second half
Ash – Ash was very light grey and compact, holding tight in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was firm but the payoff was a large volume of tasty smoke per puff.
Flavor – The Sun Grown by Rocky Patel started off with a crisp, cedary and sweet flavor. I detected some very light citrus notes just before a very nice blend of smooth spice and a bit of black pepper set in. As the stick progressed into the 2nd third, the clean woody and cedar tones gave way to a deeper array of leather and spice. The creaminess and sweetness remained throughout the stogie. In the final third, the flavors remained rich and leathery with sweet spice; there was plenty of flavor without the dizzying full body experience that can sometimes go alongside a bold set of tastes.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 9/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – Diet soda. Nothing remarkable although the sweetener did compliment the sweetness of the cigar. I did not start the drink until after the first third, making me reasonably convinced that the drink did not cause the sweet notes in the cigar’s flavor profile.
Notes – These days I regularly try not to sound like a Rocky Patel apologist or fanboy, but the man can blend. This is another excellent cigar from the man who seems like he can do no wrong. To my knowledge this is an online and mailorder-only stick which means you may not run across it in your local shop, but it’s worth seeking out; this is a great cigar at an attractive price.
Second Opinion – Matt’s Cigar Journal has a positive, although not quite as glowing, review of the Sun Grown.
Reviews
52 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Med/Full, Rocky Patel, Sun Grown
Montecristo No. 2 (Cuban) Pyramide
Size – 6 1/8 x 52
Age – 18 months
Cost – 13 €
Wrapper – Cuba
Construction – A well constructed cigar with a bit of wear on the foot from storage. Evenly firm with no soft spots. The wrapper had some small veins protruding and one tiny blemish near the band.
Burn – Very slow and dead even.
Ash – Medium to dark grey with a slight bit of flowering but a nice 1″ of grab.
Draw & Smoke – Prelight draw felt firm but once lit it was exactly right for the copious amount of smoke coming off each draw.
Flavor – Prelight aroma was excellent, light floral and smooth tobacco with cedar. After lighting, sweet and clean flavors of fine tobacco emerged, along with a woody and peppery finish. As the cigar progressed, more earthy flavors emerged, along with a very slight bit of the “Cuban twang” and some additional wood and paper notes. The final third produced a nearly perfect bouquet, with added mocha and coffee flavors, and more body. An incredible room aroma acompanied the cigar throughout, particularly in the last third.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 10/10
Value – NA
Drink – Iced tea. A very good pairing for a warm summer night, although as with most cigars, I think the Montecristo #2 would be great with some freshly brewed coffee.
Notes – This was a gift from a friend and I’m not sure whether to thank him or not; he’s now teased me with one of the best cigars I’ve ever had and I have no way to get any more. This is a fabulous smoke and a good example of why the storied brands of Cuba still hold the title of the best cigars in the world.
Reviews
10/10, 52 Ring, Cigar Review, Cuba, Medium, Montecristo
5 Vegas Series ‘A’ Artisan (Robusto)
Size – 5 x 52
Age – 2 months
Cost – $4
Wrapper – Maduro (Costa Rica)
Construction – An excellently constructed cigar with nice heft and feel.
Burn – Slow burn that was uneven at the start and had some tunneling. Nothing terrible and no relights needed but could have been much more even. The wrapper also wound up with a small split in the last third.
Ash – Medium grey with a tight 1″ of grab. No flakes or ash mishaps.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was perfect, just a bit open which allowed a medium amount of smoke to come through the punch cut in each puff.
Flavor – The Series ‘A’ starts off with a smooth and interesting blend of wood and sweet spice flavors, punctuated by a bit of chocolate and cedar from the wrapper and the sleeve respectively. One of my difficulties in tasting cigars is picking out specific spices but I believe I got some clove or cinnamon in the aroma as well. As the cigar quickly moved into the second third, the body picked up a bit and the flavors blended together a bit better into a creamy and spicy-sweet medium to full bodied smoke with an espresso finish. The spiciness ramped up in the final third and by the time I set it down it was a solid, full bodied but not overwhelming, cigar.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 8/10
Drink – Water
Notes – Another very nice smoke from 5 Vegas, this one a step up in body from the Classic line. There are a lot of vitolas in this line (all beginning with the letter A, natch) and I am hoping to find a good sampler of them so I can find my favorite one. I think the wrapper really adds a lot to this cigar, which leads me to believe the smaller ring vitolas might be the best. If you have a favorite why not add a comment to this post and let us know?
Other Opinions
A less positive review of this stick can be found at The Box Press.
Reviews
5 Vegas, 52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Med/Full
Indian Tabac Co. (ITC) 10th Anniversary Toro by Rocky Patel
Size – 6,.5 x 52
Age – 3 months
Cost – $7
Wrapper – Corojo (Nicaragua)
Construction – Flawless construction as I have come to expect from RP. The wrapper was smooth and had a very nice sheen in the light. The cigar felt a bit light for its size, but did not have any soft spots or a spongy feel. Unfortunately the tightly wrapped bottom band created a small wrapper tear when it was removed.
Burn – The burn started very straight but eventually became somewhat uneven and had a bit of stair-stepping. No relights were required, although it did need a couple of quick touchups. I did purge the cigar one time, as I normally do with a toro.
Ash – Very light grey and compact. Held in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke - Draw through a v-cut cap was perfect. There was not a whole lot of smoke per draw, but it did increase as the cigar progressed.
Flavor – Prelight aroma was leather and earthy tobacco. Upon lighting, however, I was pleasantly surprised by a good amount of smooth corojo sweetness mixed with subtle peppery spice and some leather notes. Progressing into the second half, the cigar picked up in spice, including red pepper, but also remained creamy and smooth. A very slight harshness crept into the second half, but it was still balanced by the sweet corojo tobacco flavor. The finish throughout was slightly woody and dry.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Water
Notes – This is another tasty stick from RP. Rocky has proven that he can blend some fine cigars at the $5-6 price point and this is no exception. I was comfortable overlooking the band-caused wrapper tear, which really did not impact the smoke, and found a nice cigar that has a good, balanced array of flavors and a medium body suitable for a day or nighttime smoke.
Reviews
52 Ring, 9/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Medium, Rocky Patel, Toro
La Gloria Cubana Serie R #4 (Rothschild) Maduro
Size – 4.875 x 52
Age – About 1 month
Cost – $5.50
Wrapper – Maduro (Ecuador)
Construction – A beautiful, dense cigar dressed with a very dark brown maduro wrapper. Nearly perfect construction.
Burn – An uneven start quickly settled in to a slow and fairly straight burn.
Ash – Ash was medium grey and held tight in 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – The draw was firm and the amount of smoke was about average.
Flavor – The prelight aromas of wood and coffee turned into the same flavors immediately after lighting this smallish cigar. Spicy black pepper arrived shortly after the light and stayed throughout. The maduro wrapper provided a nice bit of sweetness in the aroma; unfortunately that characteristic maduro sweeness was not found in the cigar’s variety of flavors. The second half remained rich and spicy but smooth and balanced, with a very interesting malty note when retrohaled.
Strength – Full
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Dr. Pepper. I really wish I had a single malt to enjoy this with after I caught that malty flavor and aroma. Next time I won’t be out of scotch!
Notes – This is a brand that most of the cigar smokes I know love, but I’d never visited. I’m really glad I grabbed this cigar on a whim at my local shop – it’s a powerful but balanced smoke that deserves a spot in the humidor.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Full, La Gloria Cubana, Maduro
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro Toro
Size – 6 x 52 boxpress
Age – 3 months
Cost – $2-3
Wrapper – Maduro (Nicaragua)
Construction – An expertly constructed boxpress, cloaked with a gorgeous, oily and smooth maduro wrapper. The band is a bit large and overstated.
Burn – The burn was a bit stubborn in the beginning, requiring one relight early in the first half. The burn line was very uneven at times with a couple of touchups needed.
Ash – Ash was a bit flaky and held in 1/2 – 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was tight but not impossible. Amount of smoke per puff was average.
Flavor – The flavors of this cigar are mostly earthy and rich tobacco. Conspicuously absent was the smooth sweetness typical of a maduro wrapper, although this was occasionally present in the aroma of the smoke. In the second half, some flavors of caramel and cocoa became apparent, but the stogie also became a bit harsh. The cigar is full bodied but does not have the usual black pepper or tingle of a fuller smoke.
Strength – Full
Rating – 6/10
Value – 5/10
Drink – Water
Notes – The Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro is a decent low priced cigar that was a bit disappointing when compared to other Rocky Patel blends. It was also difficult to keep the cigar lit and burning evenly, which cost it bit in rating. Super Fuerte means extra strong, but I’d put this in the Medium/Full or lower end of Full bodied.
Reviews
52 Ring, 6/10, Indian Tabac, Maduro, Rocky Patel, Toro
Gran Habano Black Habano #3 Pyramid
Size – 6.125 x 52
Age – 2 months
Cost – $5 local, $3-4 online
Wrapper – Habano (Nicaragua)
Construction – A fairly well made pyramid/torpedo with a nice looking wrapper and a firm feel.
Burn – The burn was a bit uneven but never got too far out of balance.
Ash – The #3’s ash was mottled – mostly light grey – compact and well behaved. The ash held in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was easy but not loose. There was not a lot of smoke produced per puff, although the foot continually released a thin stream of smoke while resting.
Flavor – The Habano #3 has a straightforward profile of mild spice, cedar, and (I don’t typically like this word to describe cigars) a salty finish. The blend results in an unchanging but very pleasurable cigar that you don’t have to concentrate to enjoy. The flavors are pronounced while the cigar keeps itself at a medium strength and body. Room aroma is sweet and woodsy.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 8/10
Value – 7/10
Drink – Redhook ESB ale
Notes – While I did not like this cigar quite as much as another of the offeirings from Gran Habano, the Corojo #5, it is a tasty number that will only set you back about $3.50. It’s a solid value and worthy of a spot in your humidor.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Gran Habano, Medium, Pyramid
Rocky Patel Autumn Collection 2008 Toro
This is a perfectly constructed cigar with a light brown wrapper. Draw was just right, while the burn was a little uneven with some tunneling. The ash was one of the lightest grey I’ve seen, nearly white. The flavors are mild and include paper, wood and a bit of a sweet note. The mouth feel is a bit dry until the second half when some creaminess arrives. The body is medium. This was a nice but not remarkable cigar, and at $7-8 each, you can find a better smoke.
Mini Review Grade: C+
Mini Review
52 Ring, Grade C, Medium, Mini Review, Rocky Patel, Sumatra
Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Toro
Size – 6.5 x 52 boxpress
Age – 3 months
Cost – $11 online
Wrapper – Corojo
Construction – Very well constructed with a single noticeable vein in the wrapper and an attractive label and paper sleeve on the foot.
Burn – Quite even throughout the cigar. The wrapper did begin to come unraveled in the last third.
Ash – Very light grey and compact. Held firm with no flyaway ash on the laptop keyboard (my pet peeve)
Draw & Smoke – A slightly stiff draw produced a copious amount of smoke per puff.
Flavor – The Olde World Reserve is not exactly a dainty cigar. This is a full bodied, full flavored smoke that starts off immediately with layers of rich flavor including wood and earthy tobacco. I was expecting just a bit more sweetness on the finish from the corojo wrapper, but the maduro version of this cigar better provides that. The finish was dry and had just a hint of black coffee. Despite the body of the cigar being full, I was interested to see the absence of the typical black pepper tingle on my whole palate, although a small amount was there tickling just the back of my tongue and throat.
Strength – Full
Rating – 7/10
Value – 4/10
Drink – The first half of the cigar was accompanied by a hot earl grey tea. The second half, Meyers dark rum. The rum made a good pairing.
Notes – I think I was expecting just a bit too much of this cigar simply due to its $11+ price tag. While I liked the core flavors, the finish was not quite as smooth as I would have liked. If you get an OWR in a sampler or as a gift, by all means enjoy it! However, I wouldn’t make a special trip to the local shop for this one. The maduro version of this cigar is excellent.
Reviews
52 Ring, 7/10, Cigar Review, Corojo, Full, Rocky Patel
Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Toro
Size – 6.5 x 52 boxpress
Age – 2 months
Cost – $7
Wrapper – Maduro (Honduras)
Construction – Very well constructed with great symmetry. The smooth chocolate brown wrapper had a couple of very small blemishes. (8/10)
Burn – Mostly even with no touchups or relights. (8/10)
Ash – Light grey and compact. Held tight in 1 – 1.5″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – The smoke felt a bit firm and dense but there were no problems with the draw after clipping the cap. Smoke volume was low.
Flavor – The prelight aroma of this cigar was sweet aged tobacco. After getting it lit I was rewarded with a smooth and mellow flavors of sweet tobacco, wood and cherry. The room aroma was excellent, a sweet and clean maduro tobacco smell. As the cigar moved along, the flavors stayed consistent but not quite one-dimensional. In the second and final thirds, a bit of spice crept into the mix, along with some aroma of chocolate. I also caught a few hints of citrus but I discounted those as I believe they were provided by my drink (earl grey)
Strength – Mild/Med
Rating – 8/10
Value – 6/10
Drink – Hot earl grey tea
Notes – I keep waiting for Rocky to deliver a cigar that I don’t like. Looks like I’ll still be searching for that stick, because the 1990 was a good tasting and wonderful smelling cigar that is a perfect for an afternoon (or morning). If the flavors of this blend were just a bit more pronounced it would earn a 9/10.
Reviews
52 Ring, 8/10, Cigar Review, Maduro, Mild/Med, Rocky Patel