Almost 3AM and I just had to put "pen to paper"...

I seldom buy a box of cigars solely on ratings or advertisements. I always like to try one or two (or better yet a 5-pack) before I decide if it's something I want to dish out for a box.

I broke this rule and bought a box of RP Decade Torpedoes a couple weeks ago and they've been sitting in storage at a perfect 68 & 68% since.

I was planning on having one for Superbowl but lit one up tonite for a late night movie (Sergio Leone's Classic "Once Upon a Time in the West") and I don't know what disappointed more; the movie or the cigar.

"Once Upon a Time" is no "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and The RP Decade Torpedo is no Monte #2.

I was extremely disappointed with the Decade (and this after waiting 3 weeks for Atlantic to get re-stock) The cigar had an extremely harsh and acidic taste throughout and only in the last 1/4 did it settle down, but by that time my palate had suffered enough and it was ready to be tossed.

On a positive note; it burned like a champion, evenly and uniformly with a gorgeous and firm whitish-grey ash and did not require a single re-light but it had the taste of a day old stick that had been lit several times. Nothing other than hints of peppery-spice cut through the harshness.

I thought the fact I did not dry-box it before smoking may have been part of the issue, but the feel, draw and burn left me to believe is was more than ready to smoke.

This was a serious let-down after all the hype, the big 95 rating and the recent top 25 placing.

I have only seriously expanded to non Cu cigars over the past 12 months and have had some wonderful surprises in smokes like the Jimenes 300 Robusto and the Hoyo de Tradicion Corona and the Gran Habanos 3 Siglos. While I have only smoked the one of the Decades so far I would have to place it at the "back of the bus" for non-Cubans I have smoked in the past 6 months.

Maybe I had set my expectations to high or maybe this one was just "off". Time will tell. Well, have 19 more to go and I think I will wait a few months before I strike up another. Maybe they will benefit from some aging.

As for the movie... (IMO) it has not aged well (filmed in 1968) and other than seeing Charlie Bronson at his tan and lean prime I found the acting wooden and the story agonizingly slow. The usually brilliant Henry Fonda looked like he was just going through the motions. Filmed beautifully but no Clint, no Lee Van Cleef, no Eli Wallach... It was also a let-down. Sorry Sergio... not your best work.

And sorry Rocky, but I'm going back to the Island for Superbowl.

G'nite all.
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Thanks for the review. Man, that sucks when you build up your antincipation and BAM...disappointment. I hope it was the one stick and the next will smoke like a champ for you.
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Thanks for the review man, sorry it sucked...and now i'm gunna pm :P
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This story sounds familiar -- I did the same thing!! I never buy a box of cigars before I try one. Then the 95 rating came out. How can a cigar with a 95 rating be bad? I ordered a box while I still could. What a let down. I don't know how this thing recieved a 92 rating in the top 25 listing (or how a cigar can be rated at 95 and then within a few monthes recieve a 92??!!...I can understand a change of one or two points, but...)

I have tried 3 now, and none of them have been impressive. The flavour is what is lacking -- there just isn't much of it. I will never buy another box on ratings alone.
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Thank You for the informative and entertaining review. I have not tried these yet but may have to soon just to see what I think.
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You should have smoked the Hoyo de Tradicion Corona!!!

Sorry for the way it turned out... smoke a few more if you don't want them trade 'em or sell 'em!!!

Thanks for the honest review!!!
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Sorry about the disappointment, I personally love this cigar.
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I wasn't happy with the Decade as well. I do like the ITC 10th Anniversary though.
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thanks for the review
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thats too bad that you didn't enjoy it, I personally really like this cigar in various vitolas. but that is why they say different strokes for different folks I guess, or you may have gotten a bad stick (hopefully that is the case)
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I've got one of these sitting in the cooler, bought it with a gift certificate.

So I won't feel like it was wasted money per se, but I hope for a better outcome, thanks for the review
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I have never tried the Decade, but I have heard good things about them. I hope you just got a bad one.
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Thanks for the review. I've had two of these and they were both excellent. I hope your next one is better
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Just fired one up, they have always been great smokes for me! I would say revisit down the road and from a different batch. It must be something they are shipping to Canada- two of you felt the same way.
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I was gifted one of these for Christmas. I'll let it rest until March when I go on vacation.
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I've only smoked one but I really liked it. A little pricey for me at this point though so I will hold off on buying any until next week when Rocky comes out with a new blend and the price of the Decade drops. :-)
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