Now if you browse through my reviews you might notice that I am not a big Rocky Patel fan. Most of the RP cigars I smoked I did not particularly like, and I regret that because I do have sympathy for the brand and I wish I loved their cigars.
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When I visited the US in may 2009, our first stop was Corona Cigar Company at Sand Lake in Orlando where we would herf with some botl's we met on this site. Catfish bombed both me and SmokeyNL with a huge nuke including 4 coffins of Rocky Patel "A" cigars. Catfish told us that even the Rocky Patel rep was surprised to see those things show up, as even he couldn't get them.
I have a lot of contact with Catfish and he invited me to stay at his family home when I visit Florida again later this year. So I knew I would enjoy this cigar, if it was not for the taste of the cigar, I would at least enjoy it knowing that this cigar was gifted to me by a good friend who I would be smoking again in a short while.
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This "A" has a length of 8½ inch and a ring of 50. Now is 50 not thin, but due to the length of the cigar it looks thin and elegant. The wrapper is nice, oily and dark and looks a bit like leather. There are some veins but they are really thin. The bands are awesome. The cigar feels well constructed and that translates in a good predraw, that tastes like raisin. The cigar has a mild hay aroma.
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I taste a full coffee flavor with hay. After half an inch the coffee fades away a bit but the hay remains at the same strength. A bit later the coffee disappears completely and I get hay and earthy flavors from the cigar.
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Halfway I taste some cacao powder, but unfortunately that flavor doesn't stick around. The cigar makes my mouth dry, especially in the back of the throat. There is absolutely no development in flavors, which is a big disappointment.
This cigar lasted me for two hours and twenty minutes. I got a medium amount of smoke which is quite thin. The draw and burn are good. The pepper and salt colored ash is firm. This cigar is medium bodied and medium flavored.
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Would I buy this cigar again? No, I just don't like this blend.
Appearance: 9 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 8 / 10
Burn: 7 / 10
Smoke & ash: 7 / 10
Aroma first part: 6 / 10
Aroma second part: 6 / 10
Aroma third part: 6 / 10
[Reply]
Nice review Ferdie. I have sixteen of these 'A' sized Rocky Patels...apparently I'm rolling pretty deep compared to the sales rep haha. I have four in each the Vintage '90, the '92, Sungrown, and OWR natural. Maybe I'll let the '90s sit awhile.
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