Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Review

[Laynard]

3/22/2014

Cigar: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
Size: Churchill, 7.0”x48 (box-pressed)
MSRP: $9.35
Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Origin: Honduras



Prelight: A gorgeous dark wrapper, the cigar is uniform in size and feel. I’m not sure how old the cigar is, as I received it in a trade, but the cello was yellow from oils. I punched the cigar cap and tested the draw. It was a little tight, but manageable. The wrapper had a floral aroma while the cold-draw tasted like semisweet chocolate.



1/3: Hardly any spice in the first third. The chocolate that I tasted in the cold-draw was evident, as well as a sweetness that reminded me of dried berries. The smoke was smooth, mild and prolific. The amount of smoke the cigar put off made me realize why Rocky and Jonathon Drew teamed up for the creation of the Java brand. Just like in my review of the Royale cigar, the burn became uneven quickly.



2/3: In the second third, I began to taste what must be Rocky’s signature flavor profile: wood. Although while in the Royale the flavor was a bit spicy like cedar, in this cigar it was much mellower. There was also flavors of barnyard (hay and dung) and a bitterness like orange peel. The burn evened out.



3/3: The wood flavor continued into the final third, and was joined with the floral flavor that I smelled off the wrapper in the prelight. The cigar remained more sweet than spicy and was enjoyably mild for an afternoon smoke. The barnyard flavor evolved into pure hay. The burn finished off strong and straight.

Overall: Much more complex than the (young) Royale I had. Perhaps this is a testament that with age, RPs evolve into a mellow, complex cigar. It’s not a flavor bomb, as the profile is quite subtle, but a cigar that would go great on the golf course or while sipping your favorite beverage on the back porch. Seems to epitomize relaxation.

[jpalamar]

This was the first 'real' cigar I had and is why I'm smoking now. I need to pick up a few now.