Cigar Review - Rocky Patel Decade
Rocky Patel - Decade
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Pairing: Johnny Walker Black - Neat
This is my first ever review so please bear with me. I've tried Rocky Patel cigars in the past and was never really impressed with them. I'd tried different blends, different vitolas and even aged a couple for 6 months and just hadn't found any that I liked. Having gotten back into cigars again recently I received the new catalog from CI. There, in full resplendent glory, is the Rocky Patel Decade with the 95 rating proudly stamped on it. I thought, now is the time to give Rocky Patel another try. After all, I love my Rocky Patel humidor and the South Beach lighter is one of my favorites. So, while in St. Augustine, Florida, this holiday weekend I ventured into Stogies to see if they had the Decade. I was pleased to see that they did and was just getting ready to pick it up when the sales person came into the humidor and started a conversation. He asked about the cigars I liked and I explained that I really like the Hoyo Excaliburs, the Torano Exodus 1959, pretty much anything by Oliva, especially the Melanio V, and the Drew Estate Undercrowns. The salesman then walked over and picked up a La Gloria Cubana Serie R and told me "you'll love this, you're not ready yet for the Rocky Patels." Like an idiot, I let him steer me away from what I really wanted and left with the Serie R. I'll reveiw that one soon. The next day I went back (after discovering that none of the other local cigar shops carried the RP Decade) and bought the Decade. Finally...on to the review:
Fit and Finish: The wrapper was flawless, thinly veined, and slightly sweet on the nose.
Draw: I prefer a v-cut and it provided an even draw with just a little resistance. Distinct cocoa notes on the cold draw.
Toast/Light: I take my time toasting the foot and am patient with cigars. This one gave me fits, lighting well around the outer rim but stubbornly refusing to light in the center. After a while I went ahead and puffed to get it going well. This worried me a bit as I wondered if I'd have to constantly touch it up. I was right to worry.
First third: I was pleasantly surprised by this cigar as soon as I started it. A nice little pepper bite to get things going and then it settled into a pleasant leather and tobacco profile. About 10 minutes in it started changing into alternating waves of cream, then cocoa, then nuts. It went out only once during the first third. I was surprised, because it gave no indications of faltering until it was just...out. I puff at about once a minute, once every 40-45 seconds if I'm worried about it faltering.
Second Third: The alternating flavors continued, but the general tobacco and leather flavors became a bit more dominant here. It was pairing very well with the Johnny Walker Black and my over-riding thought was "I love this cigar!" Unfortunately, it went out twice more during this section. I usually expect things to get nasty after a second or third touch-up but that didn't happen here. It continued to smoke great, nice clean line, but would just suddenly be out.
Final Third: The nuttiness came to the forefront and this cigar continued to exceed my expectations on flavor. I thought for sure it would pick up the pepper again but it really didn't for me. Maybe the Johnny Walker had something to do with that. It finished with the same tobacco/nutty/cocoa profile that I'd come to love. BUT...it went out twice more and I finally gave up about halfway through the final third.
Final Thoughts: Having sworn off RP cigars in the past I am very glad I gave this one a shot. It is easily one of the best cigars I've ever tasted even with the constant relights. No amount of changing my puff patterns/timing made a difference. I really believe it's because I didn't rest it at all. It was likely over-humidified at the B&M. And yet, despite that, it was fantastic. Still just getting back into cigars again after a while I am leery about making a box purchase until I know I'll love it...I will definitely be picking up a box or two of these.
