# 7 – Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro

I never thought I would see the day when a Rocky Patel cigar would make my “Top X List”, but the day has arrived with the Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro. A few words from the review:

The flavors of the Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro were unexpected, but they were not disappointing. The earth flavor was central to the profile and there was an evolving fruit flavor that begun as a dark red fruit, but ended more like a grape jelly. The sweetness provided a nice contrast to the dark earth flavor and some noticeable changes in the sweetness were noted throughout the cigar. But it was really the richness in the final two thirds that won me over. 

You can find the full review HERE.

#6 – Bombay Tobak – Mbombay Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973

This may be the most unique cigar of the bunch, as well as the most expensive. Measuring in at 8.5 inches and with a price tag of $13.50, the MBombay Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973 is worthy of a spot on this list. And this isn’t the first time Bombay Tobak placed in well in my favorite cigars for the year. In 2015, the MBombay Kesara Vintage Reserve Nikka landed the #7 spot. A few words from my review of the 1973:

This Mbombay Vintage Reserve Lancero 1973 is attention grabbing from appearance alone, but it is the complexity and balance of the flavors that makes this cigar not only worthwhile, but pretty dang special. Yes, the $13.50 price tag is out of my price range for regular smokes, but this is one cigar that could be set aside for those special moments in life. I highly recommend you smoke this cigar and I don’t think you will be disappointed with what you will find.

You can find the full review HERE.

#5 – AJ Fernandez Bellas Artes Short Churchill

You will be hard pressed to find a top 10 list that doesn’t include an AJ made cigar. But it is highly doubtful you will see the Bellas Artes on many since I break all the rules and include cigar released in past years.

It is without hesitation that I can say the Bellas Artes Short Churchill is one of the best cigars I have smoked from AJ Fernandez and he has a huge portfolio of solid cigars. The cigar hung in the medium to medium/full arena in the flavor department and the strength continually progressed to full by the final third….there was great depth to the flavors that were well balanced and evolving….The box-pressed format in the Short Churchill vitola is a fantastic size and for just over $8.00 this is a cigar I can highly recommend.

You can find the full review HERE.

#4 – Southern Draw – QuickDraw Pennsylvania

Southern Draw has gained a lot of ground over a few short years in the industry and developed a well-rounded portfolio. Like most things, I was late to the game with trying their cigars, but I am sure glad I did. And living in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, you can never have too many quick smokes on hand:

The QuickDraw Pennsylvania is exactly what I look for in a cigar. Big flavors, full strength, spice that keeps the palate alert, and a whole lot of richness. I love the Petite Corona format, but, at the same time, I didn’t want the cigar to end.

You can find the full review HERE.

#3 – IndianHead Cigars – La Galera Maduro Pegador

You know I love wallet-friendly cigars and one was destined to finds its way onto my list. Jochy Blanco has made exceptional cigars for a lot of years, but, now with his own brand, he is receiving the recognition he well deserves.

The La Galera Maduro is an absolute treat for under $6. It burned along with no hiccups and offered up some medium/full flavors that evolved through the smoke. I am a sucker for dark and rich flavors that are rounded out by some sweetness and that is exactly what this cigar delivered. This cigar is right up there with the best of them and you won’t break budget smoking these. Go for a box purchase. You won’t regret it!

You can find the full review HERE.

#2 – Black Works Studio – Sindustry Robusto

Black Label Trading Company found the #2 of spot on Tony’s Top 10 Cigars of 2017 with the Santa Muerte. And without even consulting Tony, Black Works Studio, a side project of James Brown, is my #2 cigar of the cigar. I smoked the Sindustry back in April at the recommendation of Anthony Cantelmo of Ford on Fifth.

I loved the bold, rich flavors the Sindustry by Black Works Studio delivered that paired up with a progressing strength profile that ended in the full range. Sure, the burn got a little out of whack here and there, but when the flavors are hitting on a cylinders, who really cares! Sindustry has whet my appetite to try the other offerings from Black Works Studio. And this is a must try if you enjoy full flavor, full strength cigars.

You can find the full review HERE.

#1 – Tatuaje Tainos Reserva Broadleaf

Tatuaje may have more appearances on our top 10 lists here at Casas Fumando than any other company. The Tatuaje TAA Exclusive 2017 took the five spot on Tony’s list this year. Pete Johnson certainly knows how to create an exceptional cigar and the Tatuaje Tainos Reserva Broadleaf is exactly that.

The Tatuaje Tainos Reserva Broadleaf delivered some dark flavors with a tart fruit that evolved to more of sweet fruit. The richness built in the first third, disappeared in the second, and reappeared to bring a fantastic end to the smoke. The burn was wacky, but I have come to expect that with thicker wrapper leaves. The price is on the high end of what I am willing to pay for a cigar, but this stick is worth every penny.

You can find the full review HERE.

We are already looking forward to another fantastic year of reviewing cigars, pairing beers (well, Tony) and having fun. New reviews will be heading your way soon!

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Rocky Patel’s Sun Grown line saw the addition of the Sun Grown Maduro at the 2015 IPCPR Trade Show. The cigar not only switches out the Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper for Connecticut Broadleaf, but the entire blend is new to the cigar. Produced in Esteli, Nicaragua at Rocky Patel’s “boutique” TaviCusa factory, the Sun Grown Maduro is rolled in five sizes: Lancero (7 ½ by 38), Robusto (5 by 50), Petite Belicoso (5 ½ by 52), Toro (6 ½ by 52), and Sixty (6 by 60).

You can purchase the Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro from our good friends at Fox Cigar.

THE FACTS

Price: $9.45
Vitola: Trunk-Pressed Toro
Size: 6 ½ by 52
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 30 Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The Sun Grown Maduro by Rocky Patel is dressed in an extremely dark brown, nearly black wrapper. There are a couple medium-sized veins running the length of the cigar, along with some tooth.

Sweet raisin and chocolate are on the wrapper and a rich mocha aroma comes across on the foot. After cutting the triple cap, I find a firm draw. My palate is greeted by potpourri like spices, chocolate, and cedar. The flavors are rich and a spice is warming my lips and mouth.

FIRST THIRD

The flavors open up completely different than expected with an earthiness, dark red fruit, and black pepper. The black pepper is all flavor and hardly any spice. As the cigar progresses, the dark fruit is up front and center. The retrohale is very smooth and pepper has just a bit more edge as I move it through my nose. A fleeting, syrupy sweetness is appearing every few puffs. A light gray ash is forming and the tooth from the wrapper can be easily seen on it. It is actually easier to see the tooth in the ash than it is on the dark wrapper.

MIDDLE THIRD

As I make my way into the second third of the Sun Grown Maduro, the profile grows in richness and body. The burn, which was even in the first third, is now off track. A quick touch-up is required to get the burn back in-line shortly into this third. A sweet bread and cocoa have joined the mix as the spice heat increases and warms my mouth nicely and the smoke has a fizzy quality. The sweetness is gaining ground and it is a nice compliment to the darker flavors. Before I exit the middle third, a second touch-up is required and the ash is now flaky.

FINAL THIRD

With the last third underway, the dark fruit has evolved to more of grape jelly flavor, while the same earthy core holds strong. There remains just a hint of sweetness and the spice heat has considerably calmed, but the black pepper flavor remains. As the cigars begins to wrap-up, the flavors remain rich and the smoke production is satisfying.

WRAP-UP

As I mentioned, the flavors of the Rocky Patel Sun Grown Maduro were unexpected, but they were not disappointing. The earth flavor was central to the profile and there was an evolving fruit flavor that begun as a dark red fruit, but ended more like a grape jelly. The sweetness provided a nice contrast to the dark earth flavor and some noticeable changes in the sweetness were noted throughout the cigar. But it was really the richness in the final two thirds that won me over. I did not want this cigar to end. I encountered a few burn issues in one of the cigars, but the other burned perfectly for an hour and thirty minutes. The Sun Grown Maduro Toro is an excellent smoke and one that is worth your hard earned money.

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Manufactured at the Del Los Reyes factory in the Dominican Republic and distributed by Drew Estate, Indian Motorcycle Ultra Premium cigars are available in two wrapper options: Habano and Maduro. The Habano utilizes a Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, while Maduro sports a Connecticut Broadleaf. Both options share the same internals with a Dominican binder and Dominican and Centeral American filler tobaccos. The cigars are produced in four vitolas: Robusto (5 by 50), Toro (6 by 52), Churchill (7 by 52), and Gordo (6 by 58).

THE FACTS

Price: $8.80
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican Seco, Dominican and Central American Ligero
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 5o Minutes

PRE-LIGHT

The dark brown Habano wrapper in rustic in appearance with tons of veins and bumps, which is very fitting considering the dated packaging look. Sugar-like crystals glisten on the leaf and oils are easily felt on my fingers.

Bringing the cigar to my nose, I pick up on a sweet woodsy flavor and a faint pungency on the wrapper. A sweet pumpkin spice, pepper, caramel, and cedar comes across on the foot of the cigar. Clipping through the bumpy cap opens up a beautiful draw that brings forth cinnamon, rich cedar, and leather.

FIRST THIRD

The flavors start out really mellow with some earth, grass, cedar, and a very mild pepper.  After a couple of puffs, a dusty cinnamon and pencil shavings develop and the profile picks up in flavors and spice. There is an intriguing sweet citrus quality that is peaking through. Both the flavors and finish are very clean. A dark gray ash is being formed as the Indian Motorcycle Habano burns exceptionally well. 

MIDDLE THIRD

Arriving in the second third, the flavors remain consistent with the prior third, but with more body and spice and the addition of a fruitiness. A spice heat lingers at the back of my throat, but the finish remains short and clean. The burn is now a little wild, but I am refusing to break out the lighter for the time being. I am still hoping it will self-correct. An earthiness gains ground in the profile as I approach the middle of the cigar, with the sweet citrus mostly gone and a new sweetness tied to the woodsy flavor arriving.

FINAL THIRD

A quick touch-up is required as I make my way into the final third of the Indian Motorcycle Habano Toro. With the flavors being mild at the start and building to medium, I am a bit caught off guard by the strength I am beginning to feel. The profile is now earthy and leathery accompanied by some richness and the sweet citrus has reappeared. 

WRAP-UP

For over a year, I have been trying to get my hands on the Indian Motorcycle Ultra Premium cigars. During a day trip to Appleton, WI two weeks ago, I stumbled up on it at Appleton Souvenir and Cigar Co. and couldn’t be happier that I did. The Indian Motorcycle Habano Toro presented refined flavors that were both balanced and complex. The way the cigar built from mild to the high-side of medium, a bit of strength, and the intriguing sweet citrus captivated me from start to finish. For the price, the Indian Motorcycle Habano is worthy of a spot in the weekly rotation. Now I am upset that I didn’t snag a few of the Maduros when I was in Appleton.

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Today for review, I bring to you the Rocky Patel Nicaraguan, a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive. Information is lacking on the interwebs for this specific cigar, but I will give you the information that I do know. The Nicaraguan is available in three vitolas: Toro (6 by 52), Torpedo (6 by 52), and Grand Toro (6 by 60). Single stick prices range from $6.50 to $7.50 and drops between $4 and $5 if purchased by the box. The components are not disclosed on the Nicaraguan, but based on the name I assume it is a Nicaraguan puro.

The Facts

Samples Provided by Famous Smoke Shop
Price: $6.50 per single / $79.99 per box of 20
Vitola: Toro
Size: 6 by 52
Wrapper: Unknown Country, Habano
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Unknown
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 50 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The Rocky Patel Nicaraguan wears an extremely dark brown wrapper that is covered in oils from head to foot. Oils glisten in the light off this gorgeous Habano wrapper leaf that is very smooth to the touch, but a few medium sized veins can be seen and it does not lack in bumps. The Nicaraguan feels solid in the hand and the cigar is rock solid. The foot appears under-filled but I do not encounter any soft spots.

Notes of barnyard, cedar, and honey are found on the wrapper, while honey, pecans, some pungency, and a sour cedar are on the unlit foot of the Nicaraguan. I find a decent draw upon clipping the double cap causing a spice tingle is on my lips. A honey sweetness is front and center on the dry draw with some potpourri-like spices.

First Third

With the cigar fired up, I immediately taken on a journey from my cold basement to a campfire on a warm summer night. The flavors are reminiscent of charred wood and roasted marshmallows. The profile is very meaty and full flavored. With the charred flavor playing such a dominating role, I assume this stick carries its fair share of ligero tobaccos, but don’t quote me on that. The finish is of earth, dirt, and black coffee, with just a hint of that honey I picked up the pre-light inspection. There is a  crazy-wavy burn, but no need to bust out the lighter.

Middle Third

The pepper is full force on the retrohale, borderline unbearable, but I like the intensity of it. Chocolate covered nuts, marshmallow sweetness, and charred flavor are making up the profile in the second third.  The smoke feels creamy in my mouth with each draw. A quick touch-up is needed to correct the burn.

Final Third

The flavors of roasted marshmallow, chocolate, and honey have dropped off, while darker flavors of  charred wood, earth, and diesel-like arrive. Pulling up to the two hour mark, I am finally beginning to feel some of the strength of this cigar. A small crack has formed, only wrapper deep, so it is not impacting the smoke production. As soon as I thought the burn got its act together, once again a touch-up is needed.

Wrap-up

The Rocky Patel was slow smoking, full flavored, and medium/full in strength. The core flavor of charred wood (campfire) held strong through the course of the cigars for almost two hours, with some additional marshmallow and chocolate sweetness in the first and second thirds that rounded out the profile. As the cigar came to a close, the sweetness faded and unrefined flavors of earth and diesel arrived. I would not consider this cigar complex but there were some change-ups throughout. A Toro vitola is not an overly-large cigar in my opinion, but it sure smoked like one considering the amount of time I spent from first light to final puff. The charred wood was intriguing at the beginning, but was a bit much by the end of the Rocky Patel Nicaraguan. I would say a smaller ring gauge of the Nicaraguan would help, but considering the Toro is the smallest in the line-up that seems out of question. Overall, I enjoyed smoking the cigar but would have been happy to close out the cigar 20 minutes ahead of schedule. With a price under $7, if the profile is in your wheelhouse, I recommend that you grab a few.

The post Rocky Patel Nicaraguan, a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: Rocky Patel’s burn was originally only available if you visited Rocky’s own cigar lounge in Naples, Florida. This blend has since, been released into the wild for everyone to enjoy. There is a catch though. The original Burn carried a dark Sumatran wrapper which has since been swapped out for a Honduran leaf resulting and in Honduran – Puro cigar. Burn – Naples comes in 3 sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Toro (6 x 52), and Torpedo (6.5 x 52). They are packaged in 20 count boxes and will run between $7.75 and $8.60 a stick. These samples were sent to me by our friends over at Rocky Patel.

Size: 5 x 50
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Secret, and Scarce blend of Honduran tobacco
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $7.75
Pairing: Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA (American IPA 6% ABV)

Prelight: The wrapper on the Burn is a beautiful one, sporting an extremely consistent, milky brown character. The wrapper is slightly toothy with a trace amount of oil and only a few larger veins running the length of the body. The Burn is then finished off with a perfect, round, triple cap. The cigar is polished off with a orange, white, and gold band that simple says “BURN” on the front and carries a small Rocky Patel crest in the back. On the foot of the cigar there is a similar band stating the word “NAPLES, FL”. The cigar is very, very firm to the touch. It’s so firm that I actually fear the cigar may be jam packed and too tight to draw from.

The wrapper on Rocky Patel’s Burn smells like straight up cedar while the foot of the cigar gives off a very oaty, grainy aroma. The cap cut like butter using my double bladed Palio cutter. (Terrible rhyme). The cold draw produced a slightly sweet, cedar filled flavor profile.

First Smoke: The Burn starts off with a nice splash of black pepper which quickly faded into a very, very sweet tobacco and cedar profile with some vanilla and musk underneath. The draw is slightly tight, but not even close to bothersome. After a puff or two I can get the desired amount of smoke in my mouth. The smoke seems very thin, and dissipates very quickly. There isn’t even much stationary smoke coming from the cigar as it sits in my ashtray. The burnline is a bit wavy leaving behind a very flaky, bright white ash. The ash held on for a little under an inch before giving way.

Halfway There: The pepper is completely gone as I reach the second third of Rocky Patel’s Burn. The sweetness in this cigar is pretty intense, and not something Rocky has been known for. Boy do I wish I he was cause it really ads another layer to the blend. The cedar is still there, just not as strong while the vanilla and musk remain in the profile. The draw is still a bit tight, but nothing too bad, while the burnline has completely corrected itself and is now burning razor sharp and dead even. The retrohale is really smooth, as it coats my nasal passage with some really strong cedar and sweetness. I am feeling no nicotine at all at this point.

Finish: Rocky Patel’s Burn finished exactly as the first, and the second third. Sweet, sweet tobacco, cedar, vanilla, and musk. This is a great mixup, but I really with that it would have had a bit more dimension and changed up a bit more than it did. I am happy to report there was no real harshness until the final inch. Outside of that, the cigar finished nice and smooth with no nicotine kick, no touch-ups, and no relights.

Overview: This was one of the better blends I have had from Rocky Patel. The Burn carries some great flavors with an overall enjoyable sweet experience. My main gripes had to be the lack of change ups, and the tight draw. It was manageable, but on both samples I received I had to give a few extra puffs to really get it going. Would I buy it again? More than likely. Would I buy a box? This wasn’t really my cup of tea so I’d have to decline on that one. I do, however, think this is a perfect cigar for those of you who really like to kick back, and enjoy some great, consistent flavors in your smoke. The Burn really showcases how balanced an experience can be.

Pairing: With summer just around the corner, expect a lot more IPA’s sneaking their way into our reviews. I have never been one for IPA’s but I have discovered over the last year that it’s only the really piney, young tasting ones that get me. Ever since I discovered Imperial and Double IPA’s which tend to lack these flavors I have been addicted to them. One of the breweries that is known for its IPAs is Dogfish Head and their 60 Minute IPA can be found in just about any grocery, convenience, or beer store here in El Paso, Texas. The 60 Minute IPA is an American style IPA coming in at a modest 6% ABV which is brewed at the infamous Dogfish Head brewery in Delaware. This beer starts off very, very crisp with some great citrus and finishing with just a light pine and bitterness to it. One note is that the 60 minute IPA is named after the brewing process in which the brew is soft-boiled for 60 minutes as 60 hop additions incur. IPA’s are really tough to find the right pairing for as they tend to overpower your everyday cigar. I have noticed that the sweet, milder cigars really make for a great pairing with the bitterness and citrus from the beer. The Burn is a perfect example of that as the extra vanilla flavor from the cigar mixed with the hoppiness from the beer really clashed to create a nice, floral experience.

The post Rocky Patel – Burn Naples Cigar Review appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Rocky Patel The Edge Habano is also unique in a new way. It is the first cigar in this lineup to be a Nicaraguan Puro and is even produced in a different factory than the rest of the Edge blends. I’ve had some mixed opinions on most of Rocky Patel’s cigars, some I’ve loved and some not so much. But The Edge lineup has been one of the blends that has been consistently good for me so far.

When Rocky unveiled these at IPCPR earlier last year, he also gave some details that I found interesting. First was the price which you can find below, but he also mentioned they would be sold in boxes of 100 which is pretty interesting and does make for a pretty nice show piece. Lucky enough for us who have no room for 100 cigars of a single type, they are also being sold in boxes of 20, a little more digestible for sure.

So let’s go ahead and dive right in to see if the newest edition to the Edge lineup can hold it’s own. I reviewed The Edge Corojo not too long ago so those notes are still fresh in my mind to compare with.

Cigar: Rocky Patel The Edge Habano
Drink: Pocas Special Reserve Tawny Porto
Vitola: Toro (6 x 52)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan(Esteli, Condega, and Jalapa)
Price: $6.15 MSRP
Burn Time: 1.5 hours

Construction:
• The Rocky Patel The Edge Habano has a pretty bumpy yet oily wrapper on it
• The color of the wrapper is a deep brown with what looks to be some slightly golden accents
• Near the foot, this cigar was definitely a bit squishy but the rest of the cigar had a slightly firm and springy feel
• No major veins to be worried about here, looks like a well chosen leaf to me
• The Triple cap was fairly clean but there was a piece that wasn’t quite stuck on very well

Burn:
• The toasting took a bit long here, seems the edges lit up easy and fast but the core of the cigar took a bit of time to catch on
• Through the first bit, it seems to be burning really fast, a lot of wrapper disappearing on each draw
• The burn line has started out pretty nicely, keeping it fairly even with just a bit of a wave
• Can’t complain here, the burnline wasn’t perfectly straight but it stayed nice and even throughout the whole cigar and I didn’t need to touch it up at all

Smoke & Ash:
• Each draw is pumping out a decent amount of smoke here, not really requiring me to go back for seconds
• The ash is coming out with a nice light and dark grey alternating pattern
• We’ve got some clean and strong ash here, doesn’t look like it will fall off very easily
• Lasting past an inch before I tap it off so it doesn’t land on my laptop
• Next few ashes stayed strong and clean as I tapped them off around the 1 inch mark
• The draw did open up a bit in the last half giving me a nice full pull of smoke on each draw

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper had an aroma of cedar and a touch of spice on the nose
• From the foot, the aromas I grabbed were more spice and a touch of nuts or almond
• Pre-light draw gave me a nice creamy cedar sort of flavor
• From the first few draws, you can easily pick out the creaminess from the Habano wrapper and a nice amount of cedar
• There is definitely not as much spice here as on the original The Edge but there’s still a bit just to keep it interesting
• Picking up a soft coffee note as I burn through this first third adding a nice layer here
• The retrohale actually has a nice kick to it considering I’m not getting too much spice, but it has a nice smooth and creamy finish to it
• The spice definitely started to pick up after the halfway mark, more signature Edge flavors now
• The creamy and coffee notes continue to stick around with some cedar to back it all up
• The Edge Habano entered the last third with more creamy, coffee and cedar notes, maybe a touch of roasted almonds here too
• As I approach the nub, the flavors sort of all melted together and turned a bit bland, even a touch harsh so I put it down

Final Thoughts:
I had some pretty high expectations going into this cigar simply because the past few I’ve smoked from Rocky Patel’s The Edge line have all been good. So would this new Habano edition stand up? Seems like it did a pretty darn good job. Minus the last bit when it got a bit harsh, the rest of the cigar was spot on with some smooth flavors and a great burn. That harshness might have just been from the cold weather or the fact that these were pretty young sticks but I definitely would have a few more even with that caveat at the end.

Pairings:
So the pairing I chose today was actually the same bottle of Port I used to pair with my review of The Edge Corojo not too long ago. I won’t re-invent the wheel here, the port is about the same. The Pocas Special Reserve Tawny Porto pours very very light and has some very fruity notes on your nose. The flavors follow those same lines with a very light flavor, fairly fruity, lots of oak flavors and not bold at all. Definitely an easy drinking port that’s not overly bold. It paired quite nicely with the softer creamy notes on The Edge Habano and countered the spicier parts nicely as well.

The post Rocky Patel The Edge Habano appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Today I’m reaching into my humidor for a another gifted cigar coming from a great BOTL and supporter of Casas Fumando, good ol’ Lou B.! Lou lives about 45min away from me and often invites me and my wife over to the Black Dog Cigar Lounge for a beer and some good BBQ. Last time we were there, Lou was kind enough to gift me this Rocky Patel Sun Grown and asked me to jot down my thoughts on it.

I did some digging through my notes and found that I actually have had this cigar a few times before but it had been a while. I won’t spoil the review by telling what my notes said by they pretty much lined up with what I found in this cigar. Now I honestly haven’t had a great track record with most Rocky Patel sticks but there are some that I really enjoy. They have such a vast profile that chances are there will be some you love, and some you don’t. For example, I absolutely loved their special Winter release from 2009.

So the Sun Grown blend is pretty highly regarded in many popular magazines so it has some big shoes to fill here. The band here is the standard Rocky Patel band with a secondary band jsut below that simply says “Sun Grown”. Both are a pretty bright orangey-red type of color with lots of gold accents and edging.

On doing some research I found that the wrapper on this cigar is aged a full 5 years which is nice and long. The binder and filler are also aged for a hefty 7 years, making for a nicely aged cigar fresh out of the box. So lets see how this classic Rocky Patel stacks up today!

Cigar: Rocky Patel Sun Grown
Drink: Offley 10 Year Tawny Porto
Vitola: Torpedo (6.25 x 52)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Brazilian, Nicaraguan & Dominican
Price: A bit over $8
Burn Time: 1.5 Hours

Construction:
• The Rocky Patel Sun Grown comes with a smooth and light colored wrapper
• The veins are pretty small here, not many to be worried about
• The tapered cap blends seamlessly into the rest of the cigar with one leaf
• Near the cap and head the cigar is pretty firm but these is a bit of a soft spot in the middle when squeezes
• Looking at the foot, it appears decently filled but they may have cut it a bit long as you can see a few different lengths in the filler
• The cut was nice and clean leaving a smooth edge without a mess
• Draw was just about perfect, lots of airflow without being too open

Burn:
• Toasting was super easy, the foot lit up very quickly and glowed very evenly
• The burn through the first bit is spot on and even
• The Rocky Patel Sun Grown is burning a bit fast through the first bit, lets hope it slows down a bit
• The burn has been razor sharp through the first half and just after the halfway point I ran into a bit of a wave, we’ll see how it handles it now
• Well that little wave turned out to be nothing and the Rocky Patel Sun Grown is back on track with a razor sharp burn
• After an almost perfect burn, the cigar only needed one small touchup as I head into the nub section

Smoke & Ash:
• The initial ash is showing some nice light grey colors and the zebra striping I like to see on a well made cigar
• There is tons of smoke right off the bat with minimal effort on the draw
• The ash is also staying nice and clean and strong, no flaking or mess here
• The resting smoke here is pretty evident and is giving off a woodsy sort of aroma
• First ash tumbled into the ashtray after about an inch
• Surprisingly, the resting smoke changed and I started picking up a sweet aroma, very interesting
• Seems the 1 inch ash is holding strong so far through two more drops into the ashtray, still clean and strong

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper has a nice woodsy aroma to it with just a touch of a peppery spice
• The foot gives off an almost meaty type of note, something I haven’t picked up from a cigar in awhile
• The pre-light draw gave me more woodsy notes and still some of that meaty type of flavor I was picking up
• With the first few draws, the woodsy flavors are staying and added to that is some spice and earthy notes, definitely lots of flavor here early on
• The spice settled down and took a backseat to the earthy notes, lots of dirt flavor and a bit of dried foliage along with the wood that it sticking around
• Through the first half, the body has been sticking to the medium range and I’m getting a nice cedar finish on the retrohale after a bit of a spicy bite
• It seems the spices are slowly making a comeback and I’m even getting a touch of licorice in the mix here
• Into the last third and the spices and woodsy flavors are definitely kicking it up a notch, the licorice and earthy notes are still hanging around in the background too
• Lots of flavor in the last bit and no harshness to scare anyone away, a very tasty and spicy finish

Final Thoughts:
Now when Lou gave me this cigar I honestly wasn’t expecting too much but after checking my notes on previous meetings with this stick, I had some hope. And my hope was not left out to dry. The Rocky Patel Sun Grown offered a bunch of flavors and enough change-up to keep it interesting the whole way through. The construction was also excellent giving me a great draw and only one small touch-up the whole way through. My gripe here would be the price, at over $8 these are in a category with some very good cigars. Despite that, I will probably pick these up again as I did enjoy it, so make sure to give it a try if you can.

Pairings:
This tasty port has a bit more aging on it than most of the Ports I buy, and with it comes a slightly higher price tag. The Offley 10 Year Tawny Porto comes it at just about $30, most of the LBV are under $20 so it’s not too much of a difference. In terms of flavor, the extra time in the barrels is easily visible here, there is so much oak flavor to enjoy. Along with the oak, is a good helping of dark berries and a little bit more acidity than I’ve found on most other Ports. It made for a good pairing with the Rocky Patel Sun Grown and could have even stood up to some stronger cigars. Another good pairing with this cigar would have been a nice Stout. I didn’t have any left otherwise I would have grabbed that. Coffee would go nicely here too!

The post Rocky Patel Sun Grown appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Today’s review comes courtesy of Lou B. who you can find in the comments section every now and then. I met Lou at a herf a little while back and he’s been holding some awesome Cigar-B-Cue’s where we eat, smoke, drink and talk. At the last little gathering, Lou handed me a Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 and said that I had to try it and squeeze in a review if possible. We chatted a little about how my history with most Rocky Patel sticks is a little shaky but I would give it a shot.

So here I am today about to light up this cigar. I have had a few Vintage 1990’s a while ago but it’s been a rather long time so other than a few notes I made for myself I don’t have much to go on. I actually decided to ignore my old notes and go at this one blindly!

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 is the oldest cigar in his vintage line. This particular blend is made with Maduro Broadleaf wrapper dating back to 1990. So the wrapper on these cigars is near 12 Years old and apparently the filler is at least 5 years old before being rolled. That makes for a very well aged cigar right out of the box so let’s hope it has the smoothness you would expect on such a well aged smoke.

It seems that the Vintage 1990 line is also available in a wide variety of vitolas that come boxed in quantities of 20. I even stumbled upon some being sold as bundles so you can save a few dollars there too. The vitola Lou gifted me with happens to be their Churchill which also has a box-pressed look to it. The cigar also seems a lot smaller than the claimed 48 ring gauge, possibly due to the pressing. I’d say this cigar is almost around 42 or 44 ring gauge from a quick glance.

Now this cigar also has quite the reputation which can sometimes hinder a cigar. It’s been given a 92 rating by Cigar Aficionado and even been named to the Top 25 Cigars of the year twice. So this sets the bar fairly high when you read something like that before lighting up. But regardless of that, I’m going into this review with a clear mind and hoping for a good smoke. This one’s for you Lou!

Cigar: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
Drink: Innis & Gunn Winter Beer 2011
Vitola: Churchill (7 x 48)
Wrapper: Honduran Maduro Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican/Nicaraguan
Price: About $8.00
Burn Time: Just short of 2 hours

Construction:
• The wrapper on this cigar is velvety smooth and has the color of milk chocolate bar, it’s actually quite appealing to look at
• There are some veins and seams running along it’s length but none of them look large enough to pose any problems
• The vitola on this cigar is pretty interesting, but despite that the single cap looks to be expertly applied and clean
• The foot follows in the same ‘footsteps’ (cheesy pun, I know…lol) and is very well packed
• That also links into the fairly firm feel of the whole cigar, there is a tiny give when squeezed but not much, I think I’ll blame that on the box pressing process
• The cap clipped off nice and easy but left me with a bit of a tight draw, hoping that doesn’t continue and it opens up soon
• Glad to report that the draw opened up nicely within the first inch

Burn:
• The toasting was easy and fairly even, getting me off to a good start easily
• I usually get some funky burn lines on box pressed cigars but through the first couple inches this one is flawless
• Not much to report here, as I get to the halfway mark I’m still moving along flawlessly
• Still more nothing to report, lol. No wavy lines, no canoes, no tunnels, just the way I like it!

Smoke & Ash:
• There is a ton of resting smoke coming off this cigar, could be a little too much if I were in an enclosed room
• Even with a tight draw, I’m still picking up a fairly good amount of smoke from each puff
• The ash on this cigar is a nice even tone of light gray and is keeping itself fairly clean and tight
• Got to just about an inch before the ash fell off
• Next ash got to about an inch again before I tapped it off cause it was looking ready to fall
• Seemed to get a pretty consistent 1 inch ash on these that stayed clean

Tasting Notes:
• Running the cigar under my nose gives an easily noticeable aroma of coffee, but mostly of cedar. It’s light and pleasant, not overpowering
• The foot does away with the coffee but does carry the aroma of cedar and maybe a little bit of greenery
• I get the same greenery and cedar flavor as I take a pre-light draw after clipping the cap. Also an odd liquor type of flavor, almost like infused but you can tell it isn’t, interesting to see if that will carry into the smoking experience
• Initial flavors are mostly woodsy and earthy notes, maybe with a hint of coffee in there
• The coffee flavors are developing a bit as the cigar burns, still very mellow but they are there, maybe with a bit of cocoa too
• The start of this cigar as been fairly mild for the most part, maybe just approaching medium and the retrohale has almost no bite but gives a smooth cedar and coffee finish
• The liquor flavor I was getting is making slight appearances here and there, I can’t quite put my finger on what it is but it’s keeping the experience interesting. It’s sort of sweet and mixed with the coffee flavors I guess my closest comparison would be Kahlua or something similar
• The whole cigar seems to be quite well balanced to me, I’m getting a good variety of flavors that keep changing up on me and keeping me interested, none of them are overpowering the others
• The array of flavors has stayed the same through to the last third but the fact that they keep taking turns being the dominant one has kept me interested and enjoying the whole cigar so far
• Flavors got a little more intense near the nub, but no harshness or bitterness so I got to enjoy it to the very end

Final Thoughts:
So I have to admit I came into this cigar with some hesitation due to my past experiences with Rocky Patel sticks. I’ve had a few good ones, but most were not in my flavor profile. Even with Lou’s claims of how much he enjoyed this I was a little worried. I’m happy to report that I enjoyed this cigar! I wouldn’t put it into my top 10 but I would keep it on regular rotation as a reliable mild/medium bodied stick if I can find it on sale or maybe in the bundles. It had an interesting set of flavors that were very well balanced and it burned superbly. I don’t really have anything negative to say. If there was one critique I could make it’s that the flavors were not very pronounced. They were there, but you really had to sit and concentrate to pick up on them. Maybe this is due to their extended aging? I’m not too sure… You could easily enjoy it’s smoothness without paying attention, but if the flavor were a little more intense, this might have been a top 10 contender for me.

Pairings:
It’s no secret that I’m a HUGE fan of the Innis & Gunn Brewery and everything I’ve tried from them to date. Their Oak Aged Beers are simply the best I’ve been able to find so far with a sweet caramely smoothness. Every year they also come out with a Winter Seasonal, and as I mentioned in my last review, I’m a bit of a sucker for Winter Seasonals. So I had to get this, their Winter Beer 2011! The crappy part is that it’s only available in a Sampler pack here. Although I really enjoy their other beers in the sampler, it comes with a glass. I think I’m up to 5 or 6 Innis & Gunn glasses now because I keep buying the sampler packs they have for their seasonal beers… lol. But enough about my ranting, this beer keeps to my expectations for this brewery and brings a TON of flavor to the table. Along with the classic Oaky notes, you can pick up some citrus, vanilla, toffee and the signature caramel smoothness. All of their beers seem to pair best with a good mild or medium bodied cigar, so it fit very well in with the Rocky Patel Vintage 1990. Other good pairing would be a similar beer like a blonde or amber, and possibly a nice cup of coffee.

The post Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Before heading down south for a couple weeks I picked out a cigar to review that recently made an appearance at the IPCPR show in July 2011. It’s not the first report of this cigar though as is was initially released in limited quantities back in May of this year. Originally it was released to be sold in singles and 5-packs along with the purchase of other EO Brands cigars and is soon to be available in boxes of 10. I’ve already seen them posted up on some online cigar retailers who seem to be taking pre-orders.

The La Bomba is one of the first new cigars coming from EO Brands since they merged with Rocky Patel not long ago. There seemed to be a lot of criticism and concern over the direction of the company after that merger and I think they can be put to bed after the news of this release. The cigar is still blended by Erik Espinosa and Eddie Ortega of the original EO Brands company and also continues to be rolled at the My Father Cigars factory in Nicaragua.

From some web research, it seems the official name of the cigar is the 601 La Bomba. As you can see from the picture, it will be a yellow 601 label placed at the foot of the cigar with an interesting warning. I like the comedic side! The La Bomba has an interesting appearence with it’s “fuse” like pig tail on the cap. It’s been touted as a pepper and spice ‘blast’ no less, so let’s see if the imagery coincides with the experience. Will I be “blown away”? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist! haha)

Cigar: EO Brands 601 La Bomba (Yellow Label)
Drink: Delaforce 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Tawny Port
Vitola: “Atom” Corona (5.5 x46)
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Price: About $8
Burn Time: 1.5 hours

Construction:
• A fairly rough looking wrapper with lots of veins surrounds with cigar, none of them are over sized but they are noticeable
• The dark chocolate brown color shines in the light due to it’s oiliness, very appealing look
• The top of the cigar is finished with a triple cap that flows into a long pig tail, making this look sort of like a stick of dynamite
• The cigar has a nice firmness with a slight spring which is petty even throughout
• The foot of the cigar looks to be mostly well packed with a couple spots that seem a little open
• The cap clipped off easily and left me with a great draw

Burn:
• Toasting was just about spot on, taking a bit of time but not too long before my culinary torch had it glowing evenly
• The La Bomba started burning great right off the start and is staying lit with minimal draws
• At first the cigar seemed to be burning quickly but it slowed down and is burning super slow now
• Burnline is razor sharp through the first half and still burning slowly
• Razor sharp burn continue to the end but it got a little hot at the nub

Smoke & Ash:
• This cigar started out with a huge burst of smoke, very thick and full
• Despite the ton of smoke from each draw, the resting smoke is very minimal going almost unnoticeable after a few seconds in the ashtray
• The ash is a little uneven and rough around the edges but it’s producing a very nice white color. It’s not flaking but doesn’t look too strong
• First ash lasted a little over an inch and fell softly into the ashtray
• Nice ashes continued for the remainder or the cigar, very nice construction!

Tasting Notes:
• The wrapper of the cigar gives off a spicy and woodsy aroma, actually made me sneeze! lol
• The foot brings more spice and wood, along with a bit of earthy or barnyard aroma
• The pre-light draw is very interesting bringing some sweet tartness on top of the woodsy and spicy burst
• The initial draws are packed with pepper spice that makes you tongue and lips tingle, along with a smooth woodsy undertone
• The cigar started off in the medium bodied range and the retrohale already has a hefty bite to it.
• The finish has been somewhat dry and mostly with a flavor of wood
• Within the first inch the pepper blast laid back a bit, its still there but now it’s more of a compliment rather than the major player
• The woodsy and earthy notes have taken center stage and now I’m getting some leather mixed in there as well
• The cigar really balances out nicely and gets much smoother after the first third, the flavors haven’t changed much but they are brighter and the finish isn’t dry anymore
• As I pass the halfway point the body and spice are building up, definitely lots more pepper in the mix now with a biting raw nutmeg
• The spice and body continue to build in the the last couple inches, definitely into the full range
• The overall profile is still smooth but the dryness on the finish is slowly creeping up again
• Only minor harshness at the nub but the heat of the cigar had me lay it down just a bit early cause my fingers were burning, lol

Final Thoughts:
The EO Brands La Bomba is all in all and enjoyable smoke. It’s flavor profile will definitely cater towards those who like some bite and kick in their cigar. Usually that’s not my favorite profile but this one had a good balance to it through most of the cigar. The burnline was spot on the entire time and that always grants extra points in my mind. I don’t think I would offer this cigar up to a new cigar smoker but most regular cigar lovers will find the cigar interesting and it will keep you on your toes.
Let me add that this cigar had some punch to it that I didn’t realize until I stood up, a definite nicotine kick here and a powerful little cigar!

Pairings:
Not doing anything new in this department today, sorry! lol. I like my Port and I stand by it, especially when I’m heading into a cigar I know is higher up in the full range. The Delaforce 2005 Late Bottled Vintage Tawny Port is a great drink that fits me perfectly. Price, flavor and smooth texture make it a great pairing to many cigars. I recently reviewed the Perdomo Grand Cru Maduro and the Pinar Del Rio 1878 Cubano Especial Capa Madura with this pairing. I found the Port to be an excellent match for the EO Brands 601 La Bomba’s peppery spice and power. The sweet and boldness of the port really stands up to it while complimenting it as well. I think a careful pairing will make or break this cigar so make sure to reach for something a little fuller. Other possible pairings could include a nice scotch or maybe a strong and bitter Belgian ale.

The post EO Brands 601 La Bomba (Yellow Label) appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

The Good Stuff: A few samples of this blend was sent over to me by our friends at Rocky Patel. As the name states the 15th anniversary cigar is being released in celebration of Rocky Patel’s 15 proud years of production. Since the begenning of his time, Rocky Patel has produced enourmous amounts of award winning blends and has become a staple in just about any cigar smoker’s humidor. The 15th Anniversary is being produced in Rocky Patel’s own factory in Nicaragua in 4 sizes, Corona Gorda, Robusto, Toro, and Torpedo. I don’t have the specs on the sizes but I’m sure you get the jist of it from thier names. They will come in boxes of 20 with a release date set of July 30th, 2010. The size I am going to be reviewing is the Robusto.

Size: 5 x 52 (I’m guessing the ring gauge) box-pressed  –  Wrapper: Habana Ecuador  –  Binder: Jalapa  –  Filler: Nicaraguan  –  Body: Full

Prelight: The Rocky Patel 15^th Anniversary is a beautiful, boxpressed cigar. The wrapper is an extremely consistant, milky brown that leads up to a perfectly applied triple cap. The cigar is very firm to the touch in all spots accept close to the foot, where it is noticeably softer. There are a few very small veins, but nothing too big or in need of any concern. Outside of a very small tear close to the foot of the wrapper the 15^th anniversary’s construction is spot on.  The scent of the cigar is a very, very pungeant tabcco flavor. It stinks so good. Really. Outside of the very strong tobacco aroma the 15^th anniversary gives off slight earthy and cinimon tones, only to be more prominent from the foot of the cigar. The 15^th anniversary clipped with ease using my Cuban Crafters perfecto double blade cutter. The cold draw is effortless and produces a very sweet, spice and cinnamon mixture with tobacco undertones.

First Smoke: The Rocky Patel 15^th anniversary surprised me with a splash of pepper right off the bat that was only present long enough to tickle my toungue. The pepper faded quickly and was quickly replaced with organic tobacco, chocolate, cinimon, cedar and a slight zesty tart flavor I couldn’t really pick out. It wasn’t prominent at all.  The burnline was a bit wavy right away with a few little runs that I hope don’t get too crazy. The draw was thick and effortless producing a very cedarisque scent upon release. This cigar prodces almost not stationary smoke, and the slight breeze made it extremely difficult to detect any scent being produced by it. The ash produced from the 15^th anniversary is a light grey with subtle darker spots and very flaky around the edges and held on for about an inch and a half before giving way. The ash and burn produced from this cigar reminds me of most cubans I have smoked. One note is how much I enjoy this vitola. Fits perfectly in your hand, and even more comfortably in your mouth.

Halfway there: Just as the tart flavor was beginning to overpower this cigar, I was pleasantly surprised with a burst of floral flavors.  The flavor has now became  much more sweet with hints of sweet tobacco, the floral I announced prior, cedar and cinnamon. This was a very welcomed change up as the tartness was just about to become unbearable. The retrohale is very pleasant, and helps coat the nasal pasagges with a cedar aroma/taste. I am starting to feel a slight dash of nicotine, but nothing too powerful at the moment. Still running very smooth, with no signs of harshness.

Finish: The tart, and harshness is starting to form now, but is casually cloaked by a strong boast of cedar. Along with that the floral flavor is still running full steam. This cigar definitely has it’s share of surprises. Each time the experience starts going down hill another characterstic is brought to the center stage. I am actually starting to feel the nicotine ramp up to a slight nicotine kick in the final third. The burnline is still even for the most part with no need to touch up, or relight the cigar. There was a quite ramp up in harshness within the final third, which sadly I expected. I took my time smoking this one too in hopes that it would offset any harsh buildup.

Overview: Honestly, There aren’t a lot of Rocky Patel cigar that really stand out in my opinion. That being said, the 15^th anniversary is one of the better sticks produced by Rocky Patel. This isn’t a cigar I’d pick up a box of, but due to the great change ups and constant differences in flavor it is something that I wouldn’t mind smoking again. It does keep you on your toes. But don’t let my opinion discourage your from picking up this product. I think the flavors produced and the overall experience would be stellar as far as other people’s wants from a cigar goes. Just not mine. Pick a few up if this sounds like something you’d like. Especially if you’re a fan of Rocky Patel.

Pairing: I paired this cigar with one of my all time favorite beers, Ayinger Breweries Celebrator Dopplebock. As many of you know, I love my Double’s and this beer is the cream of the crop.  Produced in Germany… you know.. Germany.. the country that should have won the world cup… but that’s a story for another day. (kidding of course, Spain is a really good team and deserved it) most, if not all of Ayinger beers are produced under the Germany beer brewing purity law of 1516 which limits of  all beers to be produced using only 4 ingredients. Barley, Wheat, Hops, and water. This Dopple Bock boasts a alcahol content of 6.7% enriched with flavors such as wheat, caramel, chocolate, and wheat. This made a great pairing for the cigar, but overpowered the mild stages in the experience. This cigar is best paired with something more mild such as tea, a nice pilsner or wheat beer, and even milk. That’s right milk.

The post Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Cigar Review appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

Rocky Patel 1961

The Rocky Patel 1961 was amongst an array of anticipated cigars released in 2009 at the IPCPR show in New Orleans.

The Good Stuff: The year 1961, from what I gathered, is Rocky’s actually birth year. These limited production cigars were among the first cigars manufactured at the new Tabacalera Villa Cuba, Rocky’s newest factory.

Size: 5 x50  –  Wrapper: Ecuadorian  –  Binder/Filler: Honduran/Nicaraguan  –  Strength: Medium – Full

Rocky Patel 1961

Prelight: The first characteristic I noticed was the triple cap. I’m a huge fan of the triple cap as most of my wrapper problems usually occur at the head of the cigar. The cigar itself sports top-notch construction, with absolutely no signs of soft spots, or flaws in the construction. Rocky is known for being a stickler when it comes to the perfection of all cigars manufactured under his rule. The wrapper is very smooth and there were no real noticable veins as far as I could see. The band was remarkable, and unlike anything that I have seen come from Rocky Patel. The 1961 showcased a massive, double band. The top band is black, with light watermarked “wallpaperesque” textured, presented by a large “1961” label positioned over a halftone tobacco plant. The secondary band fits snuggly into the primary band and sports a red shimmer with the “Rocky Patel” label.  There isn’t really a lot of noticable scent coming from the wrapper of the 1961. I picked up light notes of sweetness and cocoa. The foot of the cigar smells very similar, with a touch of grain, and what seems to be something that smells similar to paint thinner. Tom from Tom’s Cigars nailed it in a recent review when he acclaimed that you should NEVER trust a cigar by its smell. Many of the best cigars I have had smelled like complete crap.

Rocky Patel 1961

Cold Draw: I was able to pull the paint thinner taste off the cold draw. Not a good sign. Let’s just hope this taste doesn’t carry into the actual smoke. I got a bit of pepper, and mixed almond as well.

First Smoke: THANK GOD the paint thinner taste didn’t make it to the actual smoke. If so, I would have never even went into the cigar for fear of throwing up. The 1961 starts off with a massive burst of pepper and spice. What a wake up call. I wasn’t expecting much taste as I couldn’t really pull anything off of the 1961 on the cold draw. The pepper even got to a point where it started to make my lips, and back of the throat tingle. Most of the undertones at this point were masked under the pepper, but there was a mixed bunch of almond and cocoa in there. The burn line became wavy, and unstable right off the bat. The ash itself was very light colored, and flaked off every chance it got. The 1961 produced an awesomely large draw with thick, almost brown smoke.

Rocky Patel 1961

Halfway There: And just as quickly as the pepper came, it went away. The pepper literally just dropped off the face of the cigar. Halfway through the smoke balanced out and became very smooth and creamy. The flavors weren’t as complex as I’m used to, Cracker/grain, cocoa, a bit of sweetness, a bit of cherry/grape, mostly earthy tones. The smoke itself smelled much like the paint thinner I pulled off the cold draw. I wouldn’t recommend smoking the 1961 around people. The burn line is getting more and more wavy as I burn through this cigar. Halfway though the 1961 went completely out on me and I had to relight before the ash actually fell off itself. Classic case of the filler burning faster than the wrapper itself.

Rocky Patel 1961

 Finish: The pepper taste I craved never made it’s comeback. Why do you tease me so 1961?! By the time I got the cigar down to the nub I reached a total of 3 relights, and countless touch-ups. For the sake of the review I wouldn’t have bothered to touch up the cigar, but it got to a point where there was more un-burnt wrapper than actual cigar left. The only characteristic that really stayed consistent throughout the smoke was the awful aroma of the smoke. I can’t imagine what made it smell that way. The 1961 started off as a powerhouse cigar. I could feel the nicotine almost instantly. But it finished as gently as a puppy. I just wish this cigar was more consistent.

Rocky Patel 1961

Overview: At the beginning of my review I stated that I wasn’t impressed much by Rocky Patel’s cigars. I hoped that the 1961 would renew what little faith I had in the company. Alas, it only made it worse. The 1961 was very bland for my taste. It lacked complexity, and consistently. I do however, see why some may find this smooth smoke attractive. I however, will probably never purchase it again.

Rocky Patel 1961

The post Rocky Patel 1961 Robusto appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando.

So I decided on the Tabak Especial Toro Negra:

Drew Estate - Tabak Especial - (Image courtesy of cigar.com)

Just like last time cigar.com was really good about shipping these ASAP. If I’m not mistaken they ship from Pennsylvania, and since I live on the western most tip of Texas, I didn’t expect these anytime soon (especially since I’m a cheapskate and shipped value). Again, I was pleasantly surprised to receive my shipment only 3 days later. Each set of 3 cigars came wrapped in cellophane, then placed in air-tight ziplock cigar bags along with humi-care gel packets. Then each bag was shipped in separate boxed filled with air-filled protectant pouches. Pretty impressive.

The Good Stuff:

Strength: Medium  –  Size: 6 x 52  –  Country: Nicaragua  –  Wrapper: Nicaraguan Maduro  –  Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan Sumatra / Nicaraguan Criollo

This is yet another amazingly constructed cigar by Drew Estate. It’s very rare that you get less than perfect from them. One of the first noticeable difference between this cigar and many others is the fact that it supports what is called “shaggy foot”. What a shaggy footed cigar is a cigar that’s inner filler tobacco leaves extend far further than the wrapper itself. Although it looks a bit funny it holds a purpose. By constructing a  cigar this way you enable the smoker to enjoy the tastes of both the binder/filler tobacco separate than that of the wrapper. Along with this it is believed that it gives of a much more even burn as well.

Prelight: Again, this cigar sports a flawless construction. The wrapper is a deep, extremely dark maduro which makes even the smallest flaw stand out. The Tabak Especial’s aroma consisted of very strong coffee with hints of cedar and cocoa. Unlike most other Drew Estates this cigar carries with it a dual band. One on the neck, and one at the foot of cigar. I am assuming this has something to do with the shaggy foot technique. The Tabak Especial Toro has a very well construction rounded cap, and a very oily wrapper. There were no soft spots. Again I am trusting my Cuban Crafters Perfecto double blade cutter, and a standard single flame colibri torch.

First Smoke: First of all the cigar was incredibly easy to light. This again, has to do with the shaggy foot. The toasting of the cigar was effortless, and resulted in a complete, perfect burn. The first scents were that of milk chocolate, lined with coffee, and of course tobacco. Unlike the Drew Estate – Rocky Patel Java, this cigar was much more mellow, and a lot sweeter. The cigar produced a very large draw right off the back , with large hefty smoke accompanying it. To my surprise the ask only held on for a little over 3/4 of an inch before releasing into my ash tray. The cigar was moist, so this was a shocker.

Halfway There: One great thing about this cigar is even halfway through and further the draw doesn’t change, and neither for the strengths and flavor. Tabak Especial is a lighter strength cigar making the smoke very easy and relaxing. The ash is still spilling off quickly, but this is not bothersome in anyway. The cigar remains in-tact and there is absolutely no unwrapping of any kind.

Finish: As stated in previous posts, I’m not a nub smoker. I usually give in with an inch or so still left. I don’t know if it was the amazing conversation or the fact that this cigar is so remarkable, but I took it all the way down to nothing. Literally, I burned the tips of my fingers trying to get every last drop outta this thing. This cigar is remarkable. It finishes just as easy as it begins holding its flavor all the way through. Absolutely no signs of un-wrapping.

Overview: What can I say?! Drew Estate delivers again. This is a remarkable cigar, from the burn, and construction to the draw and the flavors. I can honestly say even the most die-hard non-infused cigar smoker would be stupid not the at least give these a run.

On a side note: Recently I reviewed a Rocky Patel – Drew Estate – Java Maduro Box pressed cigar. To sum the differences up is pretty simple. Tabak Especial is a lot creamier, sweeter, and lighter than the Java line. Java boasts HUGE draws, and in your face strengths. Both come from opposites ends of the “coffee infused”  spectrum.

CGSA815

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This week I will be review Drew Estate’s Java Maduro Robusto.  I have had the pleasure of enjoying these cigars many, many times. Both from order, and purchased from brick and mortar shops.

Drew Estate JAVA

Believe it or not, this was actually one of the first cigars I have ever smoked. And what a way to start.

The first thing you may notice is it’s very unlike the common Drew Estate branding. Instead it looks almost identical to something created by Rocky Patel. I’m not sure on the exact procedure in which these cigars were developed, but I do know this; the super-star tag team of Mr. Patel, and Jonathan Drew result is REMARKABLE in every way possible. Not to mention two of the greatest amenities combined (coffee and cigars).

These guys hit the market sometime in early 2005 and are still available in most B&M stores. With the fall of the great Kahlua cigar (also created by Drew Estate) this cigar along with other coffee infusions (I’ll go into a few of those later) are still just as popular as ever.

The Goods:

Robusto  –  Size: 5.5 x 50  –  Wrapper: Coffee Infused Maduro  –  Country: Nicaragua  –  Box Pressed

JAVA Maduro sports a dark, oily, sweet wrapper wrapped around perfectly aged Nicaraguan long-fillers. As these cigars are aged, they are slowly infused with a rich, mocha flavor giving off an incredibly smooth taste, creamy finish, and extremely pleasant aroma.

Drew Estate’s JAVA also comes in a LATTE. The difference is the Connecticut Ecuador wrapper rather than the standard Connecticut Broad leaf. Its much creamier, but  I personally prefer the boldness of the Maduro wrapper.

Prelight: I’m usually not a huge fan of box-pressed cigars. They just seem a bit uncomfortable and a bit un-conventional. But, this press suits this cigar just perfect. The construction again is immaculate. It’s very rare that Drew Estate lets sloppy cigars leave its institution. There were no visible un-wrapping, and no soft spots. The whole cigar seemed a bit softer than other, but this is a HUGE plus in my book. This means two things to me. 1) they are properly humidified. and 2) expect a bigger draw.

First Smoke: As usual this cigar was cut using a Cuban Crafter’s Perfecto Cutter, and lit with a standard single torch colibri flame. The cigar took on an ever burn right away. I’m not sure if this is because of the construction, or the box-pressing, but if it’s due to the box-press then I take back my dislikes for them. The coffee aroma strikes immediately. I think this is the best smelling cigar I have ever smelled. The cigar produced HUGE draws, with just enough punch. Good in strength, but far from over-bearing.

Halfway There: Towards the end of the smoke the cigar greatly increased in strength. The coffee flavor still survived but was mixed in with a bit more spice, and an almost wood-like flavor at this point. Still great. I’m still amazed at the percision of the burn.

Finish: By the time I hit the nub this cigar was kicking my ass (in a good way).  I didn’t want it to end. Still just as flavorful as the first half of the cigar, but it feels as if its almost doubled in strength.

Overview: My over-view is just a bit biased as this is BY FAR one of my favorite cigars. One of the main reasons why I wanted to do the review was not only spread the word of a great product, but take the time to enjoy one for myself. You don’t need to be into infused cigars to like this one, or even cigars for that matter.

One last thing, Drew Estate offers two other lines of coffee infused cigars. One of which is the Tabak Especial. This is a more raw coffee infused cigar. AMAZING. but not as creamy as the JAVA’s. Quote from Jonathan Drew himself:

the woman just love those TABAKS. Fire em up, and your the hit

The other is the Isla Del Sol. These are a bit more heavy on the cocoa end, and at a price you just can’t beat!

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