Rocky Patel Winter Collection (2020)

Once upon a time, Rocky Patel had a seasonal release cigar line that covered all four seasons of the year. That "time" was 2008. The first Winter Collection release in 2008 was a collaboration with AJ Fernandez. The Winter Collection line was released a second time in 2012 as a limited edition. This current Winter Collection was released in July 2020 and can be easily found at most retail outlets that carry Rocky Patel Cigars. 

The current line can be found in traditionally accurate sizes such as a Corona, Robusto, Toro, and Gordo. The Corona is the cheapest option and will cost around $8 USD and the Gordo being the most expensive at around $12 USD. Much like the last Rocky Patel cigar I review (The World Smoking Championship), this cigar features a San Andreas wrapper that is stuffed with tabacco from Honduras and Nicaragua. 

Wrapper: Mexico

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua

Length: 5 1/2"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: The cigar feels well made when held in my hand. There is some firmness to it when it is squeezed. The San Andreas wrapper is a dark chocolate hue and feels very oily. The wrapper has a velvety texture too. The cap came off with the help of Xikar Xi2 Cutter. Pre-light draw is good and has a solid black pepper flavor note. Once lit, the black pepper continues and has some leather and earth that compliment. Like the World Championship line, this cigar is fairly one dimensional in the flavor department. The three dominate notes of pepper, earth, and leather are about the only three I get during the life of the smoke.

The burn rate of the cigar is even, and the draw remains excellent from beginning to end. The ash is tightly packed, and the cigar creates an ample amount of smoke. The body and profile of this cigar is medium strength and the 5 1/2" Robusto created an hour-long smoke session. The Rocky Patel Winter Collection (2020) is another solid, if not mundane, Rocky Patel offering.

The Score: Buy a Single

Rocky Patel Smoking World Championship

 

Coming soon to ESPN 8 "The Ocho" is the Cigar World Smoking Championship! No, really. This is a thing. The Cigar World Smoking Championship (CWSC) has been around for 10 years and is a worldwide competition for "slow smoking" of cigars. The slower a competitor smokes their cigar, the better. Time penalties are, then, added for such faux pas as breaking ash or burning the band. The winner of the competition is the person who smokes the longest without the cigar burning out unintentionally or the ash reaching the band. The 2019 winner smoked a 5 1/8" 42 ring gauge cigar in 3 hours, 26 minutes, and 8 seconds. Sounds like it is just this side of watching grass grow or water freezing. And what fantastic prizes are in line for The World Champion, you ask?

PRIZES OF GRAND FINAL

• Rocky Patel Farm & Factory Tour
• Rocky Patel Special World Champion Humidor
• Rocky Patel Travel Humidor
• Rocky Patel Burn Lighter
• Rocky Patel V-Cutter
• ST Dupont Golden World Champion Lighter – one in the World, 24k Gold, hand made
• 24-hour all-inclusive mega-yacht experience for the World Champion and 10 guests – 180 ft Seagull yacht, private chief, cigars, champagne, water fun, cruising.
• Cuervo y Sobrinos World Champion watch
• Writing Instrument
• Boveda Humidor and Humidification Pack
• A unique bottle of spirits
• Les Fines Lames Golden Cigar Knife – only one made with gold for the World Champion
• World Champion Ring

I mean, the 24 hours of the yacht sounds cool, I guess. But otherwise, count me out Cotton.

Let me take that back for a second. Look at how they deliver the winner the trophy! Okay, count me in.

The 2020 competition was the first year that Rocky Patel was the official cigar. Rocky provides a Nicaraguan assembled cigar that features tabacco from Honduras and Nicaragua and is wrapped by a Mexican San Andreas wrapper.  These Rocky Patel cigars should not be too difficult to source and should only set you back around $9 or $10 USD per smoke depending on which of the 3 available vitolas you select.

Wrapper: Mexico

Binder: Nicaragua

Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua

Length: 5"

Ring Gauge: 50

Size: Robusto

The Smoke: I smoked the Robusto sized cigar on my drive to work the other morning. It was paired with a plain old cup of Joe. I used my Palio straight cutter to remove the head. The San Andreas wrapper is oily with some toothiness. The wrapper is a burnt sienna brown hue. 

The dry draw is a bit tight. It features a large amount of cedar on the palate. After lighting the cigar, the smoke is a bit harsh. The draw remains tight for the first half inch of the smoke before it begins to open to a more acceptable standard. Once open, the draw remains good for the remainder of the session. Flavor for the cigar is fairly one dimensional. The notes are leather, cedar, nuts, and some light earth. The notes are good but lack complexity during the life of the cigar. 

The construction of the cigar is okay. The burn rate is slightly uneven during the first 1/3 but it straightens out after that and never becomes an issue. Overall, the cigar is decent. Pretty one dimensional and probably not quite worth the price of entry. If you are wondering, I blazed through the 5" cigar in about hour. Far from World Champion status. Damn, I am no where near getting yacht time.

The Score: Buy a 5 pack.

Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary Toro

Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary cigars were first released in 2015, on the actual 20th anniversary for the cigar brand and manufacturer. These cigars are still commonly found at brick and mortar stores along with most online retailers and cost about $9 USD per stick about 5 years after their release. They can be purchased in a Toro, Robusto Grande, Lancero, or Rothchild sizes and shapes with all of them being box-pressed. I think I have a few of the Lanceros rolling around in my tupperdor, but this review will be focused on the Toro size. The cigars originate from Honduras and are put together using mostly Honduras tobaccos with some tobacco from Nicaragua used as filler.

Wrapper: Honduras

Binder: Honduras

Filler: Honduras and Nicaragua

Length:  6"

Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Toro

The Smoke: The cigar feels solid and well rolled. The label features a vibrate gold circle and edging that make this feel like a cigar worthy of the price point. Further inspection reveals some minor leaf splitting above the label and it appear the label has been slightly rubbing the cigar as there is some minor leaf cuts below the label too. None of these cuts caused me concern and they did not in any way, shape, or form become detrimental to the smoking experience.

The Honduran wrapper also has some veins and felt oily to the touch. I used my Xikar V cutter for this one. It cut through the cigar's cap with ease and the toasting of the tobacco commenced. The draw was open and easy to pull. The lit cigar has a nice white and silky smoke that hung onto the palate. The flavors provided were notes of wood, coffee, and some musty earth. As the smoke aged, additional notes from cocoa and pepper joined and lasted through the end of the smoke. 

Near the last 1/4 of the stick the smoke turned slightly from its creamy ness to something a bit harsher. Some of the flavors dissipated as well. I think the open draw caused the cherry to become too hot which is the cause for the diminishing returns.

The cigar retained its construction during the hour and fifteen minute session. Overall, I think the smoking session was decent if not accounting for the price point. For me, this cigar and the experience it provided was probably something more along the lines of a $6 to $7 cigar.

The Score: Buy a pack of 5