Rocky Patel Nicaraguan Toro (6x52)

Rocky Patel cigars and I have an interesting history.  It all started several years ago when I was introduced to the Olde World Reserve, it remains to this day one of the best cigars I have ever smoked, well the original version anyway.  In recent years though the bloom has fallen of the rose.  The offerings have become one dimensional and pedestrian at best, and just downright foul at worst.  It is real shame, but nothing can be done by me, so I motor on and write reviews.

This particular cigar is a house blend for Famous Smoke, you can find them here.  The cigar itself is a nice looking, dark presentation and everything you would expect from a Nicaraguan cigar.  The band work looks like something from a Truck Stop humidor, you know the ones, some random bundle of dry leaves for ten bucks.  In the defense of house blends though, I have never seen a band on a house blend that was worth anything of note, and it certainly does not dictate the quality of the smoke in many cases.  I have smoked some excellent house blends in my day.  This cigar has little veining and seems to be well constructed, I can't find any issues along the length of this smoke.  The pre light aroma is full of earth and pepper notes.  The pre light draw shows notes of coffee and some hints of wet earth.

The cigar opens with a profile that is reminiscent of Truck Stop coffee, to continue the metaphor from above.  You know this coffee all too well I think, the tar that comes out of an old pot served to you by someone named Flo or Polly.  Don't get me wrong, I actually like this coffee.  It is robust, it has flavor and it has character.  It's not some seven dollar over filtered swill with fancy Italian sizes I don't understand.  It comes in a cracked mug, it's hot and it costs about a buck.  This cigar has strong coffee notes, very strong and I like it.  There is not much else on the front of the palate at this point, but the coffee notes are right in my face.  The back of the palate shows some pepper and earth.  The draw is very fluid and delivers nice, satisfying mouthfuls of smoke with each slight draw.  The burn is right on the money.

The first half of the cigar continues to show strong coffee notes, but there is sweetness coming in here that hearkens to dark fruit and maybe some cocoa.  The back of the palate continues to show earth and pepper notes that really don't fully develop well.  All in all this has been a well above average experience thus far.  The draw continues to perform well to this point.  The burn is also still solid.

The final half of the cigar actually falls off a bit.  The coffee notes turn sour and then bitter, this has an almost acidic quality to it.  The back of the palate also becomes slightly metallic and detracts from the experience.  The draw and burn are solid right through to the end.

The finish was a bit short and had some bitter notes, however the coffee flavors were still identifiable.

At the end of the day this was the Rocky Patel cigar I have smoked in some time, all though the competition is not what it once was when considering this frontmark.

Appearance- 83 kind of cheap looking
Taste- 86 really good until the last half
Construction- 93 a very nice performance
Strength- 87 a nice medium/full
Overall- 88 a nice performance buoyed by construction

Arganese Nicaraguan Robusto

This small robusto presents with a nice dark wrapper that is a bit toothy. There are few veins and the wrapper and cigar appear to be well put together, but the roll might be a bit firm. The pre light aroma is of light spice and cocoa. The pre light draw is floral with a hint of spice.

The cigar opens with notes of brine and light floral essence. The draw is tight, but the smoke is being doled out in acceptable amounts. The burn is even and the overall construction is acceptable to this point.

The first half of the cigar maintains a core of brine with a floral essence. The draw remains stiff, but the overall performance of the cigar is passable.

The final half of the cigar develops a core of black pepper notes with undertones of light tobacco. The burn has stayed true, but the draw did not open up at all.

The finish is short with notes of brine and pepper.

Appearance- 90 an attractive cigar
Taste- 80 this profile lacked depth and complexity, the brine character detracts from the score
Construction- 85 the draw was stiff
Strength- 80 an unremarkable medium/full
Overall- 83.75 without the notes of brine this cigar would have been better