Hamlet Paredes joined Rocky Patel Cigars in 2015 and released the Tabaquero at IPCPR that same year. He was an ambassador for Habanos S.A. previously and set out to release a milder blend in 2017. The Hamlet 25th year was released at the 2017 IPCPR Convention. Today we are reviewing the Rocky Patel | Hamlet 25th YearRobusto.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Paredes worked for almost a year on this blend in response to consumers who asked him to create a milder option compared to his original Tabaquero. “Every rolling event I would host, I would be asked for a medium or even a mild cigar, and my first blend was very robust,” said Paredes in a press release. “So now I'll have a cigar for the everyday smoker on the market.”
The Hamlet 25th year comes in 20-count boxes and will be a regular production cigar. It is wrapped in an Ecuadoran Habano tobacco leaf, has Pennsylvania broadleaf binder, and filler from Nicaragua and Honduras. The name is a reference to Paredes' 25 years in the cigar industry.
It comes in three vitolas: a Robusto 5 1/2 x 50; Toro 6 1/2 x 52; and Sixty 6 x 60 and prices range from $8.75 to $10. Hamlet 25th Year is made at TaviCusa, Rocky Patel's Nicaraguan factory.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Robusto
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Binder: Pennsylvania Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaragua and Honduras
Factory: TaviCusa
Blender: Hamlet Paredes
Number of reviewers: 5 – Jeff(ExpendableYouth) Diana(ArmyRN) Derek(StogieNinja) Adam B.(Bushboy) Daniel S.(Daniel S.)
Price: $8.75
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: July 2017
Contributed by: Rocky Patel Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“A very nice looking cigar with a smooth wrapper that looks perfectly rolled. Consistent brown color throughout the length of the cigar. had a small blemish in the middle of the cigar that appeared to happen during shipping. The cold draw had strong notes of chocolate and espresso.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
Aroma: 89
“Nothing really dominant on the wrapper, although the foot has very earthy and cedar notes. Sweet raisin smell is also very prevalent. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Just like the prelight draw foreshadowed, there are very light cedar tones to this smoke. Earthy and very light on the palate with a short finish. Burn has been off about a quarter inch, although the smoke output is fantastic.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
“At first light there was no distinct flavor especially on the front but there was subtle notes of chocolate in the background. Over the flavors were not very strong. There was pepper on the retro and the peeper was pleasant and not overwhelming. Within 20 minutes pepper was the main flavor, although there was some woody and chocolates notes that were starting to come through. ” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Pepper has faded and nice leather with a touch of chocolate comes forward. There is a slight mineral taste that adds a saltiness. Slight lift of the wrapper on a corner but the burn goes through it with just a minor touch up.” –Diana (ArmyRN)
“Pepper is still coming through as the prominent flavor. There is also some coco and sweetness present. Flavors are starting to get more complex as the pepper,sweetness, and coco are starting to play of each other.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Mostly leather and some mild chocolate. Cigar is smooth and still has some mineral / saltiness but it has faded. Construction remains intact with no further touch ups needed. Burn line is straight and plenty of smoke.” –Diana (ArmyRN)
“Final third offered a toasty raisin and cedar flavor. Pleasant, but almost sour at times. Not a bitter unpleasant taste, but very interesting nonetheless. Burn was solid throughout and zero touchups needed from the torch. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 92
“Slight tightness at beginning but once loosened the draw was easy but not sloppy” –Diana (ArmyRN)
Burn: 89
“Started a touch crooked but self corrected and finished near perfect. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
Construction: 92
“No construction issues while smoking this cigar. The ash easily stacked up to two inches without trying.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 91
“I don't think that I can give an entirely accurate review on this cigar since the wrapper and head of the cigar was damaged prior to my review, but overall it was a decent cigar. I couldn't recommend this cigar without trying another one and giving it the fair assessment, but if you are looking of a mild-medium cigar with subtle transitions this may be the one for you. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)
“Smoke was enjoyable and relaxing. Smooth throughout and no effort once past the tight draw. Flavors were complex enough to provide change throughout smoking experience. Retrohale was very flavourful.” –Diana (ArmyRN)
“I would not choose to smoke this again. I'm not even really interested in knowing if anyone else enjoyed it, as I found nothing in the profile or the experience that would make me want to revisit. Recommended for fans of Dark Shark, Ron Mexico, or those who generally purchase cigars at gas stations.” –Derek (StogieNinja)
“The flavors transitioned a bit, although never really were too strong. This is a good smoke for earlier in the day for me. I sampled this one after dinner and was looking for a touch more punch. Although this wasn't my favorite, would definitely recommend to a smoker that prefers the mild to medium arena. Excellent aroma. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)
“Overall I enjoyed the flavors of the cigar and did not get distracted from enjoying the flavors by having to babysit the burn. It did feel like to me that something was missing from the flavor. I felt it was lacking complexity and the transitions were OK. That being said when I got to the end I wanted to keep smoking it.” –Daniel S. (Daniel S.)
"Smoke was enjoyable and relaxing. Smooth throughout and no effort once past the tight draw. Flavors were complex enough to provide change throughout smoking experience. Retrohale was very flavourful." -Diana (ArmyRN)
