Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Prohibition San Andres Toro (Prerelease)

Cigar Info

While Rocky Patel Premium Cigars launched four new lines at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show, the Rocky Patel Prohibition line generated the most buzz. The name is taken from the increasing threat of prohibition against the tobacco industry, but it was also the packaging that took center stage. The cigars are packaged with loose tobacco in Rocky Patel branded mason jars reminiscent of the Prohibition-era moonshine bootleggers. The jars are also packaged in crates reminiscent of the Prohibition era. This is believed to be Rocky Patel‘s first jar release. The Prohibition will have two distinct blends – a Connecticut Broadleaf and a San Andres Mexican wrapper version. The Rocky Patel Prohibition joins the Catch Twenty-Two, Rocky Patel Super Ligero and Rocky Patel Decade Cameroon as releases by the company launched at the 2014 IPCPR Trade Show. Both cigars use a 100% Nicaraguan binder and filler that comes from Patel’s farms in the Estelí and Jalapa regions of the country.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: TAVICUSA
Blender: Rocky Patel
Number of reviewers: 5—–Dave (mdwest) Gregg (McGreggor57) Craig (WyldKnyght) Sandeep (Djangos) Emmett (rhetorik)
Price: $8.00
Age: 2 Months
Release Date: October 2014
Contributed by: Rocky Patel

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“Looks well made with a dark chocolate colored wrapper. The surface is not smooth, but bumpy with a lot of veins. There are three well applied caps present. No major issues or blemishes are discernible.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

Aroma: 91

“Not much along the length of the cigar, but the foot offers a little hay and fig. The cold draw is fig and cedar.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

First Third

Flavor: 90
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“The cigar starts off with earthy flavors of hay, grass and a very strong leather flavor. There is also some woodsy component, reminiscent of cedar. There is also strong pepper that pervades your entire mouth. The smoke production is unbelievable and the draw and burn are close to perfect. The ash holds for about an inch before falling off. Mostly pleasant experience.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“The first puff is pretty peppery. Not long after, leather and oak join. I would describe the overall profile as earthy… and tasty. The spice is lingering on the finish. The burn is a little wonky, but I can tell it’s trying to correct. By the end of the third, the burn has straightened out and the flavors have evened out into a nice balance of pepper and oak.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Second Third

Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“There is a noticeable change in the flavor of this stick almost exactly at the point I enter into the second third, with the black pepper fading away and being replaced with more of a baking spice type flavor. Wood is still very much in the forefront of the flavor profile.” –Dave (mdwest)

“A nice flavor transition is developing as this third begins. The coffee is moving up and a citrus zest is alternating with the allspice. Bakers chocolate appears on the finish from time to time. At the halfway point, the flavors all seem to marry. Espresso and a chocolate sweetness with a touch of citrus.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

Final Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The final third was the same as the second third, lots of leather and some pepper. Not much change.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

“The final third has not seen as much change as the second, but it has still been quite great. Towards the end, all that is left is the baking spice and pepper spice, but it’s a good finish. The burn and draw have been impeccable.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 95

“This was by far the best draw I’ve had on a cigar in a long time. From start to finish, the draw was perfect.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

Burn: 94

“The stick maintained a serpentine burn line consistently from beginning to end, never really ever getting straight, but it also never needed any corrections or fixes. Combustion was good with tight ashes holding on for 2″ or more the entire smoke.” –Dave (mdwest)

Construction: 93

“There was some really good construction here, the ash held on for over an inch and had no problems.” –Emmett (rhetorik)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Overall Experience: 88

“Overall, not a bad smoke. The flavors, while a bit muted, complimented each other well, and the smoke was pretty smooth and creamy. I’d be willing to go back and give this one another try somewhere down the line.” –Dave (mdwest)

“I truly appreciated the various transitions of richness and sweetness this cigar offered during each third. While not all of the flavors were in my wheelhouse, most of them were. I was impressed at how well the combinations worked together.” –Gregg (McGreggor57)

“I had high hopes for this cigar, it looked excellent, the dry puff was amazing with hints of mocha, coffee and chocolate. The perfect draw and the solid ash that I had to knock hard to fall off. But the flavor was just off, it was as if something was missing, it was too much leather and not enough of something else. Unfortunately, a cigar cannot only look good it also has to smoke and taste good as well.” –Craig (WyldKnyght)

“Overall, the cigar was good with a pleasant smoking experience but was definitely lacking the special something that I always look for in my cigars. There was almost no complexity to speak of. If leather is your thing, this cigar is for you. Unfortunately, there is mostly no other flavor. Not sure if this was just my cigar or not.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“This was a really good cigar, right in my profile preference. Lots of leather and spice with a good balance. This would be a great last cigar of the day with its spice and full bodied flavor. The technical performance was great too. I hope the other guys enjoyed this as much as me as I can see this scoring well. I would definitely pick up some more of these and might be box-worthy.” –Emmett (rhetorik)
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Smoking Time (in minutes): 74

Edit

Reviewer	Appearance	Aroma	1/3	2/3	3/3	Draw	Burn	Constr.	Overall
Dave	88	92	88	90	88	88	88	90	88
Gregg	93	90	90	92	90	90	93	93	90
Craig	93	88	90	88	85	100	95	93	85
Sandeep	93	92	90	88	88	97	97	93	88
Emmett	88	90	92	95	92	97	95	97	95

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
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Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Prohibition San Andres Toro (Prerelease)