Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro Cigar Info

Rocky Patel debuted the Vintage 2006 San Andreas at the 2017 IPCPR Convention & Trade Show. This is the first Rocky Patel vintage line to be rolled in Nicaragua. These are rolled at Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (TAVICUSA) factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. The name San Andreas is actually an areas in California while San Andrés is a region of Mexico. Today we are reviewing the Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro.

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.

It comes in four sizes and 20 count boxes: Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $9.55, Toro (6 1/2 x 52) — $10.10, Churchill (7 x 48) — $10.10, Sixty (6 x 60) — $11.75. The blend uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a Connecticut broadleaf binder and Nicaraguan filller.

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6 1/2″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Conneticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan
Factory: TAVICUSA
Blender: Rocky Patel
Number of reviewers: 5 Jeff (ExpendableYouth) Diana (ArmyRN) Adam B. (Bushboy) Derek (StogieNinja) Matt (Mattehh)
Price: $10.10
Age: 4 Months
Release Date: August 2017
Contributed by: Rocky Patel Cigars

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro Initial Impressions

Appearance: 90

“The wrapper is a shiny medium-dark brown wrapper. It has small veins running throughout it, and a few slight larger ones. The wrap lines are tight and uniform running all the way to a uniform shoulder, and evenly applied double cap. The cigar itself is densely packed with a couple of soft spots. Overall, this is a nice looking cigar. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

Aroma: 88

“Hay with a touch of honey.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro

First Third

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

“From the first few puffs this cigar is full of earthy, meaty flavors. Touch of sweetness on the finish which is dominated by a nice licorice aftertaste. Dark cherry wood are pleasant and the aroma is fantastic. Burn is slow and the construction is very tight. I am trying to loosen by rolling in my fingers as I progress through this cigar.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

“Opened up with a slight woody note that is also sweet. Cocoa throughout the first third. Very little spice if any at all. Mostly get a little on the retrohale. Burn is a little wavy but nothing to worry about. Ash holds on for an inch or so.” –Matt (Mattehh)

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro

Second Third

Flavor: 88
Strength: Medium-Strong

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“Extremely deep and savory earth and cherry hardwood flavors carry over from the first third. Slight sweetness not he finish still, and the licorice aftertaste detected early is still present. Burn is still tight, but it’s a fun cigar to chew on. The aroma is quite nice and the burn line has stayed close to perfect to this point. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

“Nothing has changed since the first third. Still a nice sweetness with a wood and chocolate note. The burn is still spot on and the ash is staying for an inch. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro

Final Third

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

“The final third is the best part of this cigar in my opinion. The bitterness hangs on but is balanced by more leather. There is very little flavor from anything else and the chocolate, nuttiness is only in the background. A smokey flavor is mixed in with the leather but it is very lacking in complexity.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“Still plenty of rich cocoa notes and cedar up front. Still too much oak and vegetal bitterness distracting from what is otherwise a good blend. The balance is somewhat better, but it’s just not quite where it needs to be to satisfy.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 88

“Great draw with no issues to note.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

Burn: 94

“The burn was a little wavy but was consistent otherwise. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

Construction: 90

“Construction was firm and performed well. Besides the tight draw, no complaints.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro
Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full
Experience Overall: 89

“Unfortunately, the cigar wrapper came off and the binder loosened to the point where I could no longer smoke it. The half of the cigar that I got to smoke was pretty good and hopefully my fellow reviewers can give a better review. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

“This was definitely not a good cigar for me. I suspect some aging might help it overcome some bitterness and bring the limited flavors forward. However, the lack of complexity made this a cigar that I would only use as a yard gar rather than let it go to waste in my humidor. I would not smoke it for sitting and relaxing time. The best part of the cigar was the last third and I would struggle to get through the first 2 thirds to reach the sweet spot of a fair smoke.” –Diana (ArmyRN)

“Overall this was a pretty good smoke. The flavors were spicy and smokey and left a tingle on the palate. The restricted airflow hindered my opinion a touch but still not a bad cigar. The firmness of the cigar allowed me to chew on it a bit more than usual which i enjoyed. Aroma excellent throughout. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

“It wasn’t bad, it’s just not great. It’s off balance, like it’s missing something in the middle, like baking spice or warmth to round out the middle where it’s thin. I can’t help but wish the bitterness and oak would go away. Hard to tell if it’s youth or blend, but it’s not quite there yet. I would be interested in laying one down for a six months to a year and revisiting to see if the problem is youth, or blend. Either way, not one I can fully recommend at this point.” –Derek (StogieNinja)

“Overall this was a great smoke. Very enjoyable flavors. The nice sweet woody notes over top the cocoa were great. Construction was near perfect. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 72

Reviewer
Apr
Aro
1/3
2/3
3/3
Draw
Burn
Const
Ovr
All
Jeff 95 88 90 87 70 87 95 70 70
Diana 90 88 85 85 85 87 88 88 85
Adam B. 90 90 90 92 90 83 93 90 90
Derek 92 88 88 87 88 92 93 92 88
Matt 88 92 95 90 90 97 95 90 95

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro

Overall Score – 89 – Good

Blind Cigar Review: Rocky Patel | Vintage 2006 San Andreas Toro
Summary
"Overall this was a pretty good smoke. The flavors were spicy and smokey and left a tingle on the palate. The restricted airflow hindered my opinion a touch but still not a bad cigar. The firmness of the cigar allowed me to chew on it a bit more than usual which i enjoyed. Aroma excellent throughout. " -Adam B. (Bushboy)
Appearance
90
Aroma
88
First Third
88
Second Third
88
Final Third
88
Draw
88
Burn
94
Construction
90
Overall Experience
89
89
Good