The Burn Naples is another in a long line of cigars by the famous Patel family. Named after Rocky Patel’s world-class lounge in Florida, the Burn Naples is a Honduran puro, a blend which always raises eyebrows.
BlendSpecifics
Size: 6 1/2 x 52
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Appearance & Construction
The first thing I notice is the strong cedar, spicy sweetness and granola off of the foot of this cigar. I also notice the gorgeous construction. I’m honestly not a huge fan of the presentation of this cigar, but per usual, no construction flaws and a great draw.
Flavor & SmokeCharacteristics
This cigar kicks off mild, with a shy profile. Wood, spice on the retro hale. Some nuts as well. Not exactly a ton going on, which makes for an underwhelming initial experience. By about a quarter in, however, the strength has picked up, and a sweet grassiness emerges. The white ash holds well over an inch.
The second third is where this cigar comes alive. The strength increases and a delicious chocolate note emerges. Right beside this change is a tangy flavor that is unique, though not thoroughly enjoyable.
In the final third, this tanginess increases and the body picks up to a solid medium. I also note a bitterness that isn’t very enjoyable. By the end of this cigar, I’m left wanting.
Conclusion
Though I have long been a fan of Rocky Patel’s offerings, I just can’t say that the Burn did it for me. At times, the flavors shone clear as day, but all too often I sat wondering just what I was supposed to be tasting. Still, it’s not a bad cigar. I’d just recommend trying some other blends like the 15th Anniversary, Decade, Olde World Reserve, or Vintage 1992 first.
Christmas Eve down here in Virginia where I am spending the Holidays, and up for review tonight is the Rocky Patel Private Cellar. Rocky Patel is known for quality of construction and flavor, but with so many new blends being announced, I was interested to see if this stick would prove an especially valuable addition to his line.
Blend Specifics
Size: Robusto
Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Appearance & Construction
The Rocky Patel Private Cellar is a fairly average looking cigar. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is attractive, but the simple purple double-band falls a bit short. A few minor veins, but other than that, great construction per usual for Rocky Patel. My only complaint construction-wise is that the triple cap is a bit sloppy.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Before lighting, I take note of the aroma off of the foot. Notes include granola and some dried fruit. On the light, the Rocky Patel Private Cellar kicks off with bitter chocolate and some dried fruit flavors as well. Medium to full bodied, there is also a white pepper note that tickles the tip of my tongue.
Smooth and very flavorful an inch in. At the second third, a creamy cedar is introduced that adds a bit of character to this strong cigar. Construction and draw remain perfect.
A the cigar progresses into the final third, the white pepper dies down, bringing the flavors into better balance. The flavors remain basically unchanged for the remainder of the smoke.
Conclusion
Though the Rocky Patel Private Cellar is flavorful, the notes fall flat. It isn’t until the final third that a good flavor balance is achieved. Of course, per usual the construction and draw are basically flawless, but that isn’t enough to land this in the A range.
A few weeks ago, we interviewed Patrick Vivalo of Rocky Patel Cigars. Patrick is very involved with the sales and marketing of the company, and has really added to the online presence of the brand. He sent me a few sticks about a week after the interview went up, and included in his package was the Decade, one of Rocky Patel’s signature cigars. This cigar came in tubo fashion, which as you can see from the photos below really adds a nice touch in the presentation of the cigar. Without further ado, the review:
Blend Specifics
Size: Toro (6.5 x 52)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan
Click to view
Appearance & Construction
The Decade features a dark, richly toned brown wrapper. Some minimal veins are present, though I don’t really notice them given the beautiful presentation of this cigar. With very solid construction, beautiful banding, and all just out of classic tubo packaging, the cigar begs to be smoked. Off the foot are scents of granola, wood, and coffee.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
This cigar kicks off with a very fine-textured white pepper paired with sweet granola and spice on the retrohale. The texture of the smoke is very unique, so fine that the smoke tickles the front of your tongue and coats the pallet.
About a quart of the way through this cigar, I am impressed even more by the construction (pictures above). Notes of leather emerge and the pepper begins to intensify. The second third introduces coffee and bitter cocoa notes, while woodiness becomes much more prominent.
The only detraction I can think of with this stick was that the smoke became particularly hot near the end, which is of course more frustrating when the smoke is from a cigar you are particularly enjoying.
Conclusion
You don’t have to like Rocky Patel as a brand, but you have to hand it to him that this is a stand out blend that is worthy of acclaim. It is a bit on the pricey side, so this isn’t an everyday smoke. It is, however, a cigar that any medium-full bodied lover should smoke as soon as they can.
Thunder is a blend by Rocky Patel Cigars, and particularly Nimish Patel. I had the opportunity to meet Nimish at the Rocky Patel event at Studio Sq. That event is also where I received this stick for review. As far as pairings go, I paired this stick with Jameson triple-distilled whiskey, some Esperanza Spalding jazz, and some interesting weather that developed halfway through the smoke.
The wrapper on this cigar is a rich, dark brown that is very inviting. The color of the Habano wrapper pairs incredibly well with the green, black, gold, and white label. As an Oregonian, this reminds me of a nice foresty color theme that I appreciate. The cigar is packed very well, triple capped, and has a nice layer of oiliness. The draw is a bit tight, but from what I understand this is not typical of the blend.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
Off of the foot of this cigar are notes of granola, manure, cedar, and coffee. The stick kicks off with a medium to full body smoke that features spice, pepper, coffee, and caramel. At about an inch in, the cigar develops a bit and the flavors become very “Patel.” Notes of coffee, dark chocolate, a caramel texture, and something distinctively fruity. In fact, I identified the fruit later as cherry and… pears! I’m not the only reviewer to notice a fleeting fruity note.
By the second third, it’s clear that this cigar will have some consistent burn problems, which other reviewers have also noted. Then again, the burn problem could be a partial result of the literal thunder that rolled in. Sitting outside in New Jersey for the weekend smoking, a big storm rolled in, flashes of lightning everywhere, and thunder too (pictured below).
Notes in the second third of this cigar included dark chocolate & wood. The caramely texture completely dropped off, revealing a much more earthy texture. As the smoke progresses, the chocolate becomes more and more bitter, which pairs nicely with the woody notes.
The final third was, unfortunately, quite a bit hotter than the rest of the cigar, and the bitterness of the chocolate became a bit overpowering, as did the earthy texture.
Conclusion
This is a cigar to try, but be aware that you will likely have some burn issues. This is a full bodied smoke – definitely not for beginners. It certainly doesn’t showcase my favorite flavor profile, but it was a unique and enjoyable smoke.
The weather has been nice this week so I went to Samuel Paley Park, a private park that allows smoking. I brought my last Rocky Patel American Market Selection to review while I read a book. I have a medium body coffee paired with the cigar.
The cigar is firm to the touch with one prominent vein. There is scent of coffee, wood, and sweet tobacco on the body of the cigar and foot. Sweet tobacco and spice are on the cold draw that is firm. The cigar has a simple gold and black band with “Rocky Patel” in a gold font.
Flavor & Smoke Characteristics
After I toasted the foot, an aroma of vanilla and coffee entered the air. The first puffs were coffee and sweet tobacco. After about a quarter-inch vanilla and peanut are in the background. The cigar burned evenly with a salt and pepper ash that held half and inch.
As I entered two-thirds, cinnamon and nutmeg add some complexity to the coffee and sweet tobacco flavors. It reminded me of a Turkish coffee. The peanut flavor disappeared as vanilla remained in the back. The burn became uneven but corrected itself.
Wood, toast, and spice (anise) became dominant in the last third. There is sweet chocolate and coffee was on the retrohale and plumes of smoke from the cigar. The smoke was creamy. Again, the cigar began to burn unevenly.
Conclusion
The American Market Selection is a nice mild cigar. It has enough flavors to keep your attention but the AMS is not complex that it requires your full attention. This cigar is a Famous Smoke Shop exclusive. I recommend the AMS to fans of mild cigars to try it.
There is no way around it: this is a controversial cigar. A brief glance around the online cigar community indicate that some people love this cigar (Barry at acigarsmoker gives it a 93), and some people are lost as to what makes it so special (one Puff user called it “a total disappointment”). Beyond dispute, however, is the consistent acclaim that this cigar has received from a variety of online and in-print reviewers – one reason I was so excited to smoke this cigar. I have to say, though, that after smoking four of these I can identify with both camps. Read on to find out why, and also to find out how you can enjoy this cigar more, perhaps even as much as the critics have.
Blend Specifics:
Wrapper: Honduran broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Some obvious problems with the cap
Construction & Appearance:
This cigar comes in a beautiful, semi-pressed shape that is incredibly comfortable in the mouth. Paired with the incredible scent of caramel, nuts, and cherry, I have to consciously stop myself from chewing this cigar like a candy bar when I put it into my mouth. It’s just that good. Construction is ok; there are a few blemishes near the cap, and the wrapper cracked. Unfortunately, when I applied a straight cut, the wrapper decided to split and fray, as you can see in the pictures above and below. This is uncharacteristic of Rocky Patel cigars, but I’ve had the same problem with this cigar more than once. The draw is firm, which is a reminder of the Rocky Patel tradition of excellent packing.
This is one of the most attractive, best smelling cigars out of the cellophane that I know of. Unfortunately, smoking this cigar did not reflect this.
The crack on the back became very noticeable
Taste & Smoke Characteristics:
The first third of this cigar is mild to medium bodied and opens up with a few distinct flavors. Dominant is a woody, salted nut taste (roasted nuts in smell). Behind those two flavors is a really wonderful, mild sweetness. The flavor profile is complex and complete, much like Velvet Cigar’s Bowery. My only complaint in the first third of this stick is that the smoke volume is a bit low. I also notice that this is not a cigar to rush. In fact, in order for it to consistently taste as good as other reviewers describe, it must be smoked slowly. Heating up the tobacco too much degrades the flavor pretty dramatically. The flavor moves from cool, woody, rich, and sweet a sort of fermented saltiness that is very dissatisfying.
At about two thirds, it remains clear that this cigar needs to be smoked slowly. Every time I puff more than one or two times a minute, the unpleasant taste returns. Smoked slowly, the cigar is excellent. The woody flavor has hints of coffee and caramel, and the smooth smoke has a creamy texture.
Unfortunately, the last third of this cigar confirmed which side of the RP Vintage 90 debate I fall on: the dissatisfied side. In spite of trying to smoke this cigar slowly, the final third of the cigar became (with multiple sticks) harsh and acidic. Twice I lost my patience and put the cigar down.
I let this stick go early
Conclusion:
If you want to enjoy this cigar, you must smoke it slowly. After some experimentation and observation, the tobacco in this cigar seems to be especially vulnerable to a hot ember. The fact that this cigar is so high maintenance pushes it into the realm of the ‘less enjoyable.’ There were also some consistent construction issues, which is out of character for Rocky Patel, and surprising to see in such a famous blend.
All of the hype aside, I can’t give this cigar an A rating (the equivalent to a 90% or above). The cigar is consistently frustrating, produces less than ideal smoke, and the taste oscillates between heaven and hell. Don’t take my word for it though – I’m new to the cigar reviewing world, and others have loved it. Give this stick a try – just don’t buy a box before you do.
Do you have comments or suggestions? Let me know – I’d love to know more about this stick.
Tonight I finished my review of the Amilcar Perez Castro 12 cigar sampler with the Rocky Patel Vudu. In the past two weeks I’ve been able to review the four cigars featured in the sampler, the Patel Bro’s Next Generation, Rocky Patel Famous Signature, Rocky Patel 1961, and now the Vudu. Overall, it has been an excellent sampler for the money, and I highly recommend heading over to Famous Smokes and buying it. The two best sticks in the sampler were easily the Next Generation and the Vudu.
On the menu musically tonight was Pink Martini (my favorite), Frank Sinatra, some old school Steven Curtis Chapman, and Melody Gardot. The Vudu that I smoked tonight was really excellent and featured a flavor profile of natural tobacco, rich earthy sweetness, and a hint of berry early on (as mentioned in the Toasted Foot review of this cigar).
Specifics for this blend:
Wrapper: Mexican Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction:
This is for the most part a beautiful cigar. The Mexican Maduro wrapper is a deep, rich brown. This stick had two noticeable blemishes, but I haven’t found that to be characteristic of this line in general. I’m really not a big fan of the label. It is simply too dark to make out the words very distinctly (I still don’t know what it says underneath “Vudu”). The draw is really excellent, and the stick has a springy feel. Throughout the cigar, the burn was pretty bad. I didn’t ash the cigar for the entire first third of the smoke, and it never really leveled out, so it required a few retouches. The ash was a salt and pepper mix.
Taste & Smoking Characteristics:
This cigar opens with a big spice that lessens during the first few minutes of the smoke. Flavors range from natural tobacco with a rich, earthy sweetness. I don’t sense the berry flavor to the same degree that Toasted Foot does, but there is a slight, discernible berry impression early on. The rich, earthy aroma of the Mexican Maduro wrapper compliments the taste very well. The richness of the smoke reminds me a lot of the CAO Italia, another excellent cigar that I recommended last summer. The second third of the cigar brings a moderation of all of the flavors, and a total disappearance of the spice, which returned in full force in the last third.
Conclusion: A-
This cigar was a real pleasure to smoke, and has been every time I’ve had it. This cigar runs about $4 a stick, and I recommend giving it a try, whatever your tastes.
Tonight I reviewed the Rocky Patel 1961. This blend was created to commemorate the year Rocky Patel was born, and I found it to be a medium bodied smoke. Music tonight consisted mainly of hip-hop and alternative/rock: Kid Cudi (“Day and Night”), Kanye West (“Love Lockdown”), John Mayer (“Neon”), Jay-Z (“Run This Town”), Gym Class Heroes, and Flyleaf. Not my usual mix, but I found it to be necessary to have some interesting music on to balance out this decidedly uninteresting cigar. I didn’t have my camera, or even my phone on hand so I ended up using a friend’s Macbook to get some shots.
Specifics
Wrapper: Habano (Ecuador)
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Nicaraguan
Appearance & Construction:
Fair. The rich brown of the habano wrapper is attractive, and the double-label is, after closer inspection, very detailed and attractive. “1961” is prominently displayed, and below it is a dark red band with the Rocky Patel logo displayed in black. Aside from that, this cigar is far from exceptional. It had a hard time holding an ash, and the construction needed touch ups multiple times. Draw was a bit too loose, which is surprising because in my experience Rocky Patel cigars are generally very solid when it comes to delivering a very comfortable draw.
Smoking Characteristics & Taste:
The first third of this stick is hard to describe, mainly because I spent most of the first third trying to gather a discernable flavor profile. The main flavor is a natural tobacco taste, a bit of spice, and a hint of sweetness. Pleasant, but not very notable. On a positive note, this cigar produced large plumes of very smooth smoke consistently throughout.
The second third of this stick is a bit more satisfying. Still the natural tobacco flavor, but a very noticeable cocoa flavor that is very enjoyable. A few minutes later the cocoa becomes more of a semi sweet—not unenjoyable, but kind of sad. The final third of this cigar was more of the same story. Natural tobacco and a bit of cocoa.
Conclusion: B-
Not a bad cigar, per-se, but this really seems like a RP cigar trying to be the Patel Bros Next Generation (a GREAT cigar). I’m not going to be rushing to pick up more of these anytime soon.
The Rocky Patel Famous Signature is a joint venture between Rocky Patel, Amilcar P. Castro, and Famous Smoke Shop. I got this cigar as part of the Amilcar Perez 12 cigar sampler, which I would highly recommend looking at and buying. This cigar is generally described as a medium-full bodied cigar, though I found it to be full bodied. While reviewing this cigar, I gave blind tasting a try – lights off, so I could get a better sense for the taste. Music for this smoke was a mix of Pink Martini, Frank Sinatra, and Putumayo: Cuba – definitely an album to give a listen to and explore. For other great music to listen to while smoking, check out the Aspiring Gentleman’s article seriesMusic to Imbibe In.
Specifications for this blend:
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Habano
Appearance and Construction:
Fair. A few noticeable veins. The label, in my opinion, is not very attractive. There are a few minor blemish. On an upnote, the draw is, as is usually with Rocky Patel cigars, excellent. The wrapper is dark brown – a bit lighter than the image you will find on Famous Cigars.
The cigar review notepad
Smoking Characteristics and Taste:
1/3: This cigar kicks off with a pretty good deal of spice, though it is initially medium-full bodied. Opening tastes are spice, black pepper, and natural tobacco. Certainly not the smoothest cigar, but I enjoy the spice and the complexity.
2/3: The spice pulls back for a minute or two, but is back stronger than before–a bit too much for me, honestly. This cigar reminds me a bit of the Perdomo Habano, though I think the Habano is a bit more well-balanced. The spice continually builds and even becomes a bit acidic. I hope it backs off a bit.
3/3: By the last third of this cigar, I’m starting to really feel the tobacco. This is really a cigar to take slow. Smoke it too quickly and the smoke will heat up. The heat ended up becoming a pretty big problem, so I let the cigar rest earlier than usual.
The innovative dress-shoe cigar holder
Conclusion: C+
This isn’t a bad cigar, but it definitely isn’t my favorite flavor/strength profile. Main flavor notes here are natural tobacco and black pepper behind it. If this is a flavor profile you are interested though, this cigar is definitely worth a try. I’m definitely a much bigger fan of the Vudu and the Patel Bro’s Next Generation (you can find that reviewed here).
Tonight I smoked a Patel Bros Next Generation that I recently purchased in the Rocky Patel & Amilcar Perez 12 cigar sampler for just $20. So far I’ve had two: the Vudu and tonight the Next Generation. I wasn’t planning on reviewing this cigar until I started smoking it and was completely blown away.
Here are the specifications for this blend:
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran
Wrapper: Habano
Appearance and Construction:
The habano wrapper, as described on Famous-Smokes is a rich brown with a reddish hue. There are very few noticeable veins, the texture is smooth, and the cigar is packed firmly, but not tightly. After clipping the cigar using a straight cut, the draw is perfect. The label is sharp and attractive.
Great construction – I only ashed this cigar twice
Smoking Characteristics and Taste:
This cigar produces thick smoke, and throughout the hour-long smoke I found that it didn’t burn hot. Construction throughout the smoke was completely flawless. What I found to be most compelling about this cigar, though, were the distinct tastes that were noticeable in the medium bodied smoke. The cigar kicked off with a bit of spice, and tastes of wood, coffee, and dark chocolate. Very rich and very enjoyable. The second third of the cigar took on more woodiness and a bit of leather. In the final third, the spice really drew back to a sweet woodiness. I wouldn’t have minded returning to the first two thirds, but I was still enjoying the cigar immensely.
It was a shame to put this cigar down.
Conclusion: A
This was, hands down, a great cigar that I would highly recommend. Perfect construction, great taste—a great experience. Pick some of these cigars up sometime. I would highly recommend checking out the 8-cigar sampler for just $15. You can find that here.
