Cigar:            Rocky Patel Vintage 1992

Size:             50 x 5.5"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          Ecuador, 10 YO, Sun Grown

Binder:           5 YO

Filler:           5 YO

Flavor Strength:  Medium

NicotineStength:  Medium

Date Received:    2005-11-20

Suspected Age:    NA

Vendor/Price:     CigarBid $4.03/ea

Beverage(s):      Water, Deschutes Quail Springs IPA

Smoke time:       1:40

Date:             2005-12-23

Posted to ASC:    2005-12-23

Overall score:    3.0 / 5.0

Hype:       Medium to full bodied, this blend of rare aged tobacco has a perfect balance of flavor, complexity, and richness. A very enticing smoke with bold flavors that consist of strong noted of coffee and cedar with a long earthy finish. The 10 year old Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper along with the 5 year old filler and binder are a perfect compliment of strength and complexity. This cigar is recommended for the seasoned smoker that is in pursuit of a rare vintage smoke.

Overall:    Okay cigar through the first two thirds, then bitterness built up.  Woody, some initial earth, some later nuttiness.  Never sweet.  Ho-hum.  Not a box purchase, and no reason to keep any around.  Will give them another chance after some time out of the cello. 

Ambience:   Spent the day doing last minute shopping and hooking up with J at a local mall.  Spent some quality time on a mall bench watching the babes and emptying a flask of Talisker 10 YO.  After appetizers and a couple drinks at a grill we parted ways until next week.  Now, evening in the sunroom with water pouring down the windows in sheets.  Some leakage, but minor enough that the towels on the sill are soaking it up.  Listening to Blowin' Smoke number 4.

Appearance: Attractive red and gold double bands set off the dark mottled, medium veined wrapper nicely.  Uneven light box press.  Very short single cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   Earthy leather aroma, cut well yielding an open draw and earthy draw flavor.

First third:      Initially, woody earth with a slightly tannic bitter edge - much like chewing on a toothpick.  A bit of nuttiness entering.  Even burn, meager smoke volume unless double or triple stoked.  Ashed at one inch.  The bitter edge has vanished.  Now mostly woody with a slight nuttiness, some pepper, and a hint of sweet in the aftertaste. 

Second third:     With triple stoking the flavor arrives.  Still woody with a earth back and nutty hint.  Long aftertaste.  At the half way point nuttiness is increasing and the earthiness is decreasing. 

Third third:      Nicotine buzz.  Becoming aromatic.  Smoke volume up.  Some bitterness returning.  Abanoned at 1" due to bitterness.