Rocky Patel Vintage 1999

I stopped at Julio's Liqueurs and Smoke Shop this evening to speak with my tobacconist about a good smoke for the evening. I was disappointed when I arrived and found that not only was my tobacconist not present, but no one in the store was able to help me work through my decision for a cigar. Being a big boy, I figured I could work through the decision on my own, and decided to purchase a Rocky Patel Vintage 1999.

The pre-light examination of the cigar was impressive. The label on the cellophane states that the cigar is a "six by sixty", and the stick is truly a massive smoke that challenged the ability of my cutter. The Connecticut wrapper is a beautiful buttery blond color with a nice oily sheen and small veins, and the dual cigar bands are a simple white and gold.

Toasting this beast is an event in itself, though getting a good coal on the end went quicker than I imagined it would. The first thing of note is that this is not an easy cigar to draw. Each puff is a great deal of work to pull through, to the point that throughout the event I found myself often resorting to a double draw to get the smoke to appear.

This is a mild cigar, displaying more aroma than taste. The initial flavors are predominately wood, with some toasted nut blending in. Though it started out even, the stick quickly insists on a crooked burn, a trait that carried through to the very end. As the burn carried into the second 3rd, some spice begins to appear at the edges of of the smoke, and some of the buttery flavor of the Connecticut wrapper begins to appear. The cigar still requires a double draw to produce a sufficient amount of smoke, and with each draw I find myself thinking that something is missing in this cigar.

At the half-way point of the cigar, I notice that the ash is displaying a prominent split, as if a sharp blade had been sliced lengthwise against the stick. This slice would grow through to the final third, when I finally knocked the ash off when it began to show signs of fall. Notable at this time there is the mention of leather that appears on the pallet, and a faint recollection of chocolate as well.

As I work through the smoke, there is a rare but occasional sweetness that appears from time to time. Wood tones are definitely the prominent flavor in the smoke. There is a clear lack of complexity throughout, a trait that could be good in another cigar but is somewhat a disappointment here.

The final third of the smoke becomes a bit more lively. The wood tones power up a bit with after images of spice and highlights of nut seeping through. The smoke begins to linger longer on the tongue and cheek, and a memorable sharpness strikes with each draw. Some creamy notes begin to present, and as the end approaches the cigar finally begins to produce the copious amounts of smoke that I expected long ago.

The Rocky Patel Vintage 1999, in the Connecticut wrapper, is a mild smoke whose physically dominant stature hides a decidedly small pallet presence. This may be a good choice for the once a year smoker or as a morning smoke to wake the taste buds, but lacks complexity and delivery for an evening smoke. It was $11 for the stick, and if you are seeking a mild cigar this may be the one for you.