Dang... there are some days I just do NOT want to get out of bed. Today is such a day. I know I should be beyond excited about Christmas, but for whatever reason, I'm just not. I suspect part of it, is that I grew up where there was snow, and as such, Christmas just isn't Christmas without it. So, even though I'm in Arizona, AND, in spite of global warming, I'm still a little glum.
So... enough about me :). Once again, the fine folks at Duque Cigars have been kind enough to hook up RFCR (Real Freakin Cigar Reviews) with another fine cigar. This cigar, is by none other than Rocky Patel. I haven't heard anything about this stick, so I went to the Duque sight to see what I can find out. Pricewise, this looks like a steal! Between 38 to 44 bones for a bundle of 20.
| Cigar: | Rocky Patel Cameroon Especial |
| Size: | 5.00 X 50 |
| Price: | $37.88/20 (1.89 per stick) |
| Type: | Natural |
| Wrapper: | Cameroon |
| Binder: | ? |
| Filler: | ? |
| Filler Type: | Long |
| Strength: | Medium - Full |
| Shape: | Parejo |
| Vendor: | Duque Cigars |
Initial Thoughts
Initially, I have to say that this is a good looking cigar. There don't appear to be any soft spots. The aroma of the cigar is slightly earthy, with a hint of leather. If this cigar smokes and tastes as good as it looks, I believe I've got another "everyday" cigar that I'll be ordering in short order..The Smoke
I used my punch cutter with no issues, and I toast the foot. The draw is nice, plenty of billowy smoke, and it tastes slightly sweet, a hint of leather, with a little bit of spiciness. This cigar is medium bodied.
At the 1/3rd point, the burn on the cigar is decidedly uneven. The flavor is getting a tad stronger, mind you, I'm not saying it is full bodied, just a little bit stronger than it was when I lit it.
At the 2/3rd point, I've got to correct the burn issue. Often times, the problem goes away, but in this case, intervention is necessary. I like the flavor profile; its got plenty of nuances and complexity. I'll be honest, I'm a little disappointed with the uneven burn issue, but not so disappointed as an allegedly actual customer survey reported that "If completely broken is what you mean by a 'less than desireable experience,' then yes, you've nailed it on the head." (And I thought only my reviews were brutal!
And I'm done :). The experience was pretty good, although I was decidedly disappointed with the burn issue.
The Rating
| Flavor: | 7/10 | Good flavor profile with lots of nuances. |
| Draw: | 9/10 | excellent draw. |
| Construction: | 6/10 | Burn issue detracted from the overall experience, no soft spots and a good looking cigar. |
| Overall: | 7/10 | The flavor complexity was pretty darned good but I was disappointed with the issue with the burn. |