It’s Stog o’Clock, and this time, I check out the Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary in the Rothschild size. This 4.5×50 box-pressed cigar features a Honduran wrapper concealing Honduran and Nicaraguan leaves. It was made to commemorate Rocky’s 20th year in business.

The wrapper offers a light leather aroma, while I smell graham cracker out of the foot. Once lit, there is oily leather, black pepper, and earth on the draw. Through the nose, I pick up sweet peanut with caramel. The finish gives me more black pepper with leather and earth.

After twenty minutes, the first third closes out. On the draw, I pick up nutty earth with black pepper and a metallic note. Through the nose, spicy cinnamon mixes with sweet gingerbread. The finish offers oak with leather and black pepper. Strength and body settle in at the medium-to-full mark.

Fifty minutes in, the second third finishes out. Nutmeg comes through on the draw with some black pepper and earth. There is no change to the retro-hale. The finish gives me bitter leather on top of charred oak. Strength and body continue to be at the medium-to-full mark.

The final third gets me to one hour and fifteen minutes. I get more nutmeg on the draw with leather and cedar. Through the nose, bitter gingerbread dominates. The finish offers a near-Dominican twang flavor on top of black pepper and leather. Strength and body finish out at the medium-to-full mark.

The Rocky Patel Twentieth Anniversary is a decent offering that could use some humidor time. It has a decent amount of complexity, but the flavors need to mellow out a bit before it really shines. I’d love to give this one another go after a year of rest. It’s worth a single or a five pack, but I wouldn’t rush out and buy a box, especially for nearly $10 per stick.

Smoke on!
-Noah (CutLightSmoke)