Rocky Patel Summer Collection 2009

It seems this year the Rocky Patel seasonal blends are coming out quicker then last year. It wasn’t to long ago that the spring collection was in my hands. The one problem with them coming out this fast is you move on to the next one without taking the time to appreciate the prior seasons blend.

Cigar: Rocky Patel Summer Collection 2009
Size: 5 x 50 (Robusto)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Nicaragua
Strength: Medium

Appearance and Construction (18/20): The 2009 Summer Blend has a different look then last year. The band change denotes the change. The band features a shade of red that reminds me of the sky during an Indian summer along with silver and black writing. The habano wrapper has some small veins on it and a decent sheen from the oils. The cigar itself is well packed and the cap held strong as I went with a hole punch.

Flavor & Notes (27/30): The cigar has a prelight draw of mocha with the same note on the foot. The first third of the cigar starts out with a bite that would of been bothersome on a hot summer day. But thankfully it faded. What remains is a cigar with some amazingly delicious notes of mocha and some fruitiness. As we enter the second third the cigar continues to please. The notes take you away to a tropical island. The citric/fruity notes remain but not in a pansy way. The final third of the cigar is a mix of mocha and leather that slowly bring you back to reality.

Burn/Ash/Draw (24/25): The burn of this stick is flawless from start to finish. The ash is a nice light grey and it holds strong. The ash has no flake and is solid. The draw of the cigar is a bit loose though and because of this it smokes a little fast.

Overall (24/25): Don’t let the fruit like notes fool you this medium bodied cigar is a grand slam. The cigar is the best of the seasonal blends to date for my tastes. I smoked this baby til my fingers burned.

Rating: 93
Price: $7.00