Smoked: Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut

Smoked at: The Woods of East Texas

I've been smoking a ton of Rocky Patel cigars lately. This is one of the best I've tried. I love their Cuban Blend maduros, though much more mellow, it is still a very pleasant smoke. I got this baby exactly 90 days ago and have been dying to try her.

This line was introduced back in 2006 as an introduction to Rocky Patels milder cigars. Less spicey and not as intense as their 95 rated Decade. A Connecticut shade wrapper (nice golden color) surrounds Dominican and Nicaraguan Ligero long fillers that have been aged for eight years.

The construction was good overall. Not many noticeable seems or veins. Was a little worried when I made my V cut. Though my blades are sharp with no burs, the cap cut halfway and tore the other half. I've had this happen before and sometimes not even a draw tool would make the cigar smokeable. I took a few dry puffs and found the draw was near perfect and had the nuttiness I was expecting from a Connecticut shade wrapper. I also tasted white pepper and cedar. The foot smelled nutty with woody notes so i lit her up.

It tasted of butter and vanilla at first. After a few minutes, I began to notice that those flavors were no longer present, having been replaced by nuances of wood and pepper. The flavor doesn't change much from here until I was nursing the nub, then I caught notes of citrus.

It had a nice clean burn, the ash was a bit flakey, and I noticed a soft spot in the body after I had gotten through the first third. Not bad, but noticeable.

Overall great smoke, could have been better of course. Still one to add to any collection.