Rocky Patel summer 2008 collection Toro grande

[Don Fernando]

Sorry, no pictures, I lost them during a hard disk crash before I could upload them.

This 6 x 58 Rocky Patel from the Summer 2008 collection was given to me by Hardcz, way before he got banned from the board. The Ecuadorian Grown Wrapper from Sumatra Seed is very oily with a few long thin veins and the construction feels quite hard. The 'bling bling' cigar band is pretty and stands out from other cigar bands. The cigar has a strong barnyard aroma. I punched the cigar and got a fine predraw with a black pepper flavor.

I can taste a mild coffee flavor without any supporting flavors. The strength of the flavor mellows down after half an inch and a few puffs later I can taste some chocolate as aftertaste. Both flavors are quite mild. After the mid section of the cigar I can taste a mild pepper for just a moment, and the flavors become a bit creamy. The flavors also grow a bit in strength. I get a freshness with a mild herbal feeling to it combined with a mild creamy chocolate. After 2/3rd the chocolate gains a bit more power, but it never becomes full flavored.

This cigar produces a lot of smoke. The draw is on the light side but acceptable and the ash is close to white and firm. I needed to correct the burn a few times. The cigar is mild to medium flavored and medium bodied.

Would I buy this cigar again? No, this cigar is another Rocky Patel that doesn't fit my palate

Appearance: 8 / 10
Construction: 7 / 10
Draw: 6 / 10
Smoke & ash: 8 / 10
Burn: 6 / 10
Aroma (first part) 6 / 10
Aroma (middle part) 6 / 10
Aroma (last part) 7 / 10