Rocky Patel,friend or foe?

[Scottw]

SOme RP's suck, some are great (Vin 1990, Decade). It's what you like.

[csbrewfisher]

Rocky is a friend. Heck, he blends and makes cigars, doesn't he? He goes out and meets the public, his BotL's. He makes cigars at all price points, so whether you're a refined connoisseur or a noob, there's probably something with his name on it in your humi. Honestly, I don't know how anyone could consider him a foe...unless you would like to see cigar smoking banned from the culture.

[DrDubzz]

I have a decade and an OWR Maddie in my cooler

if I ever get around to cigars again, they're first on the list out of curiousity

[WildBlueSooner]

I have enjoyed the RPs I have had, love the Vintage 90 and 92!

[DPD6030]

Originally Posted by WildBlueSooner

I have enjoyed the RPs I have had, love the Vintage 90 and 92!

[Tredegar]

Of all the cigar manufacturers out there, I prefer the Rocky Patel lines the most. His lines have given me the most enjoyment since I have started smoking stogies. Yes, he has had a few stinkers, but overall, I feel his lines suit my tastes the best.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Tredegar

Of all the cigar manufacturers out there, I prefer the Rocky Patel lines the most. His lines have given me the most enjoyment since I have started smoking stogies. Yes, he has had a few stinkers, but overall, I feel his lines suit my tastes the best.

That is all that matters then.

[ActionAndy]

Originally Posted by WildBlueSooner

I have enjoyed the RPs I have had, love the Vintage 90 and 92!

By far my favorite Rockys. I started smoking with Rocky Patel so no matter how many blends he releases, I'm still going to give him the benefit of the doubt and like his brand. I try at least one of almost everything he puts out.

Like I said, I love the 90 and 92. Thought the 99 was just alright, Winter was way too strong for me (and I hated it). The Edge I can take or leave. So to me he's just like any other brand--he has a few sticks I like, and some I just don't vibe with.

[thebiglebowski]

well, there was that one time when he stiffed me on the dinner bill, but i don't hold it against him. he's neither friend nor foe...

that being said, i don't believe there's an RP in my top 79 list of cigars.

[TBone]

I love the vintage 90's not so much with the 92's. I have a RP Edge I haven't tried yet but hold high hopes.

[Boobar]

I like the Vintage 1990's and the Edge Maduro's and I always keep a couple of each on hand. The others that I have had don't do that much for me.

[lightning9191]

I've had a handful of his blends and found none of them amazing, but they aren't bad. I usually keep some '92 Vintages around.

[Starscream]

I even like RP's $h!tty sticks, like Esteban Carrera Maduro and Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro.

[skullnrose]

I'm smoking Rocky Patel TAA Signature Series not a bad smoke reminds me of a OWR. I give all his cigars a shot but haven't found many that I'd buy a box of.

Originally Posted by skullnrose

I'm smoking Rocky Patel TAA Signature Series not a bad smoke reminds me of a OWR. I give all his cigars a shot but haven't found many that I'd buy a box of.

I got one of these the other day. Glad to hear they are reminding you of the OWR I like those.

I've never understood the dislike of any company for making different varieties. RP and Gurkha get the worst wrap on the boards for having too many varieties. As soon as a brand starts to branch out it's not long before the comparisons to the above 2 start and its all "downhill from there" in the eyes of some. Is it not possible for a company to make many kinds of their product to try and reach the largest group of customers? I buy potato chips from a company that makes about 20 different varieties. Since they make barbecue should I not buy the regular chips from them and just find a company that makes plain chips?

For me most of the enjoyment of this hobby is trying new cigars and revisiting old friends to see if they taste the same.

As for the RP brand, many I like some I don't but honestly never had one I threw out.

Chas

[big a]

Originally Posted by ChasDen

I've never understood the dislike of any company for making different varieties. RP and Gurkha get the worst wrap on the boards for having too many varieties. As soon as a brand starts to branch out it's not long before the comparisons to the above 2 start and its all "downhill from there" in the eyes of some. Is it not possible for a company to make many kinds of their product to try and reach the largest group of customers? I buy potato chips from a company that makes about 20 different varieties. Since they make barbecue should I not buy the regular chips from them and just find a company that makes plain chips?

For me most of the enjoyment of this hobby is trying new cigars and revisiting old friends to see if they taste the same.

As for the RP brand, many I like some I don't but honestly never had one I threw out.

Chas

Couldn't have said it any better myself. Out of the RPs i have had, a couple i really like and one or two i didn't care for. I keep track and move on, just because i had one RP i didn't like doesn't mean i woln't smoke them later on.

Originally Posted by ChasDen

I've never understood the dislike of any company for making different varieties. RP and Gurkha get the worst wrap on the boards for having too many varieties. As soon as a brand starts to branch out it's not long before the comparisons to the above 2 start and its all "downhill from there" in the eyes of some. Is it not possible for a company to make many kinds of their product to try and reach the largest group of customers? I buy potato chips from a company that makes about 20 different varieties. Since they make barbecue should I not buy the regular chips from them and just find a company that makes plain chips?

For me most of the enjoyment of this hobby is trying new cigars and revisiting old friends to see if they taste the same.

As for the RP brand, many I like some I don't but honestly never had one I threw out.

Chas

I think a lot of people are pushing for a "Do one thing and do it well" rather than "try to do everything and hit or miss."

It'd be nice if you could pick up any RP/Gurkha blindly and in the first few puffs go, "Yup, that definitely has that Gurkha/RP flavor." Unfortunately they've stretched their blend catalogue so far to reach every single possible consumer that it's nearly impossible to associate the cigar to the blender beyond the band.

Don't get me wrong, I have liked the few RPs I've tried. I also keep a box of Cuban Blend maduros in my stash.
I just think the hobby is possibly getting a bit worn thin by these overzealous blenders/companies.

[kaisersozei]

Originally Posted by sodomanaz

I just think the hobby is possibly getting a bit worn thin by these overzealous blenders/companies.

I hear what you're saying, but for me the hobby is about variety. Finding new sticks, testing things out, discovering new flavors--that's the biggest reason why I smoke cigars. There are more blends out there than I'll ever get around to smoking, but I'm more inclined to try something new from a brand where I have already enjoyed a few different lines: RP, DPG, and Oliva fall into that category.

On the other hand, I can appreciate a company that just produces a few lines but does that very, very well: Padron comes to mind, as well as some of the new boutique players who don't have a ton of lines on the market, like illusione & Esencia.

I guess I just like experimenting. It's the same with me & beer. Over the years I have bought (or brewed) a huge variety of beer, but I also usually keep a 6 pack of Sierra Nevada or Victory on hand for when I want just that.

If someone like Rocky helps enhance my enjoyment of the hobby by producing good quality, enjoyable cigars, then I consider him a friend.

[loki]

Originally Posted by sodomanaz

I think a lot of people are pushing for a "Do one thing and do it well" rather than "try to do everything and hit or miss."

It'd be nice if you could pick up any RP/Gurkha blindly and in the first few puffs go, "Yup, that definitely has that Gurkha/RP flavor." Unfortunately they've stretched their blend catalogue so far to reach every single possible consumer that it's nearly impossible to associate the cigar to the blender beyond the band.

Don't get me wrong, I have liked the few RPs I've tried. I also keep a box of Cuban Blend maduros in my stash.
I just think the hobby is possibly getting a bit worn thin by these overzealous blenders/companies.

I don't see the problem with having different lines taste different, and I'm an over whelming fan of partagas. Yes there is something to be said for having a distinct flavor profile in every cigar that comes out of the factory, it's consistent and......expected I guess. However, there is also something to be said for variety. If I grab an edge I want it to taste like every edge that I've had before it but if I grab another one of his sticks I don't want it to taste like another edge. If I want an edge I'll smoke another edge, if I grab a vintage 90 I don't want to close my eyes and think I'm smoking another edge.
I know when I grab a party anything I'm going to have a flavor base and depending on the age of the cigar I'm going to have other flavors besides that and I happen to really really like that taste...which is why I own more of that cigar then any other...except for los statos but that's due to price....but that being said I don't want every cigar I smoke to taste the same. I don't smoke many RPs anymore and the last few I've had I didn't really care for but that's life and I don't fault him for trying to make cigars that allow more and more people enjoy them. It's good for him and it's good for us.