So...Rocky Patel...

[megladon8]

I was in the "Rocky Patel = BAD" camp for a while, until two things happened recently.

One was a piece of information I came across:

Yes, he has a million and one blends licensed under his name, but his actual core blends are about 10. Which is nothing out of the ordinary. And most all of his core blends have incredibly solid reps.


The second thing that happened, was last night when I smoked a Vintage 1990 Torpedo.

It is, without hyperbole, one of the most enjoyable cigars I've ever had. From start to finish it was decadent. A beautiful balance of sweet and spicy flavours, with a burn that was RAZOR sharp from start to finish. The coolest part? The burn time.

TWO HOURS AND TEN MINUTES. And that was taking about 2 draws a minute.


Honestly, I know this guy and his lines have a bad rep around here, but I feel like maybe it's a bit uninformed, particularly when I find out that the many dozens of blends he releases are really just independent blends he's bought and promoted.

His own cigars are pretty dang good.

 

[iCraig]

Smoke what you like and like what you smoke. His stuff doesn't do it for me. If it does for you, great, there is nothing wrong with that.

 

[Hoshneer]

Smoke what you like, screw everyone else..... I haven't had to many Rocky Patel's so I can't say. I will have to try a few..

 

[fuente~fuente]

I respect Rocky as a business man... He's worked hard to get where he is, & I'm not ashamed to admit that I do enjoy a few of his cigars. I just wish he'd tone down whoring himself out to the online stores a bit. On the other hand though... Can't blame a guy for trying to get those $$$'s.

 

[GoingPostal]

Does he overhype his cigars? yes Does he use a lot of "marketing language" to sell his cigars? Yes Has he ever forced anyone to smoke one of his cigars? NO. Never really understood the "hate" thrown rocky's way. As stated before smoke what you like I like some of RP stuff, like some gurkha stuff as well. Oh and believe it or not have had a few Tatuajes I didn't much care for.

 

[javajunkie]

good on you that you enjoy his stuff. i usually find myself grabbing other smokes, as there is just SO MUCH good shit out there, but i have had some of his lines i have enjoyed. recommend his decade line, or the old world reserve.

 

[Strickland]

Anyone had/enjoyed an R4? I've only had one, and it was back when I first started, but I enjoyed it immensely...

 

[megladon8]

good on you that you enjoy his stuff. i usually find myself grabbing other smokes, as there is just SO MUCH good shit out there, but i have had some of his lines i have enjoyed. recommend his decade line, or the old world reserve.

I have a Decade waiting for me in my humi. Excited

As for the Olde World Reserve, do you recommend the maduro or the corojo? There's a great deal on the lanceros of both at CI right now.

 

[NickThePyro]

Ever since the wrapper dying thread I havent really had a desire to try them. I have yet to smoke a RP but I have a 1990 and a 1992 in my humidor. One of these days I will get around to smoking them to give RP a try.

 

[megladon8]

Ever since the wrapper dying thread I havent really had a desire to try them. I have yet to smoke a RP but I have a 1990 and a 1992 in my humidor. One of these days I will get around to smoking them to give RP a try.

From what I've read on the wrapper dying issue, it's an incredibly rare practice, and the "dye" is actually just the natural oils from the tobacco, anyways. So you're not smoking anything you wouldn't already have been.

That being said, have you seen Bryan Glynn's video about it? Any cigar, if wet enough, will begin to "bleed" colour. The same way that if you rub a green leaf between your fingers, the green colour starts to come off.

If you have colour on your fingers and lips after smoking a particularly dark cigar, that does not mean it was dyed.

 

[Headbanger]

Smoke what you like and like what you smoke.

Smoke what you like, screw everyone else.....

This ^^^^^^


Thanks for sharing your experience with RP.

 

[StocktonJohn]

I'll have to try the Vintage line again. I used to really enjoy the Hybrids, Sun Grown, R4 and the old edge corojos. His newer stuff however, just has not been appealing to me.

 

[ironchefscott]

I have only tried the 15th anniversary and you know what...it actually was a nice cigar. But I have not yet tried too many of them. I have a decade in my humi I am excited to try

 

[The EVP]

Anyone had/enjoyed an R4? I've only had one, and it was back when I first started, but I enjoyed it immensely...

I had one and thought it was horrible. When I asked one of the Rocky reps about it, he said, "Ummmm....yeah, let's not talk about the R4." I admit it...I fell for the ad in the CI catalog.

His premium lines (Edge, 1990, 1992, Decade, OWR and Thunder) are great smokes.

 

[CigarGavin]

When I started smoking the Vintage 1992 Toro was one of my favorites; since then i`ve enjoyed other brands more, but ill go back the 1992 every once in a while, still a good smoke.

 

[Hoshneer]

I had one and thought it was horrible. When I asked one of the Rocky reps about it, he said, "Ummmm....yeah, let's not talk about the R4." I admit it...I fell for the ad in the CI catalog.

His premium lines (Edge, 1990, 1992, Decade, OWR and Thunder) are great smokes.

I have heard a couple things about the Thunder. Maybe I will pick one up...

 

[Fat_Risling]

Idk what happened but I used to enjoy the occasional rp maybe my palate has changed and I'm sure the dying thing sticking in the back of my mind doesn't help but recently all of them I smoke leave me feeling disappointed. Again just my view and if you like them continue to enjoy.
To each their own Brotha.

 

[Le Buzz]

Does he overhype his cigars? yes Does he use a lot of "marketing language" to sell his cigars? Yes Has he ever forced anyone to smoke one of his cigars? NO. Never really understood the "hate" thrown rocky's way. As stated before smoke what you like I like some of RP stuff, like some gurkha stuff as well. Oh and believe it or not have had a few Tatuajes I didn't much care for.

He has every right to run a business, and we have every right to bash him!

I don't hate RP for the sake of just hating the brand, I speak my mind so that others like me who are looking for a quality cigar from a brand with integrity KNOW what they are getting.

There is nothing wrong with a consumer knowing full well what it is they are spending their money on. Some smokers don't care about integrity, tradition, and honesty in a cigar brand. They just want a cigar with good taste. That's fine... I'm not bashing their taste as cigar smokers, I'm just bringing to light what I believe is a company that is a detriment to the cigar business.

 

[Splatt]

Had a Thunder this last weekend and really really enjoyed it. Didn't even realize it was an RP product until after I was done and looked it up. Pleasantly surprised since the last several RP sticks I have had were awful.

 

[Alwayslit]

Smoke what you like and like what you smoke and puff,puff, pass.