15 Year old Tobacco?

[vperlman]

Judging from the title of this thread, it looks as if we are assuming that Vintage 1990 and 1992 means that the tobacco in those cigars comes from 1990 and 1992, respectively. If that's what this discussion is based on, I think it's just an assumption, and nothing more. I don't remember seeing anything in the marketing of these cigars that made that claim. I looked at the description on the CI website, and this is what it said:

"Vintage 1990 is a blend of Dominican and Nicaraguan Ligero draped in a tantalizing natural Broadleaf wrapper from Honduras. It's medium-bodied with a really enjoyable, complex smooth-rich flavor.

"Vintage 1992 offers the identical fillers and binder as the 1990, with the variation being very dark 10 year old Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. It's medium-bodied with a creamy, nutty, and full flavor."

So, the only claim of age is for the wrapper on the 92's, which is based on the number of years of aging, not the specific year of origin.

Am I missing something? I don't see anything misleading. :frownno:

 

[smokinafuente]

Like cmv4 said, there site says......

1990 Vintage

Mild to medium bodied, this blend of rare aged tobacco has a perfect balance of flavor, complexity, and richness. A very smooth earthy smoke with notes of cedar and a light espresso flavor. In pursuit of the finest tobacco's the world has to offer, Rocky Patel uses this 12 year old Honduran Broadleaf wrapper along with a 5 year filler and binder that will satisfy every smoker from novices to the most discriminating of aficionados.

1992 Vintage

Medium to full bodied, this blend of rare aged tobacco has a perfect balance of flavor, complexity, and richness. A very enticing smoke with bold flavors that consist of strong noted of coffee and cedar with a long earthy finish. The 10 year old Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper along with the 5 year old filler and binder are a perfect compliment of strength and complexity. This cigar is recommended for the seasoned smoker that is in pursuit of a rare vintage smoke.

Granted it's not from '90 - '92, but that is still a lot of tobacco with some good age. So, it will be interesting to see where it came from.

Man, with all this RP talk, I think I need to fire up a "92. MMmmmmmm

 

[vperlman]

Coincidentally, there is an interview with Rocky Patel in the current (online) edition of Smoke Magazine with a relevant Q&A:

"SMOKE: Your aged Vintage cigars are terrific sellers. How does the aging process work?

PATEL: Once we’ve sorted into primings, we ferment for a period of time based on the thickness of the leaves, taking the taste to another level while getting rid of most of the ammonia, nicotine and fertilizer from the leaf. This process allows us to build a cigar that has immensely rich taste but without sour taste or a bad finish. Once the tobacco is fermented we put it away from anywhere two to four years…in the instance of the vintages the wrappers are 8 to 12 years old. Of course after we pull the tobacco to roll cigars then we have quality control issues for the construction of the cigars which are intense - cap, color, weight and aesthetics are all interpreted within narrow bands."

FWIW.

 

[smokinafuente]

Cool!

I wonder how big of an operation they really are. :scratchhe

 

[carbolicsmoke]

Whatever the age of the 92' it is one of my favorite nc smokes.

 

[Electric Sheep]

Hmm, lookie what I dug up on CA mag's website....

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Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto
Rocky Patel has sold cigars under the Indian Tabac label since 1995, but it wasn't until 2003 that he created a cigar using his own name. His Vintage blend is entirely new, made in a separate factory with older tobaccos and a balanced and elegant blend with good complexity. Last year was a breakout year for Patel. In October, he attained his highest rating ever: 92 points. The score was awarded to the Vintage 1990 Robusto, the best of Patel's cigars. The 5 1/2 by 50 corona gorda is made with a little-used leaf, a broadleaf tobacco planted in Honduras, in a field in the Talanga Valley owned by U.S. Cigar Sales. The rarity of the leaf, plus short sales kept U.S. Cigar Sales from using the tobacco years ago and it took on brilliant age. The result is a toasty and balanced blend.

Made by: U.S. Cigar Sales, Honduras (General Cigar/Swedish Match)
Owner/Distributor: Rocky Patel

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:sarcastic

 

[gui_tarzan]

From what I saw in CM they're not a big company at all. I really like the '92 line, not so much the '90. I would have to venture a guess that most of the labeling is strictly that - labeling. Even if the wrapper was aged 10 years which I don't doubt for a minute it would still make them a newer vintage unless they were only made in 2002. Whatever, I have serious doubts that any pre-embargo tobacco could be any good at all now and the one Pinar I had when I first took up cigars was an $8 mistake. Tasted like absolute crap!

 

[caudio51]

What a Co-inky-diny ... I was in my local last week and they had some "Legal Cubans" for sale. "Legal" because they claim they found this pre-Castro cuban tobacco in a warehouse in New Jersey. Supposedly, this tobacco has been sitting around for some 50 years ... so they "just" rolled it and VOILA !!!!!!! legal cuban cigars !!!!!

Who maintained this "lost" stuff for 50 years ??? Was the temp and humidity controlled to give the best aging conditions?? How much of that wonderful New Jersey smell seeped into the flavor of the leaves ???? Are they sure they didn't find it under the Brooklyn Bridge???

First off, you are thinking Jersey smells because of the industrial area around exit 13. Please do not judge the state on just that. Secondly, the owner of Pinar lives in my town. I have run into him twice at the local B&M but never had the chance to really speak with him. Personally, I don't care for the cigars at all.

From what I saw in CM they're not a big company at all. I really like the '92 line, not so much the '90. I would have to venture a guess that most of the labeling is strictly that - labeling. Even if the wrapper was aged 10 years which I don't doubt for a minute it would still make them a newer vintage unless they were only made in 2002. Whatever, I have serious doubts that any pre-embargo tobacco could be any good at all now and the one Pinar I had when I first took up cigars was an $8 mistake. Tasted like absolute crap!

I think they have gotten big. They seem to move a ton of stuff on cbid/CI...

 

[gui_tarzan]

From the interview in CM it doesn't look like a very large operation but you can put a lot of people in a warehouse rolling tobacco. I didn't mean to suggest it's just a little mom & pop operation by any means, just that it doesn't appear to be large. For what it's worth, I love the '92, I don't care for the '90 all that much and I haven't tried most of the rest of their lines but what I have tried will keep me coming back. Our local has tried for a few years to get Rocky to come here and to a large herf at the local casino but so far it hasn't panned out.

 

[CWS]

Rocky's a great guy. If you ever get a chance to meet him or go to one of his events go by all means. Lots of fun and lots of cigars. Here is his website by the way. I think most if not all his cigars are rolled by someone else which is how he can have somany lines.

http://www.indiantabac.com/

 

[Electric Sheep]

Rocky is AWESOME in person, a really great, personable guy.

 

[smokinafuente]

Still no word back.

 

[caudio51]

They probably get a TON of email...I would think it could take some time for a reply