The Light Up:
This cigar was made in commemoration of Rocky Patel’s birth year of 1961. This medium to full-bodied cigar was masterfully blended with a diversity of tobaccos. The final result is a smoke that’s rich with chocolate and cocoa notes, slightly spicy yet creamy. The Rocky Patel 1961 is the inaugural brand coming out of Rocky’s newest cigar factory in Nicaragua called Tabacalera Villa Cuba. The cigar had a gorgeous, silky Habano wrapper from Ecuador which complemented the Honduran binder and Nicaraguan fillers. At first puff, you can tell the cigar had some strength, but it was balanced enough not to bite your palate. You notice the chocolate and cocoa right away with a creamy aftertaste. A hint of spiciness is present, but not overwhelming.

The Mid-Stick:
Nearing the midway point, the cigar never strayed too far away from perfection. The wrapper had a enticing aroma which struck your senses like a blow from a heavyweight boxer. POW! Cocoa, chocolate, spice, and citrus flavors were noticeable and ever so delightful! The strength had now gained some ground. New flavors joined the party, almond and coffee. A pronounced sweetness was also present and made my mouth water. Heading towards the band and past the midway point, the cigar was burning nicely and had developed into one a hell of a cigar.

The Finish:
Once removing the band, I was pleased to be able to venture further. My palate was still tingling with excitement even though the peppery notes that were first present had dissipated into ash. The body was now in full effect and the blend had developed nicely. Burn, perfect! Aroma, appetizing! I had again ventured into smoker’s heaven. Although a little bitter at the end, Rocky had impressed me again! Verdict: go look around for one and add some to your collection. A well deserved 91!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie

The Light Up:
Ernie Padilla has done it again! Using Corojo 2006 tobacco to blend his new Padilla Dominus brand, this all Nicaraguan-grown blend is fantastic. The Corojo 2006 wrapper has a beautiful shimmer to it and a rich reddish brown color reminiscent of a fine Cohiba. The tobacco was packed nicely and the cigar had good weight to it. I was anxious to see what this cigar had up its sleeve. The light up was tasty with notes of hazelnut and coffee. Strength was medium with some peppery accents. A quarter into the cigar, I was beginning to experience the complexity of the blend. There was definitely more ahead.

The Mid-Stick:
Coming up on the half way point, the cigar picked up some strength. The blend was now full with plenty of smoke. Coffee and hazelnut still lingered and were soon joined by a strong cocoa flavor. The wrapper was burning evenly and the aroma was tantalizing. The draw perfect.

The Finish:
Remaining consistent with his brands, Ernie Padilla was on the mark again, producing another fantastic cigar. The complexity and quality of his cigar is what keeps me smoking the brand. The cigar had neared the end and had remained smooth and creamy all the way through. Although the strength had increased towards the end, the cigar never strayed too far from the initial idea of a smooth full bodied blend. I would definitely recommend trying one for yourself if you’re a Padilla fan, and if not, you’ll soon become one! Although a little pricy at $9.00 for a Robusto, it’s still worth trying. A well deserved 91!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie

The Light Up:
I attended the My Father event here in Orlando briefly and was able to snag a few of these beauty’s. I had the honor of seeing Ms. Janny Garcia and what a beauty she was! The cigars were beautiful as well. I purchased two of the No.1′s and a No.2 which qualified me to received a free Cuban Classic cigar by Don Pepin. I’ll smoke and review all of these soon. The My Father line was created by Jaime Garcia to honor his father José Pepin Garcia. He secretly worked on the line until someone in the factory leaked the little secret and Pepin found out and obviously approved! The Nicaraguan filler and binder were grown at the Garcia farms in Nicaragua, while the wrapper was acquired from Oliva. I lit the No.1 up which happened to be a robusto, and right away the cigar was slightly peppery. Although a little spice is a Pepin signature, it wasn’t overpowering. Instead I received an earthiness similar to sweet feed or hay. The cigar had lots of smoke and great body with hints of cocoa and coffee lingering around my palate. I’d lean more to the fuller side of the spectrum rather than medium bodied. With smoke in the air and a fully belly from Carlos’N Charlie’s, I proceeded.

The Mid-Stick:
Heading towards the middle of the cigar, it’s heartiness emerged. The spice had returned and the new taste of caramel touched my tongue and gave it a jolt of satisfaction. This was another addition to the Garcia family masterpieces. The cigar burned exceptionally well, despite the windy conditions. I never once had to relight or retouch the cigar, signifying a perfect construction, a characteristic of the Garcia’s quality and knowledge of cigar making. Heading towards the home stretch, I wondered what else this secret would unveil.

The Finish:
Nearing the band, I realized there were no more secrets. She has left it all on the table and the evidence was plentiful. Grey ash laid scattered in the ashtray. The end was near, could this be that there were no more surprises left? I didn’t care, I ventured on past the band and enjoyed every inch. I understand why Cigar Aficionado announced this as their No.3 cigar of the 2009. It lays out everything in front of you and all that’s left for you to do is sit back and enjoy, no need for secrets! Would I smoke it again? Definitely! Verdict: Find one and enjoy! Decently priced at $10.00 and 5.2″ x 52. A strong 92!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie