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

First Impression:
Here’s my first attempt at a beer review in relation to cigars. The bottle looked fancy, the beer looked dark like cola and smell was incredible. I was looking forward to pairing this with my full bodied cigar. It was recommended to me by the bartender who happened to work at the cigar bar. Go figure!! I had in my hand the Alec Bradley Prensado Torpedo which I rated earlier. The combo was deadly! Two full bodied killers that complemented each other better than Bonnie and Clyde. A great choice! At first pour, there was a very light head which dissipated quickly leaving behind a dark, rich liquid which filled my glass. The first sip was nutty and had undertones of licorice and molasses. The cigar too had a nutty taste which was complemented by the brew. Puff after puff, sip after sip and the combo was going strong.

Mid-Glass:
At this point in the experience, both my cigar and beer were complementing each other. Not bad for a beer from Spain. I must admit I had never even heard of this beer. The dark beer I was used to drinking was Guiness which seemed to cancel out my palate and coat my tongue too much to enjoy a good cigar with. The nuttiness continued and was joined by some roasted coffee notes. The consistency was light and not too overbearing, leaving my palate clean to enjoy the flavors of the cigar as well.

The Last Sip:
Nearing the bottom of the glass, I had already ordered round two and now my cigar was at the half-way point. I believe this beer would complement any medium to full bodied cigar without overwhelming your palate. Would I recommend pairing this beer with any full bodied cigar, definitely! Although there wasn’t too much alcohol content, about 5.4%, it was enough to give me a nice buzz after two. Go out and see if you can find this beer and let me know what you think. I give this dark beauty an 8 out of 10!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie

The Light Up:
Here’s my first cigar review and boy did this cigar surprise me! I walked into Corona Cigars the other day and grabbed this off the shelf. The cigar was beautiful and shiny like a new car! The wrapper was very oily and smelled wonderful. I was determined to get the full experience, so I took a seat in their lovely lounge and proceeded to smoke. I must admit, I haven’t smoked an Alec Bradley cigar since the original Trilogy came out, which has been quite sometime. Not because I wasn’t a fan, but because I was unfamiliar with the product, so I stuck with what I knew (as most of us do). I’ve seen their impressive ratings and decided to give it a try. The cigar started out with a bang! My first mouthful of smoke was intense with woody and creamy aromas floating around my palate, brushing against my tongue exciting my senses. The cigar was definitely a lot stronger than I had expected, thus putting me into a more euphoric state. The burn started off a little uneven, but straightened out with a little encouragement.

The Mid-Stick:
The Corojo 2006 wrapper grown in Trojes, Honduras was burning nicely. Half way through the cigar I was experiencing what most of us do with a great cigar, wonderful aromas of cedar, with a hint of chocolate like a hershey’s kiss. Other scents made their way out and into my nasal passage. At the point of no return, the cigar was burning nicely and I can now experience the full effect of the tried and true blend. I can tell this was blended for the experienced smoker as the cigar was very complex in nature.

The Finish:
Once to the band (as we all have had to make this decision before with a great cigar) I decided to keep on going. The cigar had maintained it’s complexity and strength from beginning to near end. I was still getting mouthfuls of smoke and the taste and aroma were still there, never once dwindling down the path of failure. I was impressed! At $11.75 and with the natural torpedo size of 6″ x 52, this was worth every cent! I loved the box pressed feel and look and would definitely add a few of these to the collection. Definitely not for the novice smoker! My overall opinion, go out and experience one for yourself! I give this cigar a well deserved 91!

Happy Smoking!
Jorgie