coopsdeloops
Member
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2011
- Messages
- 627
Rocky Patel R4 Toro
Wrapper - Corojo
Filler - Blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran.
6x52
I read the blind cigar thread from beginning to end and was so impressed with many of the reviews. Great pictures, great explanations, and great brotherhood. It was inspiring and educational.
As I read it, I began to get a feel for what layout of reviews seemed to be more educational and interesting. Like everything else in life, I realized some things you just have to jump in and try in order to get going, and keep practicing to get better at, (my musician side perhaps). I figured I might as well get my feet wet, so here's my first review.
While, I usually see cigar reviews on more expensive cigars, I decided to write this one because it surprised me more than anything else. The Rocky Patel R4 line is very inexpensive ($2-$3 a stick), and being a grad student, I rarely get to smoke a stick more than $10 MSRP.
I bought these off of Cigarbid.com a while ago because they were going cheap and I thought I'd just take a stab. When I first got them I smoked one up immediately and threw it out after the first half. Nothing changed, and it wasn't even that tasty to begin with so I was thoroughly disappointed. I threw them in a box with a humidifier and thought I'd give them to buddies who were looking for a stick but didn't smoke much.
This morning I was looking for something a little different from my Punch's, and after having a mediocre at best Padron 4000 maduro last night which I had saved and was expecting something satisfying, (yes, a MEDIOCRE PADRON. Heresy, right?) I thought I'd just take a risk and smoke something that I thought would be totally below expectations.
I am amazed at what some humidification, rest, and a cedar box can do. This cigar was completely different from my memory of the previous one. In fact, I wasn't planning on reviewing this cigar but after my surprise, I decided to give it a go.
The wrapper was good. On some of the cigars that came the wrapper had a few chips out, but this one was solid. There were a few long veins, but nothing too alarming, and the sheen was nice and oily.
After cutting open the cap, the prelit draw gives me a medium taste of Cedar, just about the only taste I remembered from my previous smoke. I wasn't hopeful.
1st third
Upon lighting it I taste a nice peppery kick which quickly settles into a grassy cedar taste with hints of vanilla. The initial draw is not promising. The ash isn't coming off evenly, and seems to begin splintering even before it falls. The ash drops after the first centimeter, the burn wanders but quickly self-corrects itself. The flavor is medium, but the aroma isvery pleasant with the cedar and vanilla. This one was already better than my previous attempt.
2nd third
The 2nd third of the cigar becomes more interesting. The flavors have deepened and the cedar has began to take over. There is a new flavor of nuts and oiled leather, with a sweetness which hits the middle of my tongue. This lasts until about halfway through the cigar, where the cedar begins to fade and the stick became more peppery. This is by far more complex than I had anticipated, and if the smoke ended at this point, I'd already be a happy man.
Last third
The spice has really begun to heat up. The pepper has really cranked up, to the point of unpleasantness. I purge it and unpleasantness is replaced by the leather and oats once again. Interestingly, as the flavors crank up, the aroma gets fainter.The burn still wanders but self corrects. Meanwhile, the ash is holding better (2 inches +) I retrohale and it’s surprisingly smooth, with a oakey flavor, close to a scotch taste. . It does not sting my nose and I find myself wishing I had done this earlier.
The cigar ends without fanfare. It was a good smoke to the end, and I'm glad I gave it a second chance, as rather than giving them away, I'll put them in a rotation. For a newbie who's looking for something interesting but is on a budget, I'm quite content with my purchase.
Note: Again, I know this probably isn't the most exciting cigar to most of you FOGs out there. I'm practicing reviewing a cigar. Thanks for your patience.
Wrapper - Corojo
Filler - Blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran.
6x52
I read the blind cigar thread from beginning to end and was so impressed with many of the reviews. Great pictures, great explanations, and great brotherhood. It was inspiring and educational.
As I read it, I began to get a feel for what layout of reviews seemed to be more educational and interesting. Like everything else in life, I realized some things you just have to jump in and try in order to get going, and keep practicing to get better at, (my musician side perhaps). I figured I might as well get my feet wet, so here's my first review.
While, I usually see cigar reviews on more expensive cigars, I decided to write this one because it surprised me more than anything else. The Rocky Patel R4 line is very inexpensive ($2-$3 a stick), and being a grad student, I rarely get to smoke a stick more than $10 MSRP.
I bought these off of Cigarbid.com a while ago because they were going cheap and I thought I'd just take a stab. When I first got them I smoked one up immediately and threw it out after the first half. Nothing changed, and it wasn't even that tasty to begin with so I was thoroughly disappointed. I threw them in a box with a humidifier and thought I'd give them to buddies who were looking for a stick but didn't smoke much.
This morning I was looking for something a little different from my Punch's, and after having a mediocre at best Padron 4000 maduro last night which I had saved and was expecting something satisfying, (yes, a MEDIOCRE PADRON. Heresy, right?) I thought I'd just take a risk and smoke something that I thought would be totally below expectations.
I am amazed at what some humidification, rest, and a cedar box can do. This cigar was completely different from my memory of the previous one. In fact, I wasn't planning on reviewing this cigar but after my surprise, I decided to give it a go.
The wrapper was good. On some of the cigars that came the wrapper had a few chips out, but this one was solid. There were a few long veins, but nothing too alarming, and the sheen was nice and oily.
After cutting open the cap, the prelit draw gives me a medium taste of Cedar, just about the only taste I remembered from my previous smoke. I wasn't hopeful.
1st third
Upon lighting it I taste a nice peppery kick which quickly settles into a grassy cedar taste with hints of vanilla. The initial draw is not promising. The ash isn't coming off evenly, and seems to begin splintering even before it falls. The ash drops after the first centimeter, the burn wanders but quickly self-corrects itself. The flavor is medium, but the aroma isvery pleasant with the cedar and vanilla. This one was already better than my previous attempt.
2nd third
The 2nd third of the cigar becomes more interesting. The flavors have deepened and the cedar has began to take over. There is a new flavor of nuts and oiled leather, with a sweetness which hits the middle of my tongue. This lasts until about halfway through the cigar, where the cedar begins to fade and the stick became more peppery. This is by far more complex than I had anticipated, and if the smoke ended at this point, I'd already be a happy man.
Last third
The spice has really begun to heat up. The pepper has really cranked up, to the point of unpleasantness. I purge it and unpleasantness is replaced by the leather and oats once again. Interestingly, as the flavors crank up, the aroma gets fainter.The burn still wanders but self corrects. Meanwhile, the ash is holding better (2 inches +) I retrohale and it’s surprisingly smooth, with a oakey flavor, close to a scotch taste. . It does not sting my nose and I find myself wishing I had done this earlier.
The cigar ends without fanfare. It was a good smoke to the end, and I'm glad I gave it a second chance, as rather than giving them away, I'll put them in a rotation. For a newbie who's looking for something interesting but is on a budget, I'm quite content with my purchase.
Note: Again, I know this probably isn't the most exciting cigar to most of you FOGs out there. I'm practicing reviewing a cigar. Thanks for your patience.
