CRQuarto
Brrraaaiiinnnsss.....
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,850
Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Churchill
Size: 7 x 48 rg Churchill
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Strength: Mild - Medium
Another beautiful day in Orange County today, which was a nice break from the heat wave we had earlier in the week on Monday and Tuesday. I decided that I would try a cigar that had been sitting in the humidor for approximately 8 months now. When I first bought a sampler of the Rocky Patel Vintage series ('90, '92 & '99), I liked both the '90 and '92 very much, but I didn't care for the Connecticut 1999 at all. It had a harsh, bitter taste to it, not to mention it was gassing ammonia like crazy. I figured they were very new cigars, and so I would let them rest for a while. I pulled one out today to see if it had gotten any better, and luckily it had!
My initial inspection of the cigar revealed a beautifuly constructed cigar featuring a light tan wrapper that was very supple. The wrapper was veiny, though they were not of the large variety, with no flaws, and was capped nicely. The foot was well bunched, and smelled slightly grassy, perhaps more like hay. The cigar was firm when squeezed, with no discernable soft spots, nor any hard ones, which left me hopeful that this would be a well drawing cigar. I clipped the head, and the prelight draw confirmed that the draw was perfect. I tasted the same grassy, hay like flavor I had smelled from the foot. I next toasted the foot, and then took a couple long, deep pulls, which immediately opened up with a sweetness that reminded me of black cherries, the almost overly ripe kind. Delicious! I slowly let out the smoke out both through my mouth and nose, giving me a very slight bit of spice and nutmeg mixed with the sweetness of the black cherry. The flavors were subtle, but very defined, not muted at all, and the finish was clean. This was a good cigar! The smoke was billowing and had the aroma of leather and wood, which was delightful. The ash was a solid gray color, and held firm until knocked off at about the one inch mark, and the burn was perfect.
The halfway point was similar to the first quarter, though the spice warmed up a bit, and the strength was building towards a medium. There was none of the harsh or bitter tastes I had experienced in these when I first bought them. I was really enjoying this cigar, it was complimenting the day and my mood perfectly. My girlfriend joined me outside at this point with the dog, and she took a few pulls from the cigar. She commented that it had a sweetness like black cherries, which made me chuckle as I had just been confirmed of my suspicions! She said it was a very tasty, toasty and mellow cigar, and she liked it very much. She told me she was half tempted to steal it from me and make me go get another one for myself! What a pill! Finally, after a little begging, she reluctantly gave me the stick back.
During the last fourth of the cigar, it began to take on a creamy, toasted bread taste which I liked very much, though the rest of the flavors were still there. The strength was holding at a perfect medium level, and I was surprised that I did not need to purge at all this whole time. I didn't nub the cigar this time, as I had to return to my duties of the day, but if the time had been left I have no doubt I would have nubbed it. I can't wait to fire up another one of these, as well as the other Vintage blends to see if they have all changed for the better.
Size: 7 x 48 rg Churchill
Wrapper: Connecticut
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
Strength: Mild - Medium
Another beautiful day in Orange County today, which was a nice break from the heat wave we had earlier in the week on Monday and Tuesday. I decided that I would try a cigar that had been sitting in the humidor for approximately 8 months now. When I first bought a sampler of the Rocky Patel Vintage series ('90, '92 & '99), I liked both the '90 and '92 very much, but I didn't care for the Connecticut 1999 at all. It had a harsh, bitter taste to it, not to mention it was gassing ammonia like crazy. I figured they were very new cigars, and so I would let them rest for a while. I pulled one out today to see if it had gotten any better, and luckily it had!
My initial inspection of the cigar revealed a beautifuly constructed cigar featuring a light tan wrapper that was very supple. The wrapper was veiny, though they were not of the large variety, with no flaws, and was capped nicely. The foot was well bunched, and smelled slightly grassy, perhaps more like hay. The cigar was firm when squeezed, with no discernable soft spots, nor any hard ones, which left me hopeful that this would be a well drawing cigar. I clipped the head, and the prelight draw confirmed that the draw was perfect. I tasted the same grassy, hay like flavor I had smelled from the foot. I next toasted the foot, and then took a couple long, deep pulls, which immediately opened up with a sweetness that reminded me of black cherries, the almost overly ripe kind. Delicious! I slowly let out the smoke out both through my mouth and nose, giving me a very slight bit of spice and nutmeg mixed with the sweetness of the black cherry. The flavors were subtle, but very defined, not muted at all, and the finish was clean. This was a good cigar! The smoke was billowing and had the aroma of leather and wood, which was delightful. The ash was a solid gray color, and held firm until knocked off at about the one inch mark, and the burn was perfect.
The halfway point was similar to the first quarter, though the spice warmed up a bit, and the strength was building towards a medium. There was none of the harsh or bitter tastes I had experienced in these when I first bought them. I was really enjoying this cigar, it was complimenting the day and my mood perfectly. My girlfriend joined me outside at this point with the dog, and she took a few pulls from the cigar. She commented that it had a sweetness like black cherries, which made me chuckle as I had just been confirmed of my suspicions! She said it was a very tasty, toasty and mellow cigar, and she liked it very much. She told me she was half tempted to steal it from me and make me go get another one for myself! What a pill! Finally, after a little begging, she reluctantly gave me the stick back.
During the last fourth of the cigar, it began to take on a creamy, toasted bread taste which I liked very much, though the rest of the flavors were still there. The strength was holding at a perfect medium level, and I was surprised that I did not need to purge at all this whole time. I didn't nub the cigar this time, as I had to return to my duties of the day, but if the time had been left I have no doubt I would have nubbed it. I can't wait to fire up another one of these, as well as the other Vintage blends to see if they have all changed for the better.
