Review - Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Torpedo.
As a relatively new smoker I bought this cigar after being recommended the brand by one of my more seasoned-smoker friends, I will be honest here, when it arrived the UBER-DARK wrapper, torpedo shape and overall scale of this cigar intimidated me slightly and so it has lived in the humidor for about a month... Until now.
Well constructed, well presented cigar in rich dark brown wrapper. Heard some reviewers online say that this is a dyed wrapper but I honestly don't know enough to say whether it is or not. Just throwing it out there.
Lights well and easily, good pure white ash and straight burn line
Flavours of caramel (reminiscent of the caramelised sugar on something like a creme brûlée, caramel with a slight burnt flavour - not unpleasant when combined with other flavours in this blend), chocolate with a slight after-taste of mocha, not quite as bitter as coffee, not quite as sweet as chocolate - perhaps the perfect equilibrium?
Firmer draw than I'm accustomed to but the torpedo cap means you can have a bit if control over the diameter of the hole so knowing this now, I'd probably have just nipped it off slightly further up for a narrower hole but we live and learn!
Very little lingering smell with this cigar and what there is is very easy on the nose, for such a large, dark and intimidating cigar - it's actually quite "sociable" in respect of the room note.
One of the biggest surprises is just how cool the smoke is, I haven't, won't and don't recommend anyone else try it, but I honestly think I'd have very little problem inhaling this cigar (sacrilege I know!).
The flavours are superb but the strength isn't overpowering.
Got about an inch down when I just had to tickle the burn line a bit but it was soon back on track.
Nice sweet taste on the lips with this too, reminiscent of the Nat Sherman HH but with a more sophisticated taste than just being out-and-out sweetness.
What I have noticed is that aside from the after-taste on the lips, there isn't a bitter or spicy aftertaste in the mouth so if that's something you aren't a fan of (personally I enjoy that little kick at the end sometimes) then this would be a cigar worth trying.