Rocky Patel A.L.R. Robusto

Rocky Patel has a well-earned reputation for uncompromising quality. He has received so many stellar ratings and awards from industry groups and publications, he's in a class by himself. Every cigar he makes undergoes rigorous quality control measures to ensure that only the best cigars from the rolling table make it to a consumer's hand. No wonder his sticks are some of the most sought after in the world!

Aged. Limited. Rare. Those three words sum up the Rocky Patel A.L.R. Blended by Rocky Patel himself at his famed TAVICUSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua back in 2015, the smoke starts with a silky smooth Ecuadoran Habano-seed wrapper that holds a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. There was something about the blend that kept him coming back to it, so he finally decided to do a short order of 100,000 sticks and then laid them down for a three year nap. While he kept 10,000 sticks for himself, what’s left is limited, and once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. The result of all his time and effort is a complex, smooth, medium-bodied stogie with character that you won’t find with just any other smoke. Look for notes of earth and cocoa, with hints of black pepper and coffee, and a slightly sweet yet smooth finish. Several panel members said it was one of the best Rocky Patel smokes they’ve ever had. Try pairing it with a bourbon.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.