Let's talk about the Rocky Patel Decade Lonsdale - a 6.5"x44 smoke packed with Nicaraguan firepower wrapped in Ecuadorian Sumatra silk. Priced at $210.60 for 20 sticks, this Honduran-rolled torpedo commemorates RP's 10th anniversary with style. The oily wrapper glistens like molasses under cellophane, promising medium-full adventure through coffee grounds and spice racks.
The cold draw serves roasted almonds dipped in honey. Lighting reveals black coffee with cream - smooth but assertive. Smoke production stays modest, wisps curling up like morning fog over Estelí fields. Ash holds firm through two inches, flaky but stable.
At the band point, cedar planks emerge from Nicaraguan depths. Baking spices (white pepper, faint cinnamon) tingle the tongue without bite. Retrohale brings dark chocolate shavings, the Sumatra wrapper flexing its fermented muscle. Burn line stays razor-sharp, no touchups needed under 65% RH.
Nub territory arrives with espresso bitterness and leathery undertones. Sweetness persists through the nose while the body thickens - not quite maduro heaviness but substantial enough. Last puff at 1.5" leaves tarry residue but zero harshness. Clocked 85 minutes with deliberate pacing.
The Decade Lonsdale nails transitional smoking - enough heft for veterans yet approachable for intermediates. While not quite matching Padron's complexity, it outperforms most $10 sticks. Keep paired with aged rum to amplify its sweet core. Box-worthy for regular rotation, though single sticks work for occasional indulgence.
