Meet the Rocky Patel Decade Toro Tubo - a 6.5"x52 box-pressed parejo wrapped in oily Ecuadorian Sumatra leaf. Packaged in protective aluminum tubes (box of 10 for $151.20), this medium-full bodied stick celebrates the brand's 10th anniversary with Nicaraguan core tobaccos. Perfect for transitioning smokers ready to explore deeper flavors.
The triple-cap torpedo head rolls smoothly between fingers, revealing minimal veins in its chocolate-brown wrapper. Cold draw releases earthiness with faint maple syrup sweetness - classic signs of well-aged Nicaraguan tobacco. Burn line stays razor-sharp for first two inches before requiring minor touch-ups.
Initial pepper blast settles into roasted coffee beans and cedar plank smokiness. Retrohale adds baking spices - think nutmeg-dusted cocoa powder. Smoke production leans moderate, requiring deliberate puffing to maintain temperature control.
Caramelized walnut sweetness emerges, balancing the espresso bitterness. Watch for occasional tar buildup requiring purge after 45 minutes. The secret Nicaraguan blend reveals its complexity here - leathery depth without overwhelming nicotine kick.
Last inch intensifies with black pepper resurgence and mineral-rich earth tones. Retrohale cautiously - the 95-rated blend packs hidden strength. Most smokers report 75-minute session length before flavors turn ashy.
Rolled in Honduras' El Paraíso factory using Estelí-grown fillers, this puro showcases Nicaraguan terroir through its volcanic soil mineral tones. The Sumatra wrapper adds sweetness that plays well with aged ligero leaves. True to RP's style - bold enough for veterans yet approachable for weekend warriors.
