Let's cut straight to the chase with the Rocky Patel HR500 by Gary Sheffield - a 6½"×52 parejo shaped stogie honoring the MLB star's 500th home run. Packaged in collectible boxes of 10 featuring Sheffield's career-defining swing moment, these Honduran-made cigars blend Nicaraguan and Honduran fillers under an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The $120 price tag positions it as an affordable premium option, though its medium-full body might test newer smokers.
The initial draws hit with black pepper and espresso bitterness - classic Nicaraguan punch. Let it warm up properly and you'll catch maple syrup sweetness sneaking through the Habano wrapper. Burn line stays razor-sharp despite the thick 52 ring gauge.
Power shifts to cedar and roasted nuts as the Honduran tobacco emerges. Watch for mineral notes around the halfway point, like licking a baseball's leather stitching. Smoke production stays moderate - not a cloud chaser's cigar.
Nicaraguan ligero kicks in hard here with charred meat and baking spice. Retrohale reveals cayenne pepper heat that'll make your eyes water. I tapped out at 1½" remaining - the nicotine buildup hits harder than a 95mph fastball.
Rolled at Rocky Patel's El Paraiso factory in Honduras, these showed impeccable construction - no soft spots or unraveling wrappers. The matte-finished band deserves mention with its embossed baseball stitching design, though it tended to stick to the wrapper when removing.
This cigar plays hardball. The HR500 delivers intense flavor concentration that'll satisfy seasoned smokers chasing boldness, though beginners might find it overpowering. While not replacing my daily drivers, it's worth trying for the clever blend of spice and sweetness - just pair it with something sugary to counter the nicotine hit.
