The Rocky Patel Vintage 1992 Sumatra Petit Corona hits like a spice bomb wrapped in velvet - this 4½" x 44 parejo packs a decade-aged Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper around Nicaraguan/Dominican filler tobaccos. At under $8.50 per stick in boxes of 20, it's become a go-to for medium-strength enthusiasts craving complexity without breaking the bank. I'm smoking one that's rested six months in my humidor, its oily Sumatra wrapper gleaming under the light.
First Third: Immediate black pepper kick mellows into cedar planks and espresso grounds. Smoke output stays moderate - no huge clouds here. Ash holds firm for 1.5" despite rapid puffing.
Middle Third: Transition hits at 25-minute mark: caramel sweetness balances the spice. Now detecting roasted almonds and that signature Sumatra minerality. Burn line stays razor-sharp.
Final Third: Cinnamon emerges at nub stage alongside vanilla cream. Tar builds slightly in last inch - better to quit at 50-minute mark unless you enjoy nicotine headrush.
Rolled at Rocky's flagship El Paraiso factory in Honduras, this 1992 blend benefits from triple fermentation. The Sumatra wrapper's toothy texture indicates proper aging - no green leaf bitterness here. Box code shows 18 months of factory aging before shipping.
At $8.37/stick, this punches above its price tier in complexity though falls short of Padrón's refinement. Best purchased in boxes for daily rotation - pair with coffee in mornings or rye whiskey after dinner.
