This 6x60 Gordo from Rocky Patel's "Vintage" series brings Mexican spice and Nicaraguan boldness to your humidor. Priced at $12 per stick in boxes of 20, the dark San Andrés Maduro wrapper hides 11-year-aged tobaccos rolled at RP's boutique TaviCusa factory. Let's light this 90+ minute smoke and see how it performs.
First Third: Immediate black pepper kick with damp earth undertones. Cocoa powder sweetness emerges around the half-inch mark, though the 60-ring gauge takes time to warm up. Dry cedar notes linger on retrohale.
Mid-Section: Pepper transforms into cinnamon heat as Nicaraguan fillers take over. Leather and espresso flavors dominate, with occasional molasses flashes. Smoke output becomes notably creamy despite the ring size.
Final Inches: Charred meat smokiness appears unexpectedly. The last two inches intensify with black cherry tartness and mineral notes, though nicotine buildup suggests stopping at 85-minute mark for most smokers.
Rolled at TaviCusa facility in Estelí, this 2006 blend represents Rocky Patel's first major Nicaraguan production. The factory's 7-million annual output contrasts with its boutique reputation - look for slightly box-pressed shapes from tight bunching.
