This hefty 6x60 parejo from Rocky Patel's winter series comes box-pressed with a slick Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper. At $11.83 per stick (20-count box), the Nicaraguan puro delivers medium-full strength perfect for cold weather sessions. The dense roll requires precise lighting but rewards with slow burn and cool smoke output.
Hand-rolled at Rocky's TaviCusa factory in Estelí, the dark wrapper shows minimal veins with visible tooth. The triple cap holds firm through cutting, and the foot reveals tightly packed filler leaves. Our sample had 14 months humidor age at 65% RH.
Initial cold draw brings earthy molasses. Lighting reveals black pepper spice with undertones of roasted cashews. Smoke production stays moderate despite the large ring gauge. Ash holds firm in 1" segments.
Flavors shift to dominant espresso bean and dark chocolate. Retrohale adds cinnamon heat. Burn line remains razor-sharp with no touch-ups required. Some users report slight tar buildup near the band area.
Leather and cedar emerge as core flavors. Strength increases noticeably - nicotine-sensitive smokers should pace themselves. The last inch develops mineral notes reminiscent of slate, with smoke staying cool to the nub.
Rolled at Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (TaviCusa), Rocky Patel's Estelí-based factory producing 7 million cigars annually. The 2020 blend uses aged Honduran/Nicaraguan fillers paired with extra-fermented San Andres wrapper. Each cigar undergoes triple-stage quality control including draw-testing and weight verification.
