Let's cut straight to the chase: The Rocky Patel Edge Corojo B52 hits like a freight train wrapped in velvet. This 4.5" x 60 parejo packs Honduran Corojo Maduro leaf aged 5 years around Nicaraguan guts, delivering what regulars call "black coffee in cigar form" at $6.92 per stick. The chubby 60-ring gauge feels like rolling a Louisville Slugger between your fingers - not for the faint of heart.
The initial punch tastes like someone lit a campfire using espresso beans. Black pepper coats the tongue while the thick smoke carries burnt caramel aromas. Construction-wise, the straight burn line puts most Cubans to shame - no touch-ups needed despite the hefty ring gauge.
At the halfway point, the nicotine buzz kicks in alongside unsweetened cocoa notes. Leather and cedar emerge through the haze, with a distinctive mineral tang that regulars either love or hate. Ash holds strong for 1.5-2" chunks if you're patient.
The last third brings charred meat flavors that steakhouse chefs would envy. Tar builds up near the nub - typical for Corojo wrappers - but never turns bitter. Pair with black coffee or bourbon to cut through the intensity.
Hand-rolled at Rocky's El Paraíso factory in Honduras (established 2017), these sticks benefit from vertical integration - same team controls tobacco from seed to banding. The facility's climate-controlled aging rooms explain the wrapper's oily sheen. While marketed as Honduran, insiders know the blend's backbone comes from Nicaragua's Jalapa valley soils.
Construction workers needing post-shift relief. Night owls pairing with bourbon. Anyone who thinks "medium-bodied" is code for wimp cigars. Not recommended for beginners or those who sip white wine spritzers.
