Rocky Patel Signature Series

Rocky Patel has a well-earned reputation for uncompromising quality. He has received so many stellar ratings and awards from industry groups and publications, he's in a class by himself. Every cigar he makes undergoes rigorous quality control measures to ensure that only the best cigars from the rolling table make it to a consumer's hand. No wonder his sticks are some of the most sought after in the world! This month we're offering members the chance to smoke the most limited production cigar Rocky Patel has ever made—limited because the signature tobaccos needed are so rare. (Only 200 boxes of these babies are made at a time.) The RP Signature Series is one of very few medium-to-full bodied Connecticut cigars on the market. In its initial tasting by Cigar.com, this smoke received an impressive 93 points, an unusually high rating for them. Featuring RP's classic vintage logo, the Signature Series sports a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that encases a mix of Central American fillers, giving this cigar an unparalleled balance. Panelists reported a wealth of rich flavor—a literal smorgasbord of aromas and tastes, including buttery and toasty flavors over notes of wood and nuts. Overall, a fully satisfying, rich and complex smoke. Consider pairing this one with a Cuba Libre, a delightful blend of 4oz of cola, 1/3oz of freshly squeezed lime juice, and 1 2/3oz of rum.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.