Rocky Patel Decade Robusto

The Decade symbolized RP's 10th anniversary in the business. This is not my first Decade, but really the first time I concentrated on it for a review. I have a few of these on various RP nights and my local shop and at a few cigar "meetings." the one Im reviewing today is from 8/2008, so almost a year old.

This stick was a boxed pressed robust in a silky smooth almost black wrapper with a very sloppy 2 seam cap. At least it appeared to be a 2 seam cap, was very hard to tell. The cold cigar revealed some sweet floral notes that touched upon dark chocolate with a touch of cedar mixed in.

A cold taste delivered a light sweet raisin flavor.

The first third of this elegant stick revealed raisins with excellent cedar notes that were slightly bitter. I noticed immediately that the cigar gave off a distinct strong tobacco aroma hat really filled the room. In fact I liked the aroma so much I think RP need to make a decade candle! I picked up a few acidic metallic notes, but over all the start of this stick was very pleasant.

The next third got a bit harsh and got a bit "dry", it made me feel like i needed to keep taking a drink after each drag. However, the cedar flavors did increase, most likely due to its age followed by a coffee like after taste. The raisin notes remained.

The final third and finish the draw really loosened up, which I found to be disappointing. The draw in the beginning was very nice requiring a little tug to get the smoke out. The flavors continued to get more "dry" and I worked on my second bottle of water. I picked up some ashy notes, but mainly the cigar remained cedary with distinct raisin flavors. The stick really did burn very cool, never really heating up and getting unpleasant even when double puffed on.

Price-$9.50

Burn-razor sharp and neat

Ash-light grey to almost white , very solid and packed

Strength- low side of full bodied.

Box Worthy-i cant answer this yet, I need to smoke the rest of the 5pk to make this decision. at least point I'm saying that it was a bit pricey for the experience.