Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the square pressed Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Broadleaf Toro is a marbled medium reddish brown and has some lightly raised, knotty veins. The seams are smooth and the head is well finished. There are two bands, both in a burgundy and bronze color combination. The primary denotes the company, while the secondary denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper brings a lightly sweet mix of earth and wood, while the foot brings cedar, bread and stewed fruit. The pre-light draw brings stewed fruit and light amounts of cedar and earth. There is also a mild spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with a smooth mix of cedar and some earth, along with mild black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some mustiness joins the profile. At a half inch in, the black pepper increases a bit. The retrohale is toasted cedar and earth with light amounts of black pepper and mustiness. At an inch and a quarter, the mustiness increases a bit. At an inch and three quarters, the black pepper increases some more. As the third wraps up, the cedar is up front, with the earth a bit behind and the black pepper in the middle of the profile. The mustiness is in the back half. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the mustiness increases to become even with the black pepper in the middle of the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. The retrohale is now a musty mix of toasted cedar and earth along with some mild black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the black pepper picks back up to the middle of the profile. At an inch and three quarters, the earth, mustiness and black pepper all increase a bit. As the third comes to a close, the cedar is just ahead of the earth, with mustiness and black pepper just behind the earth. The strength bumped up to medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the mustiness and black pepper mellow a bit. At a quarter inch in, the cedar becomes a bit fuller and gains a fairly heavy toast. The retrohale is now a musty mix of toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. At an inch and a half, the toast level becomes pretty heavy. As the cigar wraps up, the heavily toasted cedar is just ahead of the earth, with the mustiness and black pepper just ahead of the middle of the profile. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Burn

The burn was straight throughout and the ash held on in near two inch increments.

Draw

The draw was slightly tighter than I prefer, but didn’t cause any issues with the smoking experience.

Overall

The cigar began with a smooth mix of cedar and some earth, along with mild black pepper. Some mustiness joined in pretty quickly. Then, the pepper increased a bit and later the mustiness. The second third saw the mustiness increase to become even with the pepper, then, the pepper mellowed a bit. Later, the pepper returned to its previous level. Just before the end of the third, the earth, mustiness and pepper all increased. The final third saw the mustiness and pepper mellow a bit and the cedar increased and gained a toasted note. Later, the toast level became very heavy. The Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Broadleaf Toro had an average flavor profile throughout and had that signature Honduran mustiness that some cigars from the region provide. Nothing all that exciting, but a serviceable flavor profile. The price is pretty attractive, and it’s a long standing blend, but just not something I’d really see myself returning to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.60

Cost/Point

$2.04

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Broadleaf Toro