Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro is medium tan with hints of green and carries some decently raised veins. The seams are raised in some areas, and the head has an OK finish. There are two bands, both in a white and gold color combination. The primary denotes the company, while the secondary denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of hay and earth, while the foot brings bread, earth and very mild spice. The pre-light draw brings cedar, hay, cereal and dry earth and there is a mild spiciness on my lips.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, hay, creaminess, dry earth and some mild black pepper. At a half inch in, the mild black pepper has departed. The retrohale is creamy, toasted cedar and dry earth. At an inch and a half in, the dry earth increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is up front, with hay a bit behind and creaminess and earth a bit further behind. The strength was slightly below medium.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

Second Third

As the second third begins, some black pepper rejoins the profile at a slightly fuller level than before. At a quarter inch in, the toast level of the cedar increases a bit. At an inch and a quarter in, a light sweetness becomes present on the finish. The retrohale is now just toasted cedar and dry earth with a slight sweetness. As the third comes to a close, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the hay, with creaminess and dry earth a bit further behind. The black pepper is in the back half. The strength remained at slightly below medium.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

Final Third

As the final third begins, the dry earth increases a bit as the creaminess mellows a fair amount. The retrohale is now toasted cedar and dry earth with light creaminess. At an inch in, the toast level increases a bit more, and a light wood bitterness joins the profile. At an inch and a half in, the wood bitterness transitions to a vegetal bitterness. At an inch and three quarters, the creaminess increases a bit. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted cedar is just ahead of the hay and dry earth, with black pepper, creaminess and vegetal bitterness in the back half. The strength bumped up to medium.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in two inch increments.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro

Draw

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

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, hay, creaminess, dry earth and some mild black pepper. The black pepper departed fairly quickly and then the dry earth increased a bit. The second third saw the pepper rejoin and the toast level increased. The final third saw the earth increase and the creaminess mellow. Then, the toast level increased some more and wood bitterness became present which quickly transitioned to vegetal bitterness. Later, the creaminess increased a bit. The Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted cedar, hay and dry earth. It was a smooth smoking experience. While I wouldn’t see coming back to this cigar frequently, it’s an easy smoking experience with an attractive price point, so I could see smoking it from time to time.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.50

Cost/Point

$2.08

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 Connecticut Toro