Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto is light brown and has a few raised veins present. The seams are smooth and the head well finished. There are two bands, both in an electric blue and white color combination. The primary denotes the company, while the secondary denotes the line. The aroma from the wrapper is a light mix of wood and earth, while the foot brings bread and musty cedar. The pre-light draw brings sweet cedar and dusty earth, along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto

First Third

The cigar begins with toasted cedar, black pepper, earth and some graham cracker. At a quarter inch in, the cedar transitions to oak. At a half inch in, the earth and black pepper both increase a bit. The retrohale is toasted oak and earth with some zingy black pepper. At an inch in, the graham cracker note departs. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is just ahead of the earth and black pepper. The strength was slightly above medium.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto

Second Third

As the second third begins, the earth increases to become even with the toasted oak up front. At a half inch in, the black pepper mellows a bit. The retrohale remains toasted oak and earth with some zingy black pepper. At an inch and a quarter, the toast level of the oak becomes pretty heavy and brings some wood bitterness. As the third comes to a close, the heavily toasted oak and earth are even up front, with the black pepper a bit behind and some wood bitterness in the background. The strength remains at slightly above medium.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level of the oak has now reached a light char. At a quarter inch in, the black pepper mellows to the middle of the profile. The retrohale is now toasted oak and earth with mild black pepper. As the cigar wraps up, the lightly charred oak and earth are even up front, with black pepper in the middle of the profile and some wood bitterness in the background. The strength bumped up to medium-full.

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto

Burn

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

Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with toasted cedar, black pepper, earth and some graham cracker. The cedar transitioned to oak fairly quickly. Later, the earth and black pepper both increased a bit. Then, the graham cracker note departed. The second third saw the earth increase to become even with the toasted oak up front. Then, the black pepper mellowed a bit. Later, the toast level became pretty heavy and brought some wood bitterness with it. The final third saw the heavy toast become a light char and the black pepper mellowed to the middle of the profile. The Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted oak and earth with black pepper supporting. The flavor profile was pretty simple and didn’t provide any real excitement. Not a cigar that I’d really see myself revisiting.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$2.02

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 Cameroon Robusto