Pre-light Experience

Aaron: The wrapper on the Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto is darkish brown with a bit of red to it and has lighter colors surrounding some prominent veins. The seams are smooth and the caps well applied. There are two bands, both carrying a silver, burgundy and gold color combination. The primary carries the company logo and line name, while the secondary denotes the sub-line. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of damp wood and damp earth while the foot brings mushroom mustiness and wood. The pre-light draw brings stone fruit sweetness and cedar.
Seth: Finished with a marbled Colorado Maduro wrapper, there are medium sized veins present throughout. The wrapper itself is not that attractive, I find the bands hide the Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto appearance. Strong aromas of ammonia, manure, earth and damp wood. Sharp spices as well.
John: The Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto comes in cellophane, and has a UPC sticker with an integrated tear space so it remains intact when opened. The cigar is double banded with a ’20th ANNIVERSARY’ foot band. The primary band is designed in such a way that it looks double banded, with a silver and red on top, and a gold and red on the bottom. Aromas from the cigar included old barn wood, light , dusty earth and mild clover. From the foot, I was getting sweet tobacco, dusty earth and old wood.
Jiunn: The Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto has a maduro wrapper coloration. The wrapper has quite a bit of essential oils to it. Veins are well pressed, seams tight, bunch and roll even and head is well wrapped and capped. Aromas from the wrapper tell primarily about hay and subtle mint. Aromas from the foot tell of abundant white pepper spice and hay. Cold draws reveal airy cedar, hay and slight metal.

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto

First Third

Aaron: The cigar begins with toasted oak, mushroom mustiness and black pepper. At a quarter inch in, some earth joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper and mustiness. At an inch in, the earth has become even with the toasted oak up front. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak and earth are even up front with mushroom mustiness and black pepper a bit behind. The strength was right at medium.
Seth: The first third had a flavor profile in line with the aroma. Strong manure qualities, and not in a positive way. Damp earth and wood present as well with some spices. Sharp spices. Bits of ammonia on the finish. Medium in strength and body.
John: The first flavors are sweet tobacco as mild wood and earth combine through the finish. There is a very delayed red pepper flake that comes into the post draw. Rich creaminess moves into the post draw at medium, almost medium plus strength. Mild celery is present through the center of the retrohale as it settles, and lingers into the post draw. Light chocolate combines with wood on the retrohale as the first third progresses.
Jiunn: The first third carries equal parts sweet, nutty creaminess and dried red pepper spice. The spice is really nice, as it lingers on my palate for minutes. Retrohaling draws out hay grassiness as well as cedar. Strength and body is medium.

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto

Second Third

Aaron: As the second third begins, the mustiness and pepper move a bit further back in the profile. At a quarter inch in, the earth has a dusty, dry character. The retrohale remains toasted oak, earth and mild black pepper and mustiness. At an inch and a quarter, the mustiness and pepper are now very mild. As the third comes to a close, the profile is toasted oak and earth even up front with the black pepper in the middle and light mustiness in the background. The strength remained at medium.
Seth: The second third was fairly identical to the first third. Muddled damp earth and wood qualities with some spices present. Tobacco and bits of ammonia as well. Medium in strength and body.
John: There is more sweet tobacco to lead into the second third. Cinnamon with wood, and earth defines the post draw. A general vegetal component returns to the center of the profile as it progresses. Some time later, wood is finishing the draw with some sweetness to compliment.
Jiunn: The transition of being a good flavor profile from the first third to an average one in the second third was like a light switch. The profile is now a lackluster combination of hay, cardboard and leather. Strength is reaching towards medium-full, while body remains medium.

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto

Final Third

Aaron: As the final third begins, the earth takes a slight lead over the toasted oak. At a half inch in, the black pepper increases a bit. The retrohale is now toasted oak and earth with light black pepper. At an inch in, the mushroom mustiness picks back up. At an inch and a quarter, some wood bitterness becomes present. As the cigar wraps up, the earth is slightly ahead of the toasted oak with the black pepper and mushroom mustiness a bit behind and wood bitterness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.
Seth: In line with the second third. Nothing to report.
John: Creamy wood gets things going as a mild, dry wood finishes each puff. Once the last third has had a chance to settle in, chocolate is present through the middle of the profile. As the last third continues, earth joins the finish.
Jiunn: The final third is the same as the second third. Still a lackluster combination of hay, cardboard and leather. While strength is still reaching towards medium-full, overall, strength and body is still overall medium.

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto

Burn

Aaron: The burn was a bit wavy at times and the cigar went out three times, requiring re-lights.
Seth: Had to re-light the cigar multiple times. Bad and wavy burn.
John: The burn started straight, becoming uneven as it progressed. Eventually, the burn resulted in a canoe, requiring a touch-up. The cigar went out in the second third, requiring a re-light. The burn became uneven in the last third, requiring another touch-up.
Jiunn: Flawless burn performance. Even burn, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto

Draw

Aaron: The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.
Seth: Very loose draw.
John: The draw was a minor amount into the resistant spectrum, roughly 1-1/2 notches.
Jiunn: Ideal air flow and resistance.

Overall

Aaron: The cigar began with toasted oak, mushroom mustiness and black pepper. Some earth joined in fairly quickly. The second third saw the mustiness and pepper fade back. The final third saw the pepper and mustiness pick back up and some wood bitterness join in. The Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted oak, earth, black pepper and mustiness. There was transitioning in fullness of the pepper and mustiness, but nothing that ever really grabbed my attention. It’s been years since I’ve smoked any of the Edges, so I can’t make a good comparison. While the price on this cigar is fairly attractive, I just don’t see it as something I’d really come back to.
Seth: I may not have been smoking The Edge when it was released in 2003, and I was 6 months behind on the Olde World Reserve being released, but I remember how The Edge smoked. I am talking the old Corojo and Maduro. It was an affordable cigar, but it had substance. You were getting something for your money. By the way, the Sumatra was really good when it was first released and the price was great. This Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto is not how you celebrate 20 years. I also find it odd that Rocky is releasing a cigar of this nature. He has been trying to move up into the super premium level with pricing, and this is not that.
John: I thought the Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto delivered some interesting and tasty flavors that combined in ways to keep me engaged through most of the review. The burn issues were unfortunate and in my experience unusual for Rocky Patel. The draw was a minor amount towards the resistant spectrum. Being a big fan of the various other Edge offerings, I was eager to try the 20th Anniversary edition, and I would come back to this. Total smoking time was 2 hours and 8 minutes.
Jiunn: Once in a while I smoke a cigar in which I nod my head with a pleasant smile and then go wtf happened?! That was the case of this Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto. The first third was really great. Full flavored and balanced. The remaining two thirds was like smoking a different cigar, being dull and much less engaging. Good first third is all I can really say about this one.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.35

Cost/Point

$2.06

Scoring System

Seth Geise

SCORE

3.33

Cost/Point

$3.30

Scoring System

John McTavish

SCORE

6.37

Cost/Point

$1.73

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.10

Cost/Point

$1.80

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto