IPCPR 2018: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars

First off, I shot a very entertaining video of Rocky Patel, but the microphone cut off halfway through. Unfortunately, he wasn’t around to shoot another one later on in the show. I will say, Rocky Patel is one of the better people in the cigar industry in front of a camera, but sometimes he is even better than typical Rocky. This was one of those times, which is unfortunate.

The booth felt a bit different this year as the company continues to add more and more display cases, meaning more and more lines to its portfolio. I will say, the company did discontinue—or at least remove—a couple of lines from its portfolio earlier this year, more than we can say about most brands. I do really like the simplicity of the Rocky Patel set-up, which promotes walking around and maximizing meeting areas.

Hamlet 25th Year Salomon

It’s a new size for the Hamlet 25th Year line.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: U.S.A. (Pennsylvanian Broadleaf)
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Hamlet 25th Year Salomon (7 5/8 x 55) — $11 (Boxes of 10, $110)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Liberation by Hamlet

The new single-size line from Hamlet Paredes is described as the medium option of the trio. It’s offered in a single 6 1/2 x 55 size that is designed to mimic the cigars Paredes rolls at events.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Liberation by Hamlet (6 1/2 x 55) — $11.10 (Boxes of 10, $111)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Rocky Patel A.L.R.

It stands for Aged, Limited and Rare—a reference to how old and limited the cigars are. As the story goes, three years ago Rocky Patel was working on blends at the company’s TAVICUSA factory in Estelí. He decided to roll cigars with the purpose of longer-term factory aging, in this case, three years worth of aging. Now those cigars are coming to life.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

• Rocky Patel ALR Robusto (5 x 50) — $13 (Boxes of 20, $260)
• Rocky Patel ALR Toro (6 x 52) — $14 (Boxes of 20, $280)
• Rocky Patel ALR Sixty (6 x 60) — $15 (Boxes of 20, $300)

Production: 1,500 Boxes of 20 Cigars (30,000 Total Cigars)*

Launch Date: August 2018

*Per size.

Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary

A packaging update to the Fifteenth Anniversary. Somehow the bands are more challenging to photograph.

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo (2018)

A decade after first being released, Olde World Reserve is back. What’s interesting is that the two blends are being made at two different factories. The Corojo version is being made at the Plasencia’s El Paraiso factory in Danlí, Honduras.

• Wrapper: Honduras (Corojo)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua

 

• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Robusto (2018) — $9 (Boxes of 20, $180)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Sixty (2018) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Corojo Toro (2018) — $11 (Boxes of 20, $220)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro (2018)

The maduro version is being rolled at the company’s TAVICUSA factory in Estelí.

• Wrapper: Costa Rica
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Costa Rica & Nicaragua

 

• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Robusto (2018) — $9 (Boxes of 20, $180)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Sixty (2018) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve Maduro Toro (2018) — $11 (Boxes of 20, $220)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Rocky Patel TAVICUSA

I’m willing to bet you can guess where this cigar is being made. The TAVICUSA factory is now 10 years old and it gets a cigar to recognize the accomplishment.

• Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua (Condega, Estelí & Jalapa)

 

• Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $10.30 (Boxes of 20, $206)
• Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Toro (6 1/2 x 52) — $10.60 (Boxes of 20, $212)
• Rocky Patel TAVICUSA Sixty (6 x 60) — $11.30 (Boxes of 20, $226)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2018

Rocky Patel Vintage Shipper

This is a new sampler option: 15  four-packs of Vintage Series. Pricing is $28.65 per pack.