IPCPR 2019: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars

Few booths are as busy as the Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc. booth. Every year, everyday—it’s been like this at every trade show I’ve been to. While the company is known for the large number of cigars it releases each year, I’ve come to learn that it’s a steady stream of a handful of new lines each year, though a far cry from companies like General Cigar Co. or Drew Estate.

The booth is pretty much the same as it’s been each year. The products are displayed in cases, there’s a bar, music stage and sales center on one side but otherwise, space is dedicated to tables and other meeting areas. One small change is that the images on the bottom of the cases are new this year.

Rocky Patel LB1

I actually think that I smoked this cigar earlier this year. LB1 is the factory code for the blend and the company went with it for the actual name of the cigar. There are four regular production sizes plus the Shaggy Foot Churchill, which is only offered to stores that placed orders at the trade show.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano, Finca la Vega)
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Honduras & Nicaragua

• Rocky Patel LB1 Corona (6 x 44) — $8.25 (Box of 20, $165)
• Rocky Patel LB1 Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $8.75 (Box of 20, $175)
• Rocky Patel LB1 Toro (6 1/2 x 52)  — $9.50 (Box of 20, $190)
• Rocky Patel LB1 Sixty (6 x 60) — $10.90 (Box of 20, $218)
• Rocky Patel LB1 Churchill Shaggy Foot (7 x 48) — $9.50 (Box of 20, $190)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: September 2019

Rocky Patel Number 6

I will just let Rocky describe this one.

• Wrapper: Honduras (Corojo)
• Binder: Honduras (Jamastran)
• Filler: Honduras (Jamastran) & Nicaragua (Jalapa)

• Rocky Patel Number 6 Corona (6 x 44) — $8.90 (Box of 20, $178)
• Rocky Patel Number 6 Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) — $9.55 (Box of 20, $191)
• Rocky Patel Number 6 Toro (6 1/2 x 52)  — $10.10 (Box of 20, $202)
• Rocky Patel Number 6 Sixty (6 x 60) — $11.75 (Box of 20, $235)
• Rocky Patel Number 6 Churchill Shaggy Foot (7 x 48) — $10.10 (Box of 20, $202)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: October 2019

Rocky Patel Aged Limited Rare Second Edition

The sophomore edition for ALR is aptly called Second Edition. The story goes that these cigars were blended by Rocky in 2016 and then left in the aging room for some time. It’s once again three-sizes, each limited to 40,000 cigars. There are some notable differences: it’s a different blend, the packaging is much better and the cigars are box-pressed. I’m not sure what to make of the description as it says the cigars were rolled in 2016 and then aged two years, which doesn’t add up.

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

• Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition Robusto (5 1/2 x 52) — $13 (Box of 20, $260)
• Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition Toro (6 1/2 x 52) — $14 (Box of 20, $280)
• Rocky Patel ALR Second Edition Gordo (6 x 60) — $15 (Box of 20, $300)

Production: 120,000 Total Cigars

Launch Date: October 2019 

Liberation by Hamlet Corona Gorda & Robusto

There are now two more sizes for the Liberation by Hamlet line, both with shaggy feet.

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

• Liberation by Hamlet Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46) — $8.75 (Box of 20, $175)
• Liberation by Hamlet Robusto (5 x 50) — $9.50 (Box of 20, $190)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2019

Not pictured.

Java by Drew Estate Express Latte & Mint

The Java X-Press size (4 x 32) will be shipping in the Java Latte & Mint lines in November. Pricing is the same as the Java Maduro X-Press, $24.50 for a tin of 10. All three cigars were announced last year, but only the Maduro shipped.

Hamlet Trinity Culebra

This was on display. It’s not for sale and only offered at events.

Charlie Minato

I am an editor and co-founder of halfwheel.com/Rueda Media, LLC. I previously co-founded and published TheCigarFeed, one of the two predecessors of halfwheel. I have written about the cigar industry for more than a decade, covering everything from product launches to regulation to M&A. In addition, I handle a lot of the behind-the-scenes stuff here at halfwheel. I enjoy playing tennis, watching boxing, falling asleep to the Le Mans 24, wearing sweatshirts year-round and eating gyros. echte liebe.