Rocky Patel Decade Habano Box-Pressed Selected as TAA 2022 Exclusive

At one point, Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, Inc. planned on using a Cameroon wrapper for its 2022 Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) exclusive release. As it turns out, there will be no Cameroon tobacco used for the company’s TAA exclusive this year.

Instead, the company is creating a new version of its popular Decade. The Rocky Patel Decade Habano replaces the Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper found on the regular Decade with a Honduran habano wrapper. Underneath, the blend is the same as the regular Decade: a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Like the regular Decade, it will be produced at El Paraiso in Danlí, Honduras.

It’s being offered in a single box-pressed 6 1/2 x 52 toro extra size. The MSRP is set at $12.95 and it will be limited to 1,000 boxes of 20 cigars.

A ship date has not been finalized.

The TAA, which also includes approximately 40 manufacturers, gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the event—which occurred in late March in Cabo San Lucas—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show. Typically, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of 50 cents per cigar.

Asylum, Crowned Heads, E.P. Carrillo, Ferio Tego, Forged Cigar Co., Gurkha, Illusione, La Flor Dominicana, La Palina, Tatuaje and Villiger have announced TAA 2022 releases. Joya de Nicaragua is also releasing another batch of its Cuatro Cinco Edición Americana, a cigar that was released last year for TAA retailers and has previously been available at non-TAA stores for events.