Assessment Updates will be posted on this web-site to: 1) Assess “pre-review” cigars that were not given a rating or score (typically pre-release cigars); 2) Provide numeric ratings to cigars previously assessed prior to the implementation of the numeric scoring system; 3) Provide a re-assessment and re-score of previously assessed/score cigars. Today we look at the Rocky Patel Royale Robusto. This was a cigar we assessed back in September 2013 in a Toro format.

Rocky Patel Royale Robusto

The Rocky Patel Royale is the first of several new cigar blends launched at the 2013 IPCPR by Rocky Patel Premium Cigars to make their way to retail shops.  According the company, this project has going on for six years.  The reason given for the length of time is that it took that long to collect the tobaccos from that blend.   Quietly, this cigar is emerging as a leading core line in the Rocky Patel Premium Cigars’ portfolio.  Today, we take another look at this cigar – this time in the robusto format.

The Royale is being made at Rocky Patel’s Tavicusa factory in Nicaragua. It features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with a double binder of Connecticut Broadleaf and Connecticut Shade.  The fillers are Nicaraguan.  The cigar is available in five sizes: Corona (5 1/4 x 42), Robusto (5 x 52), Toro (6 x 52), Torpedo (6 1/2 x 54), and Colassal (7 x 62).  We originally assessed the Toro, but we take a look at the robusto format.  The age of this cigar is unknown.

When I smoked the Toro, I was impressed how smooth it was.  Whether it was the robusto, or the fact that this cigar (could) have some more age, I found this version of the Rocky Patel Royale in the robusto format to be even smoother than the Toro. It provided notes of coffee, earth, cream, and red pepper.  The red pepper could be detected on the tongue and not the retro-hale.  The citrus notes lost some acidity and were blending nicely with the earth notes  – resulting in some sweetness.  The cigar is medium to full-bodied with medium strength. I found the burn and draw to be excellent.

Overall whether you are a Rocky Patel fan or not, this is definitely a cigar worth checking out.  It could be a staple in his portfolio for a long time.

Click here for the original assessment of the Rocky Patel Royale Toro.

Summary

Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium
Strength: Medium
Body: Medium to Full
Finish: Excellent
Assessment: 3.5 – Box Split
Score: 91


References


Price: $8.95
Source: Purchased
Stogie Geeks Podcast: Episode 66 – “A New Oasis”, Episode 86
Stogie Feed: Rocky Patel Royale Robusto, Rocky Patel Royale (RP Royale) Toro