PCA 2023: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars not only had the biggest booth, but it had one of the busiest ones at the 2023 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show. This is no different than previous years, and what is also no different is Rocky Patel himself has always made himself available to talk to the Cigar Coop Coalition team. This year Rocky Patel had several projects for the trade show, but two stand out. His special project is Rocky Patel’s most premium offering to date, priced at $100.00 per cigar. In addition, the company is also bringing a project that incorporates tobacco from Paraguay into the blend.

The ultra-premium offering is called Conviction. Conviction is described as a small batch, limited edition cigar. The goal was to create the ultimate luxury lifestyle item that can also be used as a unique occasion cigar. Rocky Patel says there was demand in Europe, but he also decided to launch it for the U.S. market. It’s only being rolled by four toreadors whom the company says have 130 years of rolling experience among them. The company has capped production at 500 cigars per day. A total of 5,000 ten-count boxes were produced. The cigar comes in one size – a 6 1/2 x 52 Toro.

In addition, the cigar uses what the company describes as some of the rarest high-priming San Andres wrapper leaves that will go through a special fermentation process. These tobaccos were aged in tercios for four years. Conviction also uses a double binder and five different aged fillers, including some from the Rocky Patel farms in Estelí and Condega. The cigar will be a box-pressed offering. The cigar comes in one size – a 6 1/2 x 52 Toro. Each cigar comes packaged in an individual square metal tube. The box they are housed in also serves as a humidor.

The Rocky Patel Dark Star is a new regular production line that was also launched. This is the cigar that incorporates Paraguayan tobacco into the filler. Rocky Patel says it was meant to replicate an old Cuban-style cigar. It uses a Honduran Corojo wrapper over a Honduran binder, and Honduran tobacco is incorporated into the filler. Dark Star is available in four sizes: Short Star (4 x 60, SRP $11.25.cigar), Robusto (5 x 50, SRP $10.50/cigar), Toro (6 x 52, SRP $11.50/cigar), and Sixty (6 x 60, SRP $12.50/cigar). The cigars are scheduled to ship by October.

While the company is showcasing the $100.00 Conviction Cigar, it is also launching a new value-priced bundle line called Seed to Smoke. Seed to Smoke is a mild to medium-bodied offering that delivers cigars in the $2.50 to $3.95 range. There are two offerings: Shade (Connecticut Shade) and Classic (Maduro) – each presented in 20-count bundles. Both blends are a mix of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobacco. They are available in the same three sizes with the same price points: Toro (6 x 52, SRP $50.00/20-count Bundle or $2.50/cigar), Churchill (7 x 48, SRP $50.00/20-count bundle or $2.50/cigar), and Sixty (6 x 60, SRP $79.00/20-count bundle or $3.95/cigar).

Each year Rocky Patel unveils a special humidor tied to one of its brands. This year the company showcased a new Rocky Patel Sixty branded humidor. It contains 100 Rocky Patel Sixty Sixty cigars – the 6 x 60 size of the Sixty line. Pricing is set at $2,600 SRP.

Photo Credit: Rocky Patel Premium Cigars

Two gift packs are being introduced:

The Edge 20th Anniversary Gift Pack (SRP $63.20): Contains 5 Edge 20th Anniversary Toro cigars
Sixty Gift Pack (SRP $75.00): Contains Rocky Patel Sixty Sixty (6 x 60) cigars

Rocky Patel always has a nice assortment of accessories. This year the focus was on lighters.

The following are the new lighters being introduced:

Conviction Lighter Series (New Line): Chrome/Ice blue, Gold/Purple, Gold/Wood Veneer, Rose Gold/White (SRP $75.00)
Davenport Lighter Series (New Line): Black, Burnt Orange, Tan (SRP $85.10)
Genesis Lighter Series (New Line): Brushed Copper, Chrome, Rose Gold (SRP $85.10)
Artisian Lighter Series: Gold/Pink (SRP $71.40)