Rocky Patel Freedom
Tuesday, October 16th, 2012As I often do, I ran across this cigar at a local cigar shop. The Freedom is an obvious tribute to America. Since the Rocky Patel brand played a big part in my introduction to cigars, I usually keep an eye on their blends. Let’s see how the Freedom went. America, yippee yo!
Wrapper: Oscuro
Binder & Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Toro 6 x 52
Price: $7.49
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The wrapper had a minimal veins, and a nice oily appearance. The scent of the wrapper and foot was a rich, dark sweetness. Squeezing the cigar revealed a bit of a spongy feel, but it wasn’t extreme. The draw had slight resistance, and the pre-light flavor was dark chocolate and earthiness.
The burn required a few minor corrections. The ash was flaky, and held for about one inch.
Flavor:
The first third had a combination of dark cocoa, coffee, and zingy spice. Earthiness and wood lingered in the background. The smoke feel was heavy, but not quite creamy.
The zingy spice really calmed down in the second third. Sweet cocoa, combined with coffee, dominated the flavor profile. The tingly aftertaste was creamy and sweet. It took effort to pick up the subtle earthy and woody notes. They hid themselves way in the background.
The last third had a nice uptick in strength and flavor. It was very hearty and satisfying. The flavors were consistent with the previous third.
Conclusion:
This was a very good medium to full bodied cigar. I had modest expectations, mainly due to the gimmick factor, but this one lived up to the hype. Rich flavor, good construction, and a decent price, leave little to no room for complaints. This one is worth a try.
