In an effort to create a backlog of existing cigar reviews based on products that have already been introduced to the market, we have begun to review legacy products. These reviews will, like every cigar review we conduct, help show a detailed opinion of the review and share that with our audience for their own interpretation. However, these cigars, for obvious reasons, will not be eligible for Cigar of the Year.
In 2016, Rocky blended a cigar featuring an exquisite San Andrés wrapper. Deciding that this blend would develop even further with age, he ordered a short production run of 120,000 cigars. The cigars were laid to rest in an aging room and locked away for two years. These cigars were made at Rocky Patel’s Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. These cigars were then released after three years in October 2019. This is the second release of the ALR, which stands for Aged, Limited, and Rare. The first being introduced in 2018 and featured a different blend and was a round parejo.
UNDER THE LID
Both of these Rocky Patel ALR releases were limited productions. The first being limited to 1,500 boxes of twenty in each of the three sizes available. The ALR Second Edition was limited to 2,000 boxes of each of the three sizes offered. This is the Robusto, but it was also offered in Toro (6 1/2 x 52) and Gordo (6 x 60).
Looking at the wrapper, it looks like a piece of chocolate. Not oily but dry in texture and not super toothy. either. The box press is nice and soft, not to sharp and defined like others. I give the cigar a few gentle squeezes and it feels slightly squishy, not too dense on the fill which hopefully leads to a good burn and draw. I cut the cigar which cuts clean and easy and take a cold draw of dried fig, barn yard and hazelnut.
- WRAPPER: Mexican San Andres
- BINDER: Nicaragua
- Filler: Nicaragua (Esteli & Jalapa)
- Factory: Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A.
- Production: 2,000 boxes of 20 cigars
- Vitola: Robusto Extra (5 ½ x 52)
- MSRP: $13.00
- Box: 20 Count Box
- Released: October 2019
Pre-light Photo
Beginning Notes and Observations:
Upon first lighting the Rocky Patel ALR II, I immediately get slapped with white pepper, dry spice such as Cayenne pepper and turmeric and then some salt begins to set in on the after taste. A rock salt or maybe even Himalayan salt to keep it trendy for 2025…you know that pink salt all the wives have now in their kitchens? But it is also meeting with a pretzel flavor, almost like that sucky plastic like pretzel you get at the game, I believe they are called super pretzels. Not that the cigar doesn’t taste well or anything against it. I just don’t like those pretzels. As someone who is of German heritage – I prefer my pretzels fresh and with spicy brown mustard.
First Third:
The pepper has quickly quieted down, but the spice still lingers, and the Himalayan salt continues to dominate my palate. The pretzel flavor also begins to weaken but it isn’t gone quite yet. Little hint of cocoa power on the back end starts to take over for stale pretzel. Construction is great, which includes the draw and the burn. Absolutely no issues there and I am happy with the decent smoke production – this cigar is breathing well, and I am a happy smoker. The ash has also been incredibly solid, not one accidental break and the last time I place it on my ash tray to rest I almost bounced it a little.
Second Third:
Salt is holding steady but slightly tamer at this point. But it also starts to complement new notes such as the perfect buttered popcorn. But not the crap in the microwave bags at home. No the…I mean somewhat…fresh made stuff from the good movie theaters. Buttery, savory and delicious, I almost wish I had a Diet Pepsi to wash it down. I mean my mind goes to the same place. Construction and draw are still near perfect, the only exception being that the burn line is uneven. I haven’t needed to touch up this cigar once since the initial light. It seems to be holding its temperature in check and isn’t getting too hot – and I smoke on the faster side. As I get toward the end, I swear I pick up ever so slightly fresh soy beans, more so a plain edamame.
Final Third
At this point the salt is disappearing, and with its exit I get the new taste of fresh cilantro. More like if I just ate some cilantro leaves straight off the vine and not mixed in some kind of Mexican salsa. There is like a slight toasted almond flavor along with some dry cumin powder. My ash broke off just before the start in all three samples of the last third but otherwise burn is great, samples two and three corrected the burn line and the draw continues to flow. I feel like there is even more smoke coming off this now and as someone who likes them smokier, I am enjoying this.
As I get down to the end, the salt reappears although not quite as strong as before. Although now it mixes with that cilantro flavor, and it becomes a hard soap taste. Not the note I would have preferred but it isn’t intolerable. I also would like to note that the band always came off nice and clean every time but was nice and secure around the cigar during smoking. The glue could be more dried out at this point versus when the cigars first shipped so they could have been a little more difficult at launch to remove. I honestly cannot remember from when I smoked these back then.
Core Flavors: White Pepper, Salt, Leather, earth, soy, cilantro
Strength: Mild +
Body: Medium
Complexity: Medium +
Smoking Experience:
Overall, the Rocky Patel ALR II burned great and had plenty of flavor. All three samples seemed to follow each other well. When it comes to aged Nicaraguan cigars, this one was one of the more memorable. Especially considering this one is already almost six years older than when it was released. I would consider it complex but not overly complex, with decent transitions, not any major issues and no touch ups. It burned slightly uneven on all three samples but two of the three, as I mentioned before, did correct themselves heading into the final third.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the flavor in the last third which is where I also deducted some points, but these also could have been a result of the extra age, then again, the entire cigar could be looked at this way. The point is, unlike new cigar reviews, these cigars have already been resting with other tobacco for a much longer period of time and can have serious changes. Plus, the nicotine strength on these wasn’t super strong at all. They could be more mellowed out by now but when I asked a few others who remember these at launch, they told me they didn’t remember them being super strong to begin with. But at the end of the day, it has held up well enough through the years for a positive review.
Smokin Facts
- Cigars reviewed were purchased by Smokin Tabacco
- Cigars were in our possession since roughly 2020
- There were no issues removing the bands
Purchase Recommendation: Buy a Few
Cigars Smoke for Review: Three
Average Smoking Time: 1 hour and 39 minutes
