Rocky Patel Vintage 2nds Maduro

It’s amazing, really, to watch the success of Rocky Patel’s new blends over the past two years. You’ve got to admire him. Initially hailed for his innovative, full-throttle Indian Tabac cigars in the late 90’s, yet just a few years later Rocky was cast aside as an outsider by most of the clubby cigar makers, the usual suspects claiming to be superior because of their “3 bazillion years in the business,” and “100 generations of family experience” in tobacco. But Rocky just kept plugging away, the hardest working man in the business – a guy who is on the road constantly, visiting even the tiniest of retail shops and working countless days in the factories of Danli, Honduras. In fact, I’ve been with him numerous times to Honduras; it is a sight to watch him relentlessly push for perfection, driving everyone in the factory nuts, single-mindedly devoted to crafting a great product. So it’s good to see things come full circle for him, garnering a slew of 90+ ratings and high praise from all who sample his blends.