Rocky Patel Fusion Robusto

I didn't really like this one, but a few of my more experienced cigar buddies claim it to be their favorite. The first 1/3 was pretty mild, but after that it turned somewhat sour.

I had five of these and only smoked two before handing off to two buddies. I have boxes of edge, 1990, 1992, and even the AMS from Famous and had not had a RP I didn't like until this (well, and the new sungrown). My buddies felt the same as I did. Not horrible, but not really good. All agreed the taste is one dimensional and just not worth the time. Some guys here love it but there are three votes for where's the flavor?

This cigar I would put in the worst patel category. burn was terrible not much ash wrapper was coming apart as I tried to enjoy it. overall experience was not very good

Just got a box of these before X-mas from C-bid for only $56 great deal. I did try a few 5 packs first and found them to be very very good. I do like the toro size a little better, but these are pretty tasty also. It a very good, very tasty smoke with very good construction. I have had no burn issues or wrapper problems of any kind. The flavors don't remind me of either the 90 or the 92. To me it's a stand alone cigar. It's on the medium side in the strength department, so no buzz factor to compute. It has a strong ash also. Good for a goto or daily smoke.

I'm a RP fan. Vintage 90's and 92's are regulars for me, and 90 and 92 seconds are my lawn work smokes. I even smoke the European version of the RP Vintage line. So I'm a fan. I wanted this smoke to take the line up a notch. It didn't do that, but it did add another quality choice to the RP lineup. To me it's a fuller body smoke than the 90 and 92. It starts at a spicy medium and then transitions at the 1/3rd point where it seems to go flat for a minute and then it becomes more complex. Someone else said coffee, I say nutty, but the same sentiment. It was strong enough at the 1/3rd mark that I thought, "what can I drink with this". I bypassed rum, wine and diet coke and decided on a glass of ice water. I think it complimented the cigar well. Water clears the tastebuds for the transition. This smoke is no on par (for me) with the Arturo Fuente line. It's just not that kind of smoke. But, it's a solid 7.5. And it's a value buy on c-bid right now. I would recommend it as part of any medium body smokers line up.

The burn was a bit inconsistent on this stick, but I only let it sit in the humidor for a couple days. That little blue band kept calling. I feel it still hadn't transitioned from shipping. It's a beautiful cigar with great construction and a double wrapper.

This stick was definitely a step up from the Connecticut line. Nice flavor develops after the initial third and lasts to the nub. Where the Connecticut is mild, the Fusion approaches medium without scaring off the mild lovers. I enjoyed the hints of coffee throughout the smoke.

I bought this after loving the Vintage cigars but no caring for the box press (this cigar is round). It's got all the good stuff of the vintage cigars, quality of construction is there and it's beautiful. Flavor is actually a little fuller than the other Vintage cigars...this cigar knocks me on my butt from time to time. Don't take my 'sub-10 ratings to mean anything...I love this cigar. Another homerun from Rocky.

Received 2 as part of a CI sampler. I really like the vintage 92 and will try a 90 when I get a chance. I really liked the Fusion. The cigar burned longer that I anticipated and had a good, even ash - even though I was outside in the wind.
The aroma was very nice and the flavor was good as well, on the mild side. I will be looking to buy more of these.

(I wrote this review on Feb. 20th, 2007)

Got back from a long drive from Michigan to Kentucky today and figured I'd fire one of these puppies up since I didn't get to smoke yesterday during the Daytona 500. I was too busy chatting it up with people that didn't smoke and didn't want to be rude... should have just taken my smoke break after Tony wiped out, though.

Anyhow, smoke is a Rocky Patel Fusion Robusto 5x50.

Construction was good, no flaws. A few bumps on the wrapper, but nothing to be worried about. The cap had a little stem you could see poking up underneath it, but the cut was fine with my Xicar. Pre-draw was perfect - flavor was a wonderful chocolate. I paired it with a glass of my finest tap water & ice since I'd been drinking coffee all throughout the drive and didn't want to be dehydrated for PT in the morning. smile.gif

I toasted the foot and lit this thing up. I toasted it a little too much, so the first couple of draws were burnt tasting. After that it mellowed out into a real creamy, hazelnut flavor. Fairly mild at this point, lots of smoke. About an inch and a half into it, the creamy flavor started to go away and the flavor stepped up a notch to a good medium. Started to get a good tobacco flavor at this point.

I wanted to get a picture of the foot before I lit it up, but the picture turned out all fuzzy. You could see all kinds of colors in there. Dark black leaves, lighter browns and even some that looked a little green around the outside under the wrapper.

The whole cigar only required two ashings; the ash held on real tight. Fell cleanly off into my lap, so I picked it up and threw it into my Stinky ashtray. The burn was nearly perfect - the backside wanted to burn a little quick, so I dabbed a little water drop on it to let the front catch up. Ash, as you can see, was a nice flaky gray and black. Total smoke time was about 1:15.

Smoke was plentiful and thick throughout the entire cigar. It was windy outside, but warm, so the smoke didn't hang around too long or travel inside (which my wife appreciates).

About half way into the smoke, the flavor continued to ramp up. For about an inch around the middle, I finally got the good chocolate flavor I tasted on the pre-draw, but it only lasted that long.

The last half of the cigar was a pure full-bodied tobacco and nicotine flavor. I started getting a great nicotine rush from this thing. It's no LFD DL, but it comes close, especially iwth the changes from early in the smoke. Incredible finish that lasted for the final couple of inches as I nubbed this baby. Delicious. I love these. The flavor is perfect with the changes that I like and a good rush at the end. I give this a 9 out of 10 and will always have these stocked if money allows (only $110 for a box of 20 from CI).

Reading the literature on these smokes says that they are a combination of the RP 90s and 92s, but I think they smoke completely different. I don't really taste any similarity. The 90s and 92s are supposed to be the same filler and just different wrappers, anyhow. I'm really curious what other people think of these and how they compare to the 90s and 92s.

This is an attractive cigar. The dark natural wrapper is accented nicely by the double blue and gold bands. The wrapper is slightly dry with moderate veins. The cigar comes with a connecticut shade wrapper underneath the habano wrapper, which can be seen once the cap is cut.

Prelight draw is uneventful and the initial aroma is minimal. Initial puffs provide a very mild woody flavor. Draw and smoke volume is good if you cut the cap, but not with a punch. The cigar burns straight and produces a very solid light gray ash.

The aroma doesn’t really have much of a scent to it. The finish has a balsa wood \ light coffee taste. There is no spiciness to this cigar and not as much complexity as I would have thought. At the mid point there is a slight introduction of cedar on the finish. At this point the cigar begins to pick up some complexity, with woody and cedar notes. The first third is very boring, but now it’s enjoyable. The cigar stayed this way pretty much till the end. Slow starter, but became acceptable later on.

This cigar is a mild-medium bodied, mild strength smoke, that didn’t seem worth the price. I think the Chateau Real provides more for this class of cigar. I’d take a Padron over both for price considerations or even the JDN Celebracion.

Slightly peppery and sweet. Long tight ash. Slightly tight draw with plenty of tasty smoke. BUT, the wrapper refused to stay put (the outer wrapper that is since it actually has two). It was cracked in several places, unraveled and affected the burn. Hope I just got a bad one since I love most RP cigars.

Rocky Patel never disappoints. Just had one of the two i got for X-mas. Great burn and construction. Medium body-medium finish. Spice, nut and woody flavors throughout. Just great.