Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Robusto

I have heard much about these sticks. I was slightly disappointed I must say. First, as with almost all RPs, construction is beautiful. Along with CAO, RP makes some of the best constructed gars in the business. However, flavor was very grassy and lacked complexity. I have smoked 4 of these (all from same order) with different amount of time in the humi. Reminded me of smoking a bundle of dried lawn clippings. Not a fan, would not buy again. But many people rave and perhaps it is just not MY cup of tea.

Similar experience with the 1992 Robusto. Excellent burn and good flavor. Handsome cigar. I would buy these again, making room in my humi for them.

Got 5 of these in a sampler and I really like them. But I think they are a little too high priced. So I found a bundle of the seconds on auction and I won them. The seconds don't have the great looks of the firsts, but they smoke and taste as good. Very smooth and chocolatey, with just a hint of spice. I like the smoothness of these. Medium bodied. They do burn a little crooked at times, but not too badly. The firsts are very good looking , the seconds not so much, so I'll give the appearance a 7. I'd rather smoke an ugly cigar that tastes good than a beauty that doesn't. I was surprised the seconds are box pressed, I'd have thought they would not bother to press seconds. What do I know?

Got this at auction to try. Excellent appearance, good construction, nice mild to medium flavor. One of the better RP's. I'd rate it a solid B overall.

good flavor but poorly wrapped. Box of 20 had 15 good smokes.

This is a great looking cigar and the construction is perfect. A nice looking dark wrapper with the double red bands make this cigar an eye catcher. The cigar had a really good draw and burn... not a perfect burn, but it did correct itself. Flavors of cocoa and cream, with some spice throughout. Very nice ash!!

Nice looking velvety rich brown wrapper, moderately tight draw, ragged burn that required 1 relight about midway. Prelight draw was of sweet tobacco. Medium body, predominantly leather flavor throughout, but a complex smoke that also provided hints of chocolate, coffee, and berrylike fruit at alternate times. Slight spice kicked in at the band. Rich, creamy aftertaste. Outstanding!

I have smoked a half of box of these by now. The last two have aged in my box for a good year. This cigar is a fine medium flavored smoke. They seem to have no more problems than any other cigar in this price range. They have a great spicy flavor with a hint of sweetness. I would say for a $5 to 6 dollar cigar they are a good buy.

...but not great. I can't put my finger on it but this and the '92 are not favorites of mine. Very nice in appearance, and great construction. But the flavor is a bit strange. With this one, I can tell you that it almost has some sour undertones, albeit subtle. If I didn't know any better I'd guess this was somewhat whiskey flavored. Might just be me. Nonetheless, a unique cigar.

I bought a five pack of these online after hearing all about them. The first one I had was awful to say the least, but I was told it must have been a bad one. Finally tried it again recently and was much more impressed. Looks great and the draw is good, no construction problems this time. It's wrapped tight, only had to ash twice. Was sweet and consistent throughtout with only what I can describe as an "aged" taste. Good stogie, and I would recommend - but don't buy a box, just grab a single or two.

great box pressed look, nice bands, professional. great draw, creamy, medium flavor. overall great cigar

I have smoked a couple of these, one aged, and a couple right after purchase. The aged one had quite a bit more flavour, and had a sweeter balance that the younger smokes lacked entirely. Strong leather and earthy flavours made it quite an enjoyable smoke. A couple flaws in construction, however. Wrapper unraveled a little, and a vein had poked a pin-hole in the wrapper. Burned much nicer after the smoke got past that point.

This particular cigar was gifted to me. I smoked it in the yard while doing lawnwork. I soon just decided to stop, sit down, and enjoy the cigar. I've never bought a Rocky Patel cigar (too expensive for me) but I must say, I might buy a box once I finish my 120 cigars in my two humidors. This was a really good cigar. My problem is that I want to smoke them all immediately. Soon I'll be broke if I did that, and buying cigars is not a necessity.

The presentation of the cigar was extremely attractive and I couldn't wait to smoke it. Maybe I got from a bad box, but the three I have smoked all had the same problem: The draw was awful and the cap began to unravel. The flavor was the part I enjoyed most, but overall not a great experience for me.

Geeze, this cigar Surprised me. I loved it! It has a great burn, nice construction and very smooth flavors on the pailete. It had kind of a sweet wrapper I noticed. The ending doesn't leave any bad after tastes either.

I have had some of these beauties swooning in my humi for close to a year now and I broke one out the other day. The Vintage series is as good as it gets for the price, you can pick these up from $4-6 bucks, maybe cheaper if you're willing to wait for sales, but they are well worth it. Smooth draw, great leather and spicy taste, medium and mellow boldy. My only complaint, and it's very minor is that they tend to burn a little uneven.

RP’s are quickly becoming a staple in my humidor. I enjoyed the 90 almost as much as the 92. They are quite different, a plus if you ask me, offering taste comparisons that make good cigar smoking fun. I always question the amount of time they say this leaf sat around aging but don’t doubt for a minute that it was longer than most. The taste is there so I guess that’s what counts. Light on the palate with just enough spice to make a smooth but mild smoke entertaining. Excellent draw, lots of smoke, maybe a little uneven on the burn side and an above average aroma. If you haven’t tried the 90 or 92 you owe it to yourself. My neighbor ain't getting this one!

Lasted 2 hours. Had nice, smooth flavors of slight spice with some berry sweetness. Burn and draw were top notch. Mostly medium in body. got a fiver for $17-ish. A fine value. Aged about 8 months.

Sorry for the Sting reference, but with additional humidor time, this cigar really gets a good spice to it. I know it sounds funny suggesting that you age a cigar that is supposedly made from nearly 20 year old tobacco, but humidor time counts for any long filler cigar. I still find the look of this cigar to be pleasing and classy. The flavors are medium to strong with enough pepper to challenge most maddies. The price is not bad either. I like the 1992s a bit more, but this is becoming a mainstay in my humidor.

I Smoked A Box Of These And I Have To Say That They Have A Good Flavor To Them. It Does Have A Medium Body To The Cigar And It Burned Evenly Also. Only Had To Touch Up 1 Cigar Out Of The Whole Box! The Draw Was Nice. You Must Try This Cigar. In My Opinion These 1990 Vintage's Has More Flavor Than The 1992 Vintage's.

Good cigar, a little toasty, little nutty, little wood flavor, but not much complexity, just a little. I think it will be better after it's aged in the humi a bit. Construction was good, burn was even all the way down, smoked it to a little less than an inch. A solid cigar.

This is a very pretty cigar. The dark color and the band work quite well together. Flavor was great. Mild to start, building to something like medium. Draw was a little tight. Construction was fantastic. Slow, even burn.

Sometimes either you get a bad smoke or you just aren't in the right mood. Whatever it was, this smoke was harsh and unpleasant. Smoked only half and then threw out to go get a Fuente Curly Head Deluxe. Now I feel better...

This is a nice looking cigar. The band is professional and the look of the cigar is dark and inviting. The wrapper was a bit brittle despite being well humidified for several months. This is a root and wood flavored smoke that builds in strength to a medium bodied chimney of smoke. I do not know if it really matters to use tobacco from 1990 or not, but they make it seem like it does at RP's place. I have to give the 92s a shot.

My buddy gave run to test and I honestly could not tell much of a difference.

Solid construction, great luscious white smoke, medium bodied with some complexity. Great smoke.

Have a couple boxes of these aging away in the humi and was dying to try one, so I picked up a 5'er on an auction site of the RP Vintage 2nds for $9!

I was immediately impressed by the nice box press and beautiful dark chocolate bar wrapper! I'm not sure what made these qualify as seconds, as they look nicer then a lot other's firsts.

Cut the head, and was really impressed with the pre-light draw flavor. I could tell this was going to be a nice smoke. Toasted the foot and light up. Perfectly even burn the entire way! What can I say that hasn't already been said - a nice sweet toasted cocoa flavor that got better as it burned as well as creamy. For $1.80 a stick, I could smoke these every day!

Well packaged good smoke. Tight cigar but burned well. Good flavor. Definitely above average.

This is a terrific cigar. I have never tried the seconds but the banded cigars are consistently some of the best I smoke. There are better of course the Padron 1964 among others but I have been able to pick these up routinely for around 4 bucks and for that they cannot be beat. They look good, burn well (I haven't had the problems some of you gents have experienced), billow with smoke and have a rich earthy, toast and spice flavor. These are box worthy and a real winner in my book.

This cigar not only looked great, but it burned perfectly with an easy draw and billowing clouds of smoke. Good medium cigar taste, very smooth, earthy flavor, had this with an Expedition Stout by Bell's, went together great. If u like a good stout, try this 11.5% alcohol powerhouse......great with a medium-full gar.

Smoked 10 of these over several weeks. The first had amazing flavor but the draw was very tight. The rest of the bundle were excellent and more consistent. These were billed as the same as the regular Rocky Patel vintage 1990's but with slight imperfections. I'll be damned if I could find anything wrong with them. Leather, spice, wood and a litte bit nutty. They all smoked down to the nub. The ash is white, the smoke fairly dense with great flavor. I recommend trying them.

Burn was totally lopsided, but there was lots of smoke, taste was toasty and very smooth, and aroma was fantastic. I'd try it again, maybe next one will burn better.

Very nice taste, lots of smoke, great cigar. Didn't have any burn problems. Will have to try these again!

Very smooth rich flavor from this medium bodied cigar. Dissapointed in the construction
which leads to uneven burn...takes away from overall experience....but delicious flavor makes up for it...slightly overpriced

First robusto I have had. Smoked torpedos before. this is just as good. Never disappointed. One of the best cigars on the market. Dark and smooth, earthy, coffee flavor. Great. Buy one today.

I've smoked two of these babies and both were pretty, all dark and oily. The aroma was awesome, mild and chocolatey. But both times the cap unraveled on me and the draw was tight. Most of the smoke ended up in the air instead of my mouth. It was frustrating, given that what little I got tasted delicious.

Got this from CI COTM in Feb. Enjoyed this cigar after a party we threw. I loved The Egde, so I was really looking forward to this. To me, the flavor was just average, nothing spectacular. The draw was nice. Oh yeah, let me note that this was for the 1990 Vintage 'Euro'. There was no separate place for the Euro, so I wanted to clarify.

i gave these a try a couple of week's ago. a mild to medium smoke, hint's of leather,coffee,and vanilla(could have been the cappuccino) a couple of slight burn issues but nothing major. all in all a very nice smoke.

I have been a fan of Rocky Patel's smokes ever since a local tobacconist recommended them to me. Since then, I have tried the 1990, 1992, Sun Grown, and Edge Maduro Missles. All have been excellent and the 1990 is no exception. I will preface my comments by stating that I prefer medium-to-full bodied smokes, though flavor is what matters most. As far as the 1990 is concerned, it is a mild-to-medium bodied smoke. Don't be fooled by the dark wrapper. A lot of folks seem to think it will be strong because of this... but the Padrons also make mild smokes with dark wrappers. Flavor wise, the smoke takes about an inch before things get going, after which it produces a sweet, light smoke with very light spices. I also detected hints of nuts, toast, and maybe a little cherry. These are smooth and a great transitional smoke for those that have a preference for mild sticks but want to try something with a little more body. It does so without overpowering. Construction is solid, but like most Patel's I've tried, there are some slight burn problems which require attention to keep things burning evenly. With that said, I prefer the medium-bodied 1992's and the medium-to-full bodied Sun Grown. If you have a preference for fuller bodied smokes, go with the 1992 instead. I recommend these highly. When in doubt, try a 1990, a 1992, and a Sun Grown and decide which you like best. 🙂

Nice warm bitter-sweet chocolate in the beginning, to a warm chocolate in the middle. Slight leathery though the smoke with a subtle hint of honey and vanilla. Some spice at the end. A go-to smoke for sure given the taste. A nice night-ender. Well paired with Glenmangorie 18. The draw is blissfully light however the burn I've found to be inconsistent and the cap constuction is fair, but OK. All in all though, I can't give them up! Much better than the 92's which are much spicier and less sophisticated in taste IMO.

I liked this one. The most notable quality was the construction, which I was extremely impressed with. The only drawback is the price. A bit steep for what you get.

A very nice cigar, dark and oily the way I like and quite a bit better than the 92's. A sweet dark wrapper with leather and spice with hints of dark chocolate and rich coffee. I've had a few of these and with each one they get better. I've been a big fan of the Edge but I think I've changed my mind. This was an excellent smoke. This RP tickles my fancy. Looking forward to the next one.

I've now smoked two of these, and have had wonderful experiences both times. Nice construction, nice burn, brilliant sophisticated flavor, and creamy volumes of smoke. Now one of my favorites.

The color is awsome. The "cap" construction sucks. The price sucks however, this is my morning smoke with black coffee. I love the tobacco blends used. I have smoked this cigar for a few months and cannot imagine now, a different morning smoke for me. I say the price is bullshit because every other one tunnels bad on me. But then again, every other one is very satisfying. I dont and wont say it has a "nutty" taste. That doesnt sound right and I wouldn't know. It has a very mellow earthy thing going on though. SMOOTH when you get one that does not freakin tunnel.

Used to be my number one, recently replaced by Gurkha's Doble Maduro. I prefer the vintage 90 over the 92. They burn very nice, with a near perfect draw and are smooth to the nub. Will continue to be a mainstay in my humi.

Like the others that have reviewed this cigar before me I was very much looking forward to this cigar, but unlike them I was very dissapointed. I rested this smoke in the humi for about 2 months and finally lit it up this moring. First off this cigar has a horrible burn, uneven for most of the cigar, even after fixing it several times. On top of that the stick went out three times, and this is after laying in 69% humidity for 2 months. The flavor of this cigar is very mellow and the smoke is creamy through the first part of the cigar, with some earth and nutty tastes. After that the cigar bitters up a bit and really offers nothing out of the ordinary. All in all for almost 7 bucks very much not a good deal.

A wonderful, mellow, tasty cigar. Very nutty in chracter, with hints of coffee, and toast. Blows many pricier smokes away. It looks great and has a fine draw. Truly a sensational stogie.

No. 22 in Cigar Aficionado's top 25 cigars of 2004. Although it's a bit coarse in touch and appearance, it's nicely pressed with a rich, dark color. It smokes very well with an even and consistent draw and burn. It starts off with a bittersweet dark chocolate taste that later turns into creamier milk chocolate with an accompanying nutty, pistachio flavor that leads onto the finish; rich and smooth with a chewy texture. Prices on this line have gone up in the past several months; whether it's due to popularity or scarcity of the brand i don't know. A decent value if you can get it for around $7, but regardless of the price you pay, it's an excellent smoke.

I have been wanting to try a RP for quite a while and really thought I would love this cigar. It looked fabulous, dark and box-pressed. Maybe mine was a little on the dry side due to humidor problem. The pre-light fragrance was nice, but from the light I got instant bitterness on the palate, which subsided slightly and then became consistantly toasty and charry flavored. The construction was fine, as was the draw and the ash. However, I found the finish to be long and lingering, which is normally good...but not when it tastes like a burnt steak. I like full-bodied cigars, but not when they are overwhelmingly one-dimensional. I certainly did not taste notes of cherry, cream or anything else for that matter. I will try another one though, just in case I got a dud. I'm glad you guys all enjoyed it so much though.

Fantastic cigar.... great mellow smoke... creamy and citrus taste. It has gone to number one on my list with a bang. I definately recommend this stick.

Very smooth and tasty smoke. I have had a few of these and have found them to be very consistent. These cigars are very solid and burn great. The draw is surprisingly easy and the burn has been great with rare unevenness. Excellent construction and a great looking stick. The flavor is amazing, creamy, complex, flavorfull and has a fantastic aroma. This cigar rates among the best I have had in this price range. Highly recommended.

This was the best smoke I have had when you consider the price. Reminded me alot of the Padron 64 Series. A little of an uneven light, but it corrected itself rather quickly. Smoked this baby down to the nub.

It just looks tasty, then you light it and you are glad you tried this one. Chocolate and nuts come to mind. Medium bodied and full flavor

The cigar has a very nice dark and slightly oily wrapper and is a bit rough. But the flavor is unmatched! An extremely mellow smoke, but is very complex. Hints of citrus and herbs evolve into a slightly sweet peppery finish. 1990 vintage is the most consistant and tasty cigar I have encounted yet. Great job by Rocky!

This cigar is great. Gorgeous looking cigar, construction is very good, but the taste is smooth as can be and very rich taste.
Highly recommended.

I was looking forward to enjoying a Rocky Patel for some time now. I’ve seen RP’s in cigar shops around town, and finally decided to spring for the toro vitola. After being aged 10 years I expected an exceptionally smooth smoke, but was concerned about what all that time would do to the flavor and body of this stick. After lighting up, all my worries dissipated, and I could hardly recall why I was worried in the first place. From the first puff, I could tell this was one exceptional smoke, well worth the price tag. I was so wrapped in pleasure, I didn’t even notice when the wrapper started splitting, but split it did, and in several places. I wasn’t too concerned about it though, I’ve seen other sticks split as the heat swelled the cigar with no ill effects. I guess Ballpark Franks aren’t the only thing that plumps when you cook’em. The splitting continued until, the wrapper started unraveiling, and I watched in horror as the cigar disintegrated before my eyes. Before the cigar was half done, the wrapper and binder had split to the head and it’s guts were spilling into the ash tray. Despite my best efforts, this one was hopeless. I’m not sure if the poor construction was due to the aging process, or storage issues before I purchased it, but I can tell you I bought the cigar at a very reputable local shop which I’ve purchased many hundreds of cigars from in the past without fault. This experience didn’t sour me on all of RP’s offerings. I’m going to give the brand another chance, but if the next one self destructs, I won’t waste any more money on these aged cigars.

This cigar was well constructed and yielded a very unique Medium blend of Cherry and dark cocoa flavors.

Well made. Woody with cocoa bean touches. Seems to have too much Nica tobacco that overwhelms other longfiller. Nice wrapper but nothing special

My favorite of the vinatge series. Medium-bodied. Started off rather mild and progressed into an earthy smoke, with strong hints of chocloate and cherries. Complex, and in a league of its own. And at a little over $6.00, it's value is not to be questioned. I did experience problems with the construction; in particular that it had a few "soft spots," which resulted in an (temporary) uneven burn and in an uncomfortable draw. Aside from that, Patel has delivered (in my opinion) a truly complex and unique smoke.

i liked this cigar and it's worth the price certainly but cigar af. gave it a 92 and i think that is too high. construction is pretty good and it gets better as you go the middle of the cigar in particular is very good and it burns very slow. at this price its certainly a great value.

I've had some draw problems with these, but of those that were opened up, they were great. Lots of flavor--smooth and a hint of chocolaty aftertastes. Better towards the end of the smoke. And definitely improved with some mellowing in the humidor. This is one of those I keep for a treat around the campfire camping. Nice complexity but steady.

I really enjoyed this smoke. Upon lighting it had an unique yet enjoyable flavor which I can not describe. As I continued to smoke I noticed how I could actually pull 2 disctinct flavors out of this beauty. A nice easy puff would extract a very strong cherry flavor while a harder pull would draw out straight molasses. These are fine cigars...smooth and tasty.

I had this stick with a glass of yellow tail cabernet sauvignon and it was a match maid in heaven. The foot lit well yet had some uneven burn in some spots.The notes were of spice and toast, a must have in any ones humidor.

This one seemed to have less punch than it's 1992 counterpart, but still a quality cigar. Twists and turns in taste and a flavor I can only describe as cherries jubilee present throughout. Burn and draw were perfect. Another hit IMO.

An interesting smoke that needs some time. The flavor was rather refined and spicey, a bit hot at times. There were notes of orange peel, molasses and flora. Given some time, I think this could blossom into an interesting smoke. Very nice, dark wrapper, sharply box pressed into a square.