Introduced at the 2019 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) trade show, the Rocky Patel Number 6 is described by the company as a medium body cigar. The name of this cigar refers to the factory blend code. Rocky wanted to name it the “Legacy” but that name was already taken so they went with Number 6. Most recently, the Rocky Patel Number 6 robusto was awarded Best Cigar Honduras 2020 by Cigar Journal in their Cigar Trophy Awards last week.
The Rocky Patel Number 6 has a blend described as:
- Wrapper – Honduran Corojo
- Binder – Honduran
- Filler – Honduran Jamastran, Nicaraguan Jalapa
The blend is expressed in 5 vitolas and comes packaged in 20-count boxes:
- Corona (6 x 44) MSRP $8.90
- Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) MSRP $9.55
- Toro (6 1/2 x 52) MSRP $10.10
- Sixty (6 x 60) MSRP $11.75
- Churchill Shaggy Foot (7 x 48) MSRP $10.10
For this review I sampled two of the Rocky Patel Number 6 toros which I purchased for the review.
Pre-Light Examination
The Rocky Patel Number 6 is a dark tan cigar that has a few veins running through the barrel and a fine oily sheen. It is nicely capped and is fairly solid to the touch.
Two bands adorn the cigar, both using a black, gold, and white motif. The primary band is large, covering a good third of the cigar and boldly denotes this as the “NUMBER 6” in white on a black background. The Rocky Patel logo is printed in gold on top and “PREMIUM HAND ROLLED CIGARS” on the bottom. The secondary, footer band, has the company’s logo embossed in the black background and the words “Since 1995” printed in gold.
As I ran the Rocky Patel Number 6 across the nose, I picked up a lightly pungent barrel along with a mild fruit and butternut aroma off the foot.
I used my double blade Xikar cutter to slice the cap straight across the shoulder of the cigar and proceeded to take some cold draw puffs that offered an array of enticing flavors including; salt, pepper, nut, and a hint of earth.
Using my triple flame torch lighter, I warmed the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first puffs of white pepper laden smoke. Follow along as I burn the Rocky Patel Number 6 to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Initial light offers white pepper notes that hit the throat
- Touch of cedar appears as the pepper recedes
- Medium grey ash forms on top of a wavy thin burn line
- Sweet grassy notes joins the profile
- Full volume of palate filling smoke
- Slight off burn develops but does not need a touch-up
- Cream notes start to build in the core
- Delectable caramel sweetness enters end of first third
- Ash fell revealing a pointed burn cone
- Coffee and citrus notes evolve in the second third with an ever present sweet cream
- Nut aroma wafts off the foot
- Flavor settles back to a light cream note moving into the final third
- Saltiness and butter notes take it down to the nub with a mild bitterness
- Medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 50 minutes
Overall, the Rocky Patel Number 6 toro started as a decent smoking journey that evolved nicely through the second third. The medium complexity faded moving into the final with an ever present sweet cream note. Sadly the final third developed a bitter note that told me the cigar was finished. From a burn perspective, it had a mild wave that moved into a small off burn and the burn cone had more of a point than a proper bud look. I think this is still worth picking up a five pack of. I may have to try the robusto vitola which was awarded the Best Honduran for 2020 in Cigar Journal. As for the toro, I rate it an 89.
Point Deductions: (-1) Wavy Burn; (-1) Off Burn; (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Bitterness in the final; (-1) Pointed Burn Cone
