Rocky Patel Patel Bros (Robusto 5x50)

The breeze was just about perfect Monday evening. After a large early dinner at my favorite pizza place Joey's House of Pizza we got home with the kids, and I stepped out of the garage and felt something I hadn't felt in a while, coolness in the breeze.

I said to my wife, this is too great an evening to waste indoors, I am pouring myself a drink and heading outside to enjoy the weather - and I knew the cigar that was coming with me.

I had looked longingly at the RP Patel Bros sitting in my humidor for almost a month now. The dark broadleaf wrapper inviting me to hold it, to gaze upon it, to punch it open and smoke it. And the right time had finally arrived. A gin and tonic would be the perfect compliment I felt for the evening, so after mixing up a drink that had more gin than tonic I headed outside to light up my cigar.

The cap is so perfectly done on all the Rocky Patel cigars that to use anything other than a punch to open it up is a sin. Seeing as both my lighters were out of gas, I utilized my kitchen torch set to the lowest setting to slowly roast the foot. Even before taking the first draw the aroma of slow roasted truffle was detected off the smoke, and upon taking that first puff offered up the truffle flavor. Smooth with a slight pepper on the finish, this medium bodied cigar demonstrated perfect balance from the first draw.

My wife insisted we head into the backyard to survey her fruit trees. Upon inspection the decision to pull the fruit off a pear tree she has been growing was made, and I held the ladder while she helped my son pick each pear off the branches. The RP just smoked away slowly, me taking a draw every minute or so as the fruit came off the tree.

The cigar continued its flavor development offering a level of complexity that demonstrates just how much difference different leaves and soils can make to the tobacco plant. The initial roasted truffle continued its development while the pepper on the finish grew ever so stronger and more defined. The smoke as I drew in from the RP was rich and full, almost as though you could chew it. The finish actually left me thirsty, thank goodness for the gin and tonic poured prior to lighting up.

The pears were finally all removed with my wife taking them into the house for some future fruit related project she planned to undertake, and the breeze was just about perfect so I suggested a walk around the neighborhood. With a parting taste of the gin and tonic we headed out, my daughter in her stroller my son on his tricycle. He would ride up ahead of us 50-100 feet, stop and turn and sit on the seat of his tricycle backwards, and pretend to take a draw of his "cigar." Of course at 4 I don't want him smoking cigars or anything else, and yes, I did get a dirty look from my wife regarding "what my son was doing" but as I said to her, he loves me and wants to be like me, and I look forward to the day he is old enough to enjoy a cigar with his old man.

The walk went longer than probably planned, and the RP continued to smoke. Of course smoking while walking is different than smoking while sitting and doing nothing, but the RP hung in there, continuing to offer an excellent smoking experience.

As we looped the neighborhood and headed for home I was thirsty for the drink I had waiting for me, and upon getting back to the house I resumed my position and smoked the final 3rd of the cigar. As the RP burnt through what is considered the sweet spot the pepper on the finish continued to get stronger. I don't think it was ever overpowering, but it was there and wanted you to know it was.

As the final few puffs came to an end, I unwrapped the beautiful broadleaf wrapper showing my son the veining in the leaf. I continued to dismantle the cigar even further cautioning him of the hot end of the leaf that still burnt slightly. I showed him how the leaves are bunched together to form the cigar, and he carefully took each leaf and inspected them as only a 4 year old can. His interest level was immense as he shared in something with me, his father.

After dropping all the leaves into our lawn, he proceeded to stomp on them and laugh as they disintegrated into nothing. The final couple drops of my drink were finished and the time to put the kids to bed drew close.

I will be smoking the Patel Bros again, it was great. I know exactly who I want to smoke it with because I know of my friends tastes in cigars, and this one is certainly one we will enjoy together soon.

Of course you've heard me say it many times before, but times like this evening are always made better with cigars, and tonight was no exception.

Until we smoke again.