Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 Staff Review
It’s time to revisit Vintage 1990, a tried-and-true standby from Rocky Patel, in a 6.5-by-52 Toro for today’s review. Despite launching dozens of new cigars over the years, Vintage 1990 has been a mainstay in Rocky’s extensive portfolio since 2003. Let’s dig into this old-school Rocky blend to see how it tastes and performs all these years later.
Rocky’s iconic Vintage 1990 and Vintage 1992 blends were among the first lines that he debuted under his name, transitioning from the Indian Tabac Cigar Company, which he established during the Cigar Boom of the 1990s. Rocky has always vigorously promoted his brands, with a relentless event schedule and his trademark charisma, a trait that endears him to cigar lovers. By the mid-2000s, Rocky Patel Cigars enjoyed a burgeoning audience in nearly every premium retailer in the country. Vintage 1990 takes us back in time to Rocky’s early ascent as one of today’s most popular cigarmakers.
Rocky blended Vintage 1990 from an oily Honduran Broadleaf wrapper and a hearty recipe of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-fillers in a collection of bestselling sizes, including the box-pressed Toro I’m about to light. A pair of burgundy-and-gold bands adorns each cigar. Handmade in Honduras, the blend comes in uniform 20-count boxes. When you crack open a new box of Rocky Patel cigars, their consistency is unmistakable. Rocky has earned a considerably loyal following by continuously launching new products and maintaining quality control in his core releases.
Vintage 1990 offers a sharp aroma of black licorice and toast, with a hint of espresso, when I inspect a dark, rustic specimen from a fresh box. According to Rocky, the cigar’s Honduran wrapper is twelve years old. The Toro is well made from head to foot, showing a few tidy seams and a slightly rugged texture. Once I’ve excised the cap with my Xikar Xi1 cutter, tasting notes of espresso, earth, and raisin manifest in the cold draw. The Toro ignites effortlessly with a few blasts from my triple-flame torch lighter.
A profuse stream of acerbic smoke forges a path over my taste buds and into my nose in the first minutes. Vintage 1990 is bitter and earthy at first, then settles into sweet notes of cocoa powder and nuts. The burn and draw are exceptional, revealing a stable white ash as the cigar progresses. Notes of dark fruit, such as plum and prune, add unique nuances. However, a subtle bitterness persists throughout the first half.
Vintage 1990 offers a mix of deep, spicy flavors, some of which carry into a creamy, inviting finish. Others exert a harsh influence, leaving a chalky impression. Classic notes of hot espresso, black pepper, cocoa, and mesquite mingle over an herbal foundation well after the cigar bands are off and the nub is between my fingers. The Toro lasts fifty-two minutes.
Rocky Patel makes such a vast range of Honduran and Nicaraguan cigars today that you’ll easily discover something appealing, regardless of whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned smoker. Check out Rocky’s bestselling Mulligans franchise, too, to get acquainted with dozens of his bargain-friendly side projects. Overall, Vintage 1990 is a decent cigar for exploring the roots of Rocky’s vast portfolio. But it may benefit from a bit of rest in your humidor and pairing it with a stiff bourbon to reach its full potential.
