In an industry built on name recognition and reputation, Rocky Patel's passion has brought his brand to heights unseen by most boutique cigar manufacturers. His hard work and long hours have been paying off in big ways. A survivor of the cigar boom, Patel has outlasted his competition with unrivaled persistence on his quest for perfection. With a grueling travel schedule, office responsibilities and production, Rocky still maintains the enthusiasm that he has had since day one. As he travels the world, putting his cigars in the mouth of his consumers, his passion extends beyond the retailer, allowing his customers the experience of meeting the man behind their favorite smokes. Rocky Patel has created a company that has out shined even those created by multimillion dollar corporations, and he's doing it one customer at a time..

Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary

Rocky Patel likes to tell people that no one in the cigar industry thought he would last ten years in the business. Now he's about to celebrate year 15.
To commemorate the occasion, Patel today released a cigar called Fifteenth Anniversary by Rocky Patel. It's a medium dark, trunk-pressed cigar that's wrapped in Ecuadoran tobacco grown from Habano seeds. The binder and filler tobaccos are entirely Nicaraguan, and one of the filler varieties is grown on a farm that was specially dedicated to this cigar. The cigars come in dark boxes with metallic plates, and the double bands are the color of gun metal steel.
"I wanted to do something special to celebrate our 15 years in the cigar business," said Patel, the owner of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, which is based in Naples, Florida. "I wanted a cigar that's like the Decade on steroids. The Fifteenth has the elegance and the balance of the Decade, but it has the richness, complexity and spice that kind of puts it over the top."
Patel spoke about one of the fillers, which he said comes from "a special farm in Estelí. I think it's some of the richest, and spiciest tobaccos I've ever had. The farm is just dedicated to that filler." He also said that he had been waiting to use the Habano seed Ecuadoran wrapper tobacco, which comes from a very high priming, for about two years.
While Patel has built his brands primarily with cigars that are rolled in Honduras, namely those made by the Plasencia family, this new brand is made in the Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. cigar factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. Patel owns the factory along with Amilcar Perez. Cigar Insider toured the first version of the factory in December, and it has since been relocated to a larger space in Estelí. Tabacalera Villa Cuba makes cigars in slow, artisan style. It has been in operation since December 2008, and also makes the Rocky Patel 1961 cigar along with some private label brands.
The cigars there are made with triple caps, the bunching is done entubado style, a slow process where each filler leaf is rolled in a sort of tube, and the cigars get two binder leaves rather than simply one.
"We wanted it triple capped, rolled the Cuban way, all by hand," said Patel during a tour of the factory. "I think it changes the flavor profile. The flavor is different." The factory, he says, "gives us a whole new style. We can experiment with more boutique stuff."
The Fifteenth Anniversary by Rocky Patel brand comes in four sizes, all of them packed in boxes of 20. The Robusto measures five inches long by 50 ring gauge, the Toro 6 1/2 by 52, the Torpedo 6 1/8 by 52 and the Corona Gorda 6 by 46. (The word "toro" is typically a synonym for corona gorda in the cigar industry, so Patel is doing something nontraditional by having both sizes, with quite different dimensions.) Pricing still has to be determined, but Rocky Patel Premium Cigars said it would be close to the Decade, which are $8 to $12 apiece.
The Rocky Patel Decade, released to celebrate Patel's 10th year in business, delivered Patel his highest ratings ever. The Rocky Patel Decade Torpedo scored 95 points in a February 2008 Cigar Insider, and was the number 15 cigar in Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 cigars of that year.
Launching the Fifteenth Anniversary is but one part of Patel's grand plans for this year and beyond. "My goal is to be the top brand," he says.

Nording

Blended for famous European pipe maker Erik Nording, this cigar features smoky tobacco flavor reminiscent of well-aged Cubans with edgy strength. It¹s a rich, medium-bodied cigar experience that combines toasty, caramel flavors with a lingering sweet finish.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1999

The oldest true Connecticut shade wrapper on the market is featured on the Vintage 1999 series. This mild, cedary cigar changes in complexion to a smooth medium body as its smoked. This well-balanced cigar is exquisite in appearance and construction.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1992

A true medium-bodied smoke with a nutty aroma and hints of spice on the tongue, the Vintage 1992 features refinement and zest from a 10-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper united with underlying balance from 8-year-old filler tobaccos. The result is a highly renowned, highly rated cigar with complexity befitting the most discerning palate.

Rocky Patel Vintage 1990

Dont let the dark wrapper fool you, the Vintage 1990 is a mild- to medium-body cigar with a nutty, caramel essence. This line is highlighted by a 12-year-old Honduran broadleaf wrapper that has softened in strength over the years yet gained in complexity and flavor. Renowned for its elegance and balance, the Vintage 1990 features the unrivaled accolades of a 92 rating and twice being named to the Top 25 Cigars of the Year in Cigar Aficionado.

The Edge

The Edge remains the hottest cigar in the country based on its strength, price point and fresh-from-the-factory box packaging. Available in both Corojo and Maduro, The Edge presents an unrivaled smoking experience, filling the palate with spicy elements, accenting its bold flavor. It will leave the seasoned smoker weak in the knees without a harsh finish. Full-bodied and full flavored is an understatement!

Old World Reserve

When you open a chest of Olde World Reserves, the rich aroma of lush tobaccos hits your nose. Available in either a nutty Corojo or a cocoa-rich Maduro wrapper, the OWR is a full-bodied smoking experience that combines the smooth complexity of the Vintage series with the earthy strength of The Edge. The OWR was recognized by Robb Report as Best of the Best for 2007.

Rocky Patel Decade

Perfection takes time. For the Rocky Patel Decade, its the perfect blend 10 years in the making. The silky Decade showcases a gorgeous, dark Sumatra wrapper surrounding a secret blend featuring only the finest tobaccos in the world. The result is a rich and toasty medium- to full-body smoking experience. Complexity, balance and elegance earned the Rocky Patel Decade ratings of 91, 92, 93 and 95 points an instant classic.

Patel Bros.

For the first time in his company's history, Rocky Patel has collaborated with his brother Nish to create a full-bodied powerhouse cigar blend. The duo worked for years to find a robust and unique wrapper to accompany a special Nicaraguan filler and binder blend. A breakthrough came in the form of a beautifully dark and oily broadleaf wrapper selected from the tobacco fields of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. For each of their efforts, they decided to call the rich and bold cigar PATEL BROTHERS.

1961

In commemoration of his birth year, Rocky Patel has released a new cigar called ROCKY PATEL 1961. This medium-to full-bodied cigar was masterfully blended with a Habano seed wrapper from Ecuador, a Honduran binder and Nicaraguan fillers. The result is a smoke that's rich and spicy, yet smooth and elegant. ROCKY PATEL 1961 is the inaugural brand hailing from Rocky¹s newest cigar factory in Nicaragua called Tabacalera Villa Cuba. It's sure to be the first of many great new cigars to join an already outstanding brand portfolio.

Rocky Patel Sungrown

Before you even light up a Sungrown, the peppery flavor from the 5-year-old Ecuadorian sungrown wrapper hits you in the nose. When you ignite the cigar, the Dominican and Nicaraguan spice washes over your palate, and you think youve just lit up a Cuban. The RP Sungrown is a medium- to full-bodied smoke with a long and full finish. It topped the charts with an impressive 9.8 out of 10 points in Smoke Magazine.

ITC 10th Anniversary

The ITC 10th Anniversary celebrates Rocky Patels roots in the cigar industry, honoring his very first cigar brand, Indian Tabac. This medium- to full-bodied masterpiece marks the first Nicaraguan puro in the RP portfolio. Made in Estelí, the ITC 10 Year features a blend of tobacco leaves from the Jalapa, Estelí and Condega Valley regions of Nicaragua. Strong and decadent, the ITC 10 Year is peppery yet sweet on the palate, reminiscent of the Havanas of old.

The Edge Lite

The Edge Lite is a mild, creamy cigar that delivers rich flavor not immediately expected from a Connecticut-wrappered cigar. Shade grown beneath the natural cloud cover of Ecuador, this cigar features a more complex and consistent smoke than the usual milder cigars on the market. The Edge Lite is impeccably constructed, leading to a perfect burn, smooth draw and long finish.

The Edge Missile

The Edge Missile is the little brother to its popular predecessor, The Edge. This torpedo variety is noticeably smaller in size but big in flavor. The full-bodied Missile delivers spicy and peppery flavors accompanied by a hint of sweetness on the finish.

Indian Tabac Super Furte

This cigar line was created in the 1990s with the true cigar aficionado in mind. With a name that translates to Super Strong, full-bodied potency is its defining trait. But this hefty box-pressed cigar also features great balance. European Cigar Cult Journal honored the Super Fuerte by naming it the Best Cigar in the World from Honduras.

Indian Tabac Cameroon Legend

Bigger is better when it comes to the Cameroon Legend. This large-ringed line was designed for a bold Dominican blend surrounded by either a spicy African Cameroon or a robust Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. A smooth, creamy flavor makes this medium-bodied cigar a phenomenon.

Indian Tabac Super Furte

This cigar line was created in the 1990s with the true cigar aficionado in mind. With a name that translates to Super Strong, full-bodied potency is its defining trait. But this hefty box-pressed cigar also features great balance. European Cigar Cult Journal honored the Super Fuerte by naming it the Best Cigar in the World from Honduras.

Indian Tabac Classic

The primary cigar from the Indian Tabac line has been enhanced with the addition of a Corojo wrapper, one of the hottest trends in the industry. This oily, reddish-brown wrapper provides a wonderfully earthy taste without overwhelming the blend. The longfiller is equally unique, fusing the intricate recipe of full-flavored leaves from Nicaragua, Honduras and Costa Rica, resulting in a medium- to full-bodied cigar with a complex, boutique taste.