Rocky Patel Sun Grown Torpedo, I think I got a dud
Or maybe it was made on a Monday!!
OK, I have been letting this one sit with great anticipation. Every RP I've had to date was great (even the Conneticut Robusto) so I was really looking forward to this.
The wrapper was dark, slightly oily and slightly rough & veiny (I didn't mind this as I find it actually gives a smoke some nice feel and character as opposed to a perfectly smooth wrapper). It snipped easily, and the scent and flavours of the predraws were interesting to say the least. Draw was a bit loose, but not like sucking on a big straw.
It lit nicely, and the whiff of smoke I got as I blew gently on the foot was pleasant. The first few draws were very pleasureable, and spicy, especially to the nose. Plenty of smoke and I sat back on the deck to spend the next hour or more in enjoyment. (Even had the kettle on to boil to make a nice strong cup of Cuban coffee in my French Press.)
Now the burn got a bit wonky. Didn't tunnel or run or anything, just weeird ash. The ash, after an inch or so of perfect burn, got really flakey and actually was falling off into my lap in chunks the size of raisins. It tasted like crap and got a dry draw now with almost no smoke, then a draw or two later, got a mouthful of hot harsh smoke. It kept on like this for a while and then the burn settled out. I gently knocked off the bit of cruddy ash that was left, purged it and laid it down to go out. About 10 or 15 minutes later, I tried again. The foot was cool, so I carefully removed as much ash as I could and then carefully relit it.
It took on that acidic or ammonia taste and I said "fuggit" and tossed it over the back fence hoping a car would put it out of it's misery for me.
I brushed my teeth, rinsed, had a few dry crackers and went back to dig through the Humi. I picked out a Padron #2000 (damn you CG, you got me hooked on these), made my coffee and sat outside tending the BBQ in a state of cigar & coffee induced bliss.
I will try these cigars again. They have too good a rep and I'm sure I got a dud.
Thanks for letting me vent.
Newf.
