Released to celebrate Rocky's first ten years in the business, the 6 1/2" x 52 Rocky Patel Decade Toro cigar might also be the pinnacle of his achievements. By now everyone is familiar with the story of how Rocky left his lucrative gig as an entertainment lawyer to pursue his passion for fine, hand-crafted smokes. Working tirelessly to craft cigars he knew would appeal to post-Cigar Boom smokers, his efforts culminated in a number of 90+ rated cigars including fan-favorites The Edge Corojo and Maduro plus the phenomenal 1990 and 1992 Vintage lines. Seeing his ten years of hard work finally paying off, Patel took the opportunity to create a secret blend of filler and binder tobaccos and layered them beneath a rare Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. And so the Decade was born.

Shiny, oily, and very finely veined, the dark Sumatra wrapper shows a bit of tooth and smells of soft cedar. With a light boxed press that enhances the smooth draw, the Rocky Patel Decade Toro cigar presents itself as world-class from the moment it is pulled from the box, an impression clarified once a flame has sparked the foot to life. Full of lively pepper yet creamy and smooth, the smoke hits just the right symmetry between medium strength and full-bodied flavor. From the sweet spot to the nub, strong hints of dark cherry are intertwined with exotic spices and leather and almonds, a complex and soul-pleasing experience.

Fans of the Diesel Shorty Ltd. and Torano Vault will enjoy the fruity notes found swirling throughout this smoking experience. If you’re looking for even more flavor than these Decades have to offer, try Rocky’s Maduro limited annual release version of this cigar the Rocky Patel Decade Edicion Limitada. Rated an incredible 95 by Cigar Aficionado when it was first released, the Rocky Patel Decade Toro cigar still stands as one of the best cigars in the industry. Each vitola offers its own special twist on the earthy flavors that abound throughout, but the Toro seems to have found the sweet spot with its perfectly balanced tastes. Rocky, you done good.