As soon as I lit it up, I got notes of Mexican hot chocolate, citrus, and charred chicken. It was the perfect combination of sweet, spicy, and savory – all in one place. The retro hale added a sugar cookie sensation on top, making it even more enjoyable. A few minutes later, an earthiness sets in as cocoa and cayenne pepper separate into distinct impressions.

With about ¾ of an inch of ash built up, savoriness has dissipated and I’m now getting a soft, Cherry Danish sweetness on the palate that’s even more pronounced in the retro hale. This sensation grew as the ash held on, making for quite the enjoyable experience.

Dropping the ash, those cherry and chocolate sensations became the immediate driving factors in this blend for me. Pepper and earth have given me the ole Irish Goodbye. As the ash continues to build, earth, pepper, and chocolatey nuances slowly came back to the party. 

This was a very dynamic cigar for me, and by far my favorite Rocky Patel experience in recent years!