Rocky Patel 'Fire' Torpedo. 6x52. Nice construction. Darker brown wrap, straight lines, some pronounced leaf ends. Cut and lit very well. Hard-medium draw pre-light, a touch easier into the first third. First half tastes of black pepper, dark wood, emerging herbal notes, particularly in the exhale. Second half is strong leaf, bready, pungent spice, bitter herbal. 

Ash is clean, light gray, grainy. First drop was promptly at an inch. Second and third drops were a good two inches, suggesting an inconsistent packing. Burn was mostly even but did need my attention at a few points.

Draw closed slightly toward the mid point, becoming an effort to smoke. I found myself straining each puff despite the wide angled cut I made on the torpedo crown. A slight bite made for an easy draw, suggesting a packing that was a bit too tight. Not a deal breaker, but noteworthy.

This is a good cigar with some build issues. The first half was fine, with several good points, but the second half was a struggle. Two recuts was not enough, forcing me to chomp down on it if I had any hopes of smoking the second half. That was the bad news. The good news is that the chomping worked, and the flavor was pleasing, even if a little more bitter than I'd like. I'm going to try this cigar again, crediting the midpoint issues to a fluke in construction. Rocky Patel normally crafts quality at every price point, so I'm focusing here on the strengths over the weakness. Recommended.

From the company:

"Blended by the legendary cigar master Rocky Patel, Fire has a triple-fermented Ecuador Habano wrapper leaf covering the finest aged long-filler tobaccos. Immediately upon lighting, a blast of strong pepper offers quite the wake up call before quickly giving way to the most enjoyable notes of toast, cinnamon, exotic spice, and sweet molasses. Not for the faint of heart (or palate), the Rocky Patel Fire is an awesome, full-bodied smoke and a noteworthy edition to this Patel's ever-expanding portfolio of high-rated cigars."

[source: jrcigars.com]

Rocky Patel 'Edge Maduro B52' Gordo. 4.5x60. Good construction with mostly straight lines, subdued veins. Dark brown with charred spots. Wrap is heavily sweated and nicely oily. Cut well. Lighting took a couple of minutes of gentle roasting. Medium draw pre- and post-flame, becoming a touch easier mid way down.

First half tastes of black pepper, cocoa powder, cedar. The tobacco flavor is roasty, bitter on the back end. Second half tastes of leather, sweet woodsy spice, herbal notes, dark fruit. The tastes becomes creamy going down the stick, and the spice profile becomes more pronounced.

Burn was quite uneven at first, but was corrected by the second third. Ash was marbled with light and dark gray patches, not as clean as I prefer.  

This is an excellent cigar, but one not meant for beginners. It is aggressive on all fronts, including its taste, mouthfeel, length of smoke, immense draw, and sweaty charred maduro wrap. If you like bold cigars with strong tobacco and spice flavor, you will surely love this big cigar. Highly recommended.

Full Disclosure: I smoked this cigar with goblets of barleywine on a mostly empty stomach. This is a rookie move, particularly for someone that has been enjoying cigars and beer for decades. The evening did not end well for me, to put it mildly. Learn from my mistake! Have a fine full meal before lighting up the B52. You can thank me later.

From the company:

"Edge Maduro. The Edge remains the hottest and bestselling cigar in the country. Wonder why? Consistency! Consistency! Consistency! Rich flavor, complexity and value make this one of the greatest selling brands ever. Full-bodied and full-flavored is an understatement."

[source: rockypatel.com]

"According to the man himself, Rocky Patel Edge B52s were made to accommodate the man who wants that big taste but doesn’t have a whole lot of time. They’re short (4 ½ inches) and stout, but no less flavorful and intense than their full-height counterparts. It’s the Edge experience you know and love...miniaturized. Rocky Patel Edge B52s come with your choice of wrapper leaf: a dark, oily maduro or an ultra-robust Corojo. In both cases, the double binder duo hails from Nicaragua and Honduras, and the filler is top secret. One thing Rocky did reveal is that the filler mix includes a dose of Panama ligero, and the overall character is medium to full in body. Flavorful, impactful, and easily enjoyed in a hurry, this is just what you need for those harsh winter months ahead."
[source: cigarsinternational.com]

Rocky Patel 'Sun Grown' Robusto. 5.5x50. Excellent build with straight lines, subdued veins, and nice even shades. Medium brown wrap with darker shades toward the foot. Cut and lit well. Medium draw pre-light, easier shortly after light. First half tastes of herbal spice, mild pepper, roasted almond. Second half tastes of almond, earth, allspice on the exhale. Aroma was mild tobacco and coffee. Medium body. Wrap was creamy from the midpoint down.

Ash was clean with perfectly even marbling, holding two inches before an effortless drop. Second drop was at an inch. Burn was slightly uneven at light but was easily and immediately corrected.

This is an excellent cigar. The construction is top shelf, something I've come to expect from all of Rocky Patel's lines. The tastes starts with spicy peppery notes that never turn bitter, gradually becoming more roasty and creamy. Another wonderful stick from a premium brand. Worth a good 45 relaxing minutes. Highly recommended.

From the company:

"The 90-rated Sun Grown brand is best described as medium-plus in body. With its lush 5-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, the ignited Sun Grown becomes a little bit spicy on the palate with a hint of pepperiness. A perfectly balanced blend from Honduras."

[source: rockypatel.com]

Rocky Patel 'Catch 22' Toro. 6x52. Roasted brown wrap with darker shades. Good construction with some veins. Nice straight lines. Good cut and light. Easy draw throughout, pre- and post-light. First half tastes of walnut, roasted dark leaf, earthy exhale. Second half is light wood, mild herbal spice. Burn was somewhat even though it did take some careful turning. Ash was clean and marbled well, light gray with spots of darker ash.

This is a nice smoke. It's well crafted with a smooth draw and decent burn, with a pleasant mild nutty taste with a background faint spice. A good value cigar from a premium cigar maker. Well recommended.

From the company:

"Catch 22 is a well-balanced medium-bodied cigar. A solid earthy core is accompanied with flavors of cocoa as well as a lingering sweetness."

[source: rockypatel.com]

The burn required some careful maintenance, but was mostly even throughout.