The World Cigar Smoking Championship by Rocky Patel ushers in a new decade for the Cigar Smoking World Championship. The Cigar Smoking World Championship is an international competition of “slow smoking” of cigars. Competitors compete in how slow they can smoke their cigar with time penalties given for such things as breaking your ash or burning the competition ring (cigar band).
The official size of the competition is the 5 1/8 x 42 Mareva which, in 2019, was smoked non-stop from the initial light for 3 hours, 26 minutes and 8 seconds. Today we fire up the Robusto with a plan to review the Mareva in the coming weeks.
Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship
Wrapper: San Andres
Binder: Costa Rica & Panama (Dual Binder)
Fillers: Honduras & Nicaragua
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Robusto
The Look: The Mareva size of the line comes in boxes of 10, however the other sizes come in boxes of 20. Packaged in a cabinet style box of blonde cedar, the cigar utilizes colors of orange foil with an orange foot band. The San Andres wrapper isn’t as dark as the Vintage 2006, but has a more pristine appearance. In the hand the cigar is firm to the touch and a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw off the CSWC has a notes of cedar and grain with a touch of sunflower seeds, while the aroma of the foot of the cigar mimics the cold draw perfectly. Upon lighting up the cigar the smoke offers up a sweetness that envelopes the palate.
The first third of the cigar sees notes of chocolate covered raisins instantly become the focal point of the cigar. The sweetness is joined by notes of oak and honey the also show up on the retrohale of this flavorful smoke.
The second third sees the honey notes become the dominant until the halfway point of the cigar as the note begins to slide quickly to the background before disappearing. At the half way point chocolate and coffee join forces creating a nice mocha experience with a growing pepper component on the retrohale.
Things change up again in the final third as notes of orange rind make it to the mix creating an interesting citrus component alongside the mocha which begins to fade as touch of wheat develops along with a subtle walnut that lingers on the finish. The retrohale offers some added wheat and pepper with the cigar having a short finish.
The Finish: If you are going to smoke a cigar for 3 hours like those who complete in the championship you want it to have some complexity and flavor changes just to keep you interested. If you are going to smoke for enjoyment, you want those changes as well. One thing is for certain this is not a novelty smoke, it’s a bonafide winner from Rocky Patel.
Score: 95
Price: $9.89 / $175.99 (Box of 20)
Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship Robusto
Rocky Patel Cigar Smoking World Championship Robusto Burn
