It has been some time since I've taken a jump into "Pick It or Flick It" land here at BlowinSmokePodcast.com, and even though I generally don't place cigar reviews here, I hate to pass up the opportunity to have a little fun with a review.
Being a highly influential member of the cigar media [cough-cough], my people (read: I) received an email and subsequent package from Rocky Patel's people (read: Rocky Patel's people) containing a very nice hand written note from Rocky's brother, Nish, and a pre-release sampling of the new Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary for my "review." The RP 15th are set to hit stores on July 30, 2010.
Wanting to keep it fair, and not wanting to break my own rules of creating the appearance of a "quid pro quo" when it comes to cigar reviews both here and on the show, I decided to offer up the pre-release Rocky Patel 15th as a MYSTERY cigar for a couple of the Cretins to review...thus denying myself the little bit of celebrity arrogance I might experience by smoking a pre-release Rocky Patel. You can thank me later.
Our two unknowing, but more than willing, Cretins were Kyle (maduro slut, goat buff), and Moose (skin hound, chlorine addict)
First, a little background on the new Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary taken from their website and other sources. Utilizing Rocky's new facilities in Nicaragua, the 15th features fillers from Esteli wrapped by an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Four sizes are being released: Robusto 5 X 50 - Toro 6.5 X 52 - Torpedo 6.125 X 52 - and Corona Gorda 6 X 46. I received the torpedo.
REMEMBER! The reviewers have no idea what cigar they are smoking, and they smoked them separately.
APPEARANCE
KYLE: It was a nut brown shade, slight vein wrapper. It was very smooth to the touch, with a slight bumpiness.
MOOSE: The cigar looks like a tasty stick. Looks like a Rocky Olde World.
PRE-LIGHT : Aroma, etc
KYLE: A slight sweetness on the pre light puff.
MOOSE: Pre-light aroma is delicious with a bit of a vintage, well-aged smell. Good pyramid construction. Probably 6x50 size.
TYPE OF CUT
KYLE: I used my usual perfect cut.
MOOSE: Straight cut with perfect cutter.
DRAW
KYLE: Great draw.
MOOSE: Ridiculously easy draw; personally, I prefer more resistance.
CONSTRUCTION / BURN / ASH
KYLE: The construction was immaculate. A slight tight wrap, but not too tight. A stiff ash, and no other problems while smoking it.
MOOSE: Very easy to light. Ash is okay but I suspect I'll be dealing with an uneven burn for a while. Twenty minutes in and burn is trying to right itself. Have touched up only once so far. Thirty minutes in - had to touch up some wild spoonage. Forty-five minutes and burning better but showing signs of more spooning.
FLAVOR
KYLE: Before I took a puff, I didn't have a sip of anything. A heavy spice overcame my pallate. I'm not sure if it was the cigar or the cedar I lit it with. I started to drink Blanton's Bourbon with it. The Bourbon, at first, brought out a heavy spice, then turned into a smooth mellowness. Next up was a Great Lakes Burning River about 1/4 of the way down. The beer had the same sweet/leather tones as the cigar. Last up was the Andretti Selections Merlot wine with about 4 or so inches left. The dryness of the wine brought out more earthiness and a smooth white pepper flavor.
MOOSE: Initial taste is dry and lacking. The smoke is harsh to my nose. Not what I was expecting it to taste like. Pairing with lemon iced tea and also a glass of water. So far the tea is overpowering the cigar. Taste still lacking compared to pre-light aromas. Still unimpressive flavor and aroma. Disappointed so far. Cripe, the water is more refreshing at the moment. Just about to the 60 minute mark. About 2.5" left and souring quickly.
STRENGTH
KYLE: I would give it a high medium to a low full.
MOOSE: N/A
OVERALL
KYLE: It had a great draw, lots of smoke, great aroma, and a nice stiff ash. Heavy spice at first then smoothed out to a mellow, earthy/leathery tone, and sweet to the lips. I would give this a solid 9 out of 10. I'd say it's 75% Nicaraguan and 25% Dominican.
MOOSE: Overall an unimpressive cigar. The more I thought about what I was smoking the more I felt it should be compared to a 50 cent smoke I was given earlier this spring at a bonfire. Burn issues throughout and lack of flavor made it pain to finish it. As it is, I put it down after an hour with a little over 2" left. The big surprise was the difference between pre-light aromas and what it tasted like after sparking it up.
PICK IT or FLICK IT?
KYLE: Pick it!
MOOSE: I don't like to bash a cigar, but I will definitely have to Flick this one.
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Wow! It's amazing what happens when you're flying blind. I have a feeling Moose will be very surprised when he learns the identity of this mystery cigar, but he and Kyle were honest, and that's all we ask for.
Personally, I don't like seeing a premium handmade cigar get kicked around. It can come off as an indictment, when nothing could be further from the truth. Cigar likes and dislikes are extremely subjective and you always have to keep that in mind. A review is an opinion and the opinion today on the Pre-Release Rocky Patel 15th Anniversary Torpedo is a draw between PICK IT & FLICK IT.
It's like we always say..."We herf. You decide."
Pick It/Flick it - Hold On To Your Ko-Ko Bops
Posted: 2009-09-03
We all know that timing is everything, and this held true for me this week when I stumbled upon this Pick It or Flick It.
Apparently there is a cable television network called Fit-TV. I guess it's a soy nuts and bean curd exercise and healthy living kind of thing. Whatever. What's important is what I discovered on this channel while surfing into the triple digits on my cable box.
My first thought was I accidentally strayed into the DMZ of pay per view land and, for a moment, I began concocting an explanation for why this showed up on the cable bill under adult entertainment, but au contraire mon frere. This was not pay per view. This was "Shimmy."
"Shimmy" is actually a twenty six episode series that demonstrates, in great detail, the art of Belly Dance. "Shimmy" features a cast of absolutely stunning women, all professional belly dancers with resumes that read like a...well, to be honest, I really don't give a shimmy about their resumes. That's like asking for references before a lap dance. It's just not that important. What is important is that for 30 minutes you are treated to non-stop belly dancing by scantly clad beautiful women. The mood is relaxed. The sound is calming. No Billy Mays squat counts here. And the contrasts between background scenery and the dancers keeps your focus right where it should be...in the gutter. Plus, you don't need a pocket full of singles.
"Shimmy" is also safe to watch at home, depending on your wife or significant other. You can feign interest in the art of the belly dance, or the amazing musculoskeletal abilities of the artiste, all while feeding your inherent swine.
The "Shimmy" website claims there are health benefits to belly dancing as a form of exercise. I'm not really sure what that means, but I do recommend enjoying "Shimmy" with an ice cold beer and a bag of cheezy puffs. And keep an eye out for dancer Gillian. She's an El Freako favorite!
"Shimmy" on Fit TV. Pick It!
Pick It/Flick it - Bacardi Classic Mojito
Posted: 2009-08-20
If you have ever ordered a classic Cuban mojito, you've probably enjoyed watching it being made as much as the drink itself. It takes a good bit of effort with muddling lime, sugar and fresh mint for each individual drink along with all the other ingredients. Traditionally mojitos feature rum but the drink has seen tweaks over time and it is common to see vodka used as well. The result is a highball style cocktail that is cold, sweet and refreshing on a hot day as well as potent enough to knock you around a little if you aren't careful.
The Bacardi Classic Mojito is part of their 'ready to drink' line for those of us who want the mojito experience without the mojito work. As with most ready to drink types, you sacrifice alcohol content for the convenience factor as this checks in at 30 proof.
I fired up an Oliva V Double Toro for this pairing expecting a mega sweet drink that would need some spicy balance. Simply poured over ice, the Bacardi Classic Mojito is sweet (it's supposed to be), but it isn't sickening sweet, and the V did a pretty good job of allowing the lime and mint to come through without burying them too much. What it is missing is the rum flavor. It's subtle. The Oliva V...not so much. I'm guessing almost any cigar rating a medium or stronger profile will treat this drink the same way and leave you wanting a little more oomph.
For an easy, low octane refreshing cocktail (serve it very cold) that won't kill the budget at around $14, the Bacardi Classic Mojito is fine. For that traditional Cuban cocktail with a fine cigar, which is what I'm looking for, it's lacking. Pack some more rum or consult your local mixologist for the real thing.
I'm gonna flick this one.
Pick It/Flick it - Diggin' In
Posted: 2009-08-04
From time to time, your Freako may have the opportunity to try something new (or new to him), take a particular product out for a spin, or offer personal compare and contrast observations. When I do, you'll find it here under Pick It or Flick It.
Hey, everybody! More cigar reviews!
Wrongo, my brothers and sisters. The Cretins and I review cigars on the Blowin' Smoke Podcast for you all the time giving you a variety of honest, personal opinions in a fun package. We've got cigar reviews covered. Quite frankly, most online cigar reviews are about as exciting as watching paint dry. Really now, does a picture of a half-smoked cigar or the unlit foot of a cigar sway you toward or away from sampling a stick? I digress.
What you can expect more of in Pick It or Flick It is the other stuff. A review of a new cigar cutter gizmo. Humidor accessories. Website reviews. Network newsbabes. Which bourbon pairs best with chocolate chip cookies? The other stuff. While you might get a cigar review in Pick It or Flick It, there will be a good reason for it.
Stay tuned for more Pick It / Flick It, and feel free to suggest something for me to review. I can't be expected to think all the time.
