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It’s full-bodied but not an overwhelming presence in the mouth and offers a light, toasty aroma. The taste is clean with a promising touch of sweetness that showcases the Cameroon binder. Solidly constructed, the spicy finish is the key to this blend and is the consistent element that holds the flavor profile together throughout. It’s never rough, however, and the blend remains lively rather than edgy. The sweet note is continuously present but small and there’s a peppery end to the cigar that signals that it is time to move on. The taste is not as bright as on some of Patel’s other blends, such as the powerful Sun Grown line, but this is a cigar for summer . . . when the living is supposed to be easy. It’s well suited to that purpose and at retail prices of $6.65-$8.60 (not including local tobacco and sales taxes), it’s also accessible. All four shapes are offered in boxes of 20. Overall grade: A-: Excellent. Patel has also taken over production of the Nicarao brand, formerly made by the Tacabalera Tropical. In its previous edition, Nicarao was bright and sweet, but things have changed. Nicarao: [Honduras: available in 4 sizes] This edition of Nicarao was introduced in 2007 and is medium-to-full in body with plenty of presence. It’s made from all-Nicaraguan leaves, including a Jalapa-grown wrapper. There’s a toasty aroma at the start and the expected quality construction and draw. The taste features a light and modestly creamy flavor, but the key is the spicy finish. This blend burns well and doesn’t tire you. Its spicy nature stays with you throughout the cigar, residing mostly on the throat, but nicely balanced. It’s not as flavorful and rich as the Rocky Patel Summer Collection, but for those who enjoy spicy cigars, this will be a winner. All four sizes come in boxes of 20 and prices range at retail from $4.40 each for the Robusto up to $5.40 for the Torpedo, not including local sales and tobacco taxes. Overall grade: B+: Very Good. Patel’s Summer Collection concept is a good one, especially if the releases are seasonal instead of annual as General Cigar has done with the Partagas Cifuentes series. Just as smokers prefer different cigars for golf or a barbeque as opposed to watching a football game indoors in wintertime, the idea of having a specific cigar for each season makes sense. For the ever-inventive Patel, it’s another way to introduce a new blend with a limited edition rather than an all-out introduction. Our prediction? As the popular Avo 75 limited-edition cigar became the Avo Signature Series, look for the blend that sells best to become a regular member of the Rocky Patel family. Why not? ~ Rich Perelman CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGCigar Humidors and Cigar Accessories at Humidor Vault! Your online cigar humidor source, with rock-bottom pricing and fantastic customer support!Like sports? Get news and commentary you won’t see in your morning newspaper at TheSportsExaminer.com! Join the examination! A limited amount of classified advertising is available in this space on a weekly basis. For details, call Pat Harris at (213) 365-7965 or inquire by email by clicking here. Have an opinion? You can send it using the “Comment” button below! Don’t forget to register for our drawing for free cigars and accessories! Just click on the “Register & Win” button above; enter today! Looking for a cigar party? Take a look at our exclusive list of hundreds of cigar events across the country, listed by state and date, only on CigarCyclopedia.com!
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Did you know?
“Although rarely seen today, coin-operated cigar dispensers have been around since at least 1893.
