Rocky himself says that the Decade is his best cigar, but Cigar Aficionado’s highest rating went to this little gem, the Sun Grown. It actually came in a tiny little flake of ash below the very top spot, hitting #2 on the Top 25 Cigars of the Year listing. Much like horseshoes and hand grenades, close counts for a whole lot in cigar ratings. The number two spot is very, very good and a huge accomplishment for any cigar maker.
Well done, Rocky. Pass the cutter!
You’ll want to check in on the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro-wrapped version first. That’s what took the high honors. The other version, swaddled in Ecuadorian Sumatra, pulled in a 91 rating. Not earth-shattering, but still very nice. Inside this trunk-pressed cigar, there’s a Nicaraguan binder and filler blend powering the whole experience, creating a fantastic flavor profile that varies depending on which stick you choose. Here are our quick flavor notes:
For those who aren’t familiar with tobacco growing, the Sun Grown designation is to differentiate Broadleaf from tobacco grown under the cover of partial shade. That’s Broadleaf’s cousin called Connecticut Shade, which is light brown and has a mild, coffeelike flavor. This is Sun Grown Connecticut Broadleaf, which means the leaves sit in the direct sun and grow larger, stronger, vienier, and all around more potent.
This is one of those cigars that is just outstanding from beginning to end. From the high grade dark maple syrup color, to the beautiful leaves chosen for the wrapper, to the burn quality, firmness, and everything else. We just don’t find anything wrong here. What a beautiful cigar. Don’t miss this one, whatever you do!
Please browse our selection of Rocky Patel Sun Grown cigars at your leisure.
