Cigar Review: Rocky Patel Xtreme Sumatra Robusto

One thing’s for certain about Rocky Patel: He makes a heck of a lot of cigars. Rocky’s flashy website doesn’t even bother to mention many of his blends, be they seasonal, limited editions, retailer exclusives, or what have you.

It’s safe to say that some cigar enthusiasts are perturbed by Patel’s ever-expanding lineup. They lament his seemingly countless blends and claim that over-expansion has deteriorated the excellence of the core cigars that made Rocky famous, including the Vintage ’90 and ’92 cigars. But many others couldn’t be happier with the variety of tastes, sizes, and price points offered by Patel. For them, any stick with Rocky’s name on the label is worth trying.

These are two extremes. Whether you’re in either camp or (more likely) somewhere in-between, you may have heard of Xtreme Sumatra, a “value brand” that Rocky produces exclusively for Famous Smoke Shop. This line features an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with a Honduran binder and a two-country filler blend from Nicaragua and Honduras. It is available in three traditional vitolas: Churchill (7 x 48), Toro (6 x 52), and Robusto (5 x 50).

I sampled three Robustos for this review. This frontmark is strikingly attractive with a reddish, silky wrapper, no soft spots, a nice cap, and a beautiful cross-section of tobaccos at the foot. The pre-light aroma is of sweet earth and hay and the draw is perfect.

After an even light is established, a profile of dry wood, orange, and coffee emerges. The finish is long and spicy with pepper and occasional traces of sweetness. After an inch or so, flavors of cream, vanilla, and almond start to emerge. The overall result is one of medium-bodied balance, with occasional bitterness in the final third.

Ashing the Xtreme Sumatra Robusto becomes an afterthought as the gray ash builds wonderfully from the cigar’s even burn. You’d be hard-pressed to find a similarly priced smoke with equal construction—perhaps a testament to Patel’s quality control efforts.

So Rocky detractors beware: While this cigar won’t blow any seasoned enthusiasts away, it’s definitely a well-made, satisfying smoke. Best of all, it can be had for as little as $3.90 apiece. That earns the Xtreme Sumatra Robusto three and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys