Appearance and Construction:
The Rocky Patel Decade Edicion Limitada Torpedo is a nicely constructed cigar. The dark oily broadleaf wrapper gives way to subtle veins which run the length of the cigar. Rolling the cigar between my thumb and index finger I found it pleasant to the touch showing no signs of soft spots. As I smelled the cigar I picked up strong notes of leather and tobacco with a hint of mocha.
Pre-Light:
The pre-light draw was nice and open leaving a pleasant spice on the palate. With two fingers of Knob Creek Single Barrel in my glass, it’s time to head to the smoke room.
First Third:
The first draw off the light brings a nice sugary sweetness along with a blast of black pepper to the back of the palate. I also pick up notes of roasted nuts and cedar. As I smoke my way through the first third, the roasted nut flavors begin to take over and the sweetness backs off some. The Knob Creek while remarkably smooth still has the heat you would expect from a 120 proof bourbon. The heat on the back end meshes pleasantly with the pepper from the cigar.
Second Third:
The second third of this stogie shows some complexity as the mocha that I noticed in my initial inspection begins to emerge. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, an essence of caramel comes into the mix. This new breakthrough occurs just as the Knob Creek begins to open up and show its true flavors of vanilla and caramel. This combination is exquisite to say the least.
Final Third:
The final third had one final surprise in store; a subtle note of coffee. This seems to dominate the majority of the final third. Towards the end of the cigar the black pepper becomes detectable again. I take my final sip of Knob Creek to wash this all down and notice that the rejuvenated pepper in the cigar brings out the charred wood in the bourbon which sits very well on this now expended palate.
Conclusion:
If you are a fan of Rocky Patel’s Decade brand, then the Edicion Limitada is a must smoke. This is a full-bodied complex cigar that is not for the novice smoker. This pairing worked out surprisingly well. I was expecting the strength of the Knob Creek to overtake the Decade, but this cigar actually held its own. Notable pairing flavors: caramel and charred wood.
