Binder: Nicaraguan
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Tobacco: Nicaraguan
Length: 7
Ring Gauge: 38

Rocky Patel has made a great name for himself and his company with several respectable cigars. Created to commemorate the company’s ten year anniversary, many in the smoke community praise the Decade as Rocky’s finest blend.

While I have casually enjoyed the Decade Torpedos, I recently gave the limited edition Lancero a serious look. I must say this is one of the best cigars on the market.
Upon first inspection, this is a beautiful looking cigar. Lancero shapes are some of the most difficult vitolas to roll and usually ridden with veins but this stick is near flawless.

The wrapper seams are rolled very well. For a thinner cigar, this cigar is tightly packed and has some weight to it. Additionally I am getting a great pre-light aroma – a sweet mix of earth and pepper.

After toasting the foot, I got an ample amount of smoke that was heavy on my palette. Right away it landed in the medium and full body zone. The flavor was very earthy but sweet.
The ash was a dirty grey but it held up firm most of the first third of this cigar. Ten minutes or so this cigar has burned very slow and I am getting an aftertaste of spice on my lips every time I exhale.

As I round into the second third of this Decade Lancero is a pleasure. The earthy woodsy flavors are more pronounced and the peppery notes have mellowed somewhat. The burn is near perfect and the draw is getting my plenty of smoke.

Forty five minutes into this cigar, the flavor profile has remained consistent. While it isn’t a very complex smoke, I can always appreciate a steady uniform flavor throughout. The only downside to my experience with this Lancero is that it has gone out on me twice but due to its smaller ring gauge it was pretty easy to relight even with some flimsy matches.

Overall I must say the Rocky Patel Decade Lancero is one of my new favorite smokes. This cigar is full in flavor and at times strength, but it never was too overpowering.
If you are a Rocky Patel fan or have previously strayed away from the Lancero size I suggest giving this smoke a couple of spaces in your humidor.