The flavor of the Rocky Patel R4 begins with some mild pepper and earth in the first third.  The second third continues with earth and also brings some wood and nuts into play.  The final third is a blend of leather, earth, and wood.  The cigar is pretty smooth, but it’s not overly complex.

Well, I can definitely say that the R4 Robusto is not the best Rocky Patel cigar I have smoked, but it is a decent cigar.  It’s smooth and can be enjoyed during any time of the day.  At about $2 to $3 per single, the R4 is a good pick if you are looking for a cigar that comes at a budget price.  It won’t blow you away with complexity, but it is a well-made stick that can be enjoyed by beginners or experienced smokers.  Look for the R4 in boxes of 20.

The Rocky Patel R4 Robusto earns a rating of 3.25 out of four stars.

C & C Connecticut Robusto

Joe Chiusano, former president of Cusano Cigars, founded the C & C brand to offer quality cigars at affordable prices.  The brand is rather new, as Chiusano stepped down from his post as president with Cusano back in 2011 after the company was purchased by Davidoff.  The Connecticut is said to be the mildest selection from C & C, so I decided to smoke one of its Robusto offerings one morning with a nice cup of hot coffee.

The C & C Connecticut Robusto measures 5 x 50.  Other sizes in the line include the 6 x 52 Toro, 6 1/2 x 60 Gigantor, and the 7 x 50 Churchill.  The cigar’s composition begins with a filler of Dominican tobacco.  The binder is of the Dominican Cuban Seed variety, while the wrapper is Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade.  As mentioned, this is the mildest offering from C & C to date, putting the Connecticut’s strength in the mild to medium-bodied range.