Flavor is where the Rocky Patel Renaissance really shines. It begins innocently with sweet and creamy notes, and also throws in some mild spice. The second third introduces some richness via coffee and cocoa that I would consider to be the highlight of the entire smoking experience. The final third is more coffee plus some wood. I’d consider the strength to hover more around the medium-bodied mark than full-bodied.

I have never really been disappointed by a Rocky Patel cigar, and that trend continued with the Renaissance Robusto. The flavors didn’t scream for my attention, but there was a nice variety and smoothness to the cigar that made it enjoyable. I’d recommend the Renaissance to Rocky Patel fans first and foremost. Anyone looking for a smooth cigar in the medium to full-bodied range should pick one up as well. It’s not the cheapest cigar at $7 a pop, but you are getting a quality stick in return. The Renaissance Robusto also comes in packs of five or boxes of 20.

The Rocky Patel Renaissance Robusto earns a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.

Macanudo Vintage Maduro 1997 Toro

Macanudo is one of the biggest names in the biz, so whenever you see its name attached to a product you can bet that it will sell. One of its more interesting offerings is the Vintage Maduro 1997 line. It marks the first time that Macanudo has used a Maduro wrapper for its famed Vintage series, and the brand upped the ante by throwing in a presentation perk in the form of a metal cigar band that not only acts as a fancy holder, but also as a humidity gauge of sorts. Okay, so the presentation has me hooked, but what about the cigar itself? Is it a case of style over substance? There’s only one way to find out, and that’s to light it up.

The Vintage Maduro 1997 Toro measures 6 x 54. The other offering in the line is a 6 x 49 Perfecto. Its filler is made up of a three-country blend of tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Brazil, and Nicaragua. Next comes an aged Honduran Havana Talanga binder. Last, but not least, is the special Connecticut Broadleaf Vintage 1997 wrapper. As mentioned before, the Vintage Maduro 1997 is smooth and is listed as being medium-bodied in strength.