[Alpedhuez55]

I was in a shop last night and spotted some Rocky Ratel Edge Cigars. I was trying to decide between the Toro Corojo and the Maduro Torpedo, but settled on a couple of the Corojos since I have been smoking a lot of Maduros lately. While I there was someone in the shop sitting down and smoking a cigar, so I sat down and joined him talking about golf & cigars with him and the Owner.

It is a 52 RG by 6". I cut the cigar with a dull cutter that the shop owner lent me. I squeezed it and got about half way through before it stopped. Had to squeeze it harder and it went through. I was regretting leaving my cutter in the car. I thought I had damaged it, but when I checked it, it was OK, Wewh!! I put it in my mouth and it tasted great. It had a little spice flavor to it, slightly clovish.

After a perfect light, I was impressed by a first puff with a pleasantly peppery full bodied taste. Within an inch or so the pepperyness faded leaving a complex full bodied flavor. THis tast stayed consistant for the next few inches until the slight peppery flavor came back for the finish. The cigar was never harsh, always flavorful.

THe construction was perfect. The draw was smooth, burn perfectly true and slow. There was a firm white ash that stayed straight about 1/3 of the way down the cigar before I tapped it off. THe wrapper was smooth with no large veins and a nice coffe with cream color. No faults what so ever there!!!

Since I was not expecting to smoke a cigar at the shop, I did not have coffee or any libation to go with it. A black rich dark roast coffee would have been nice. But I could see myself smoking one of these with a hot glass of mulled wine on the back porch on a mild winter night. Or maybe with a highball of good Bourbon during the summer.

If you are a newbie to the cigar world looking for a first Full Bodied Cigar, I would put this near the top of your list. It will let you explore the world of strong full flavored cigars without any harshness.