Rocky Patel Seconds - Truly Mistakes ?

[IrishCorona]

This is my theory....

They started out as an actual seconds that Rocky offered exclusively to the huge CI empire. They became immensely popular and the demand was much greater then the actual 2nds............so.....

Rocky is now having them made just for CI and they're still selling them as 2nds. He's making more then enough money selling his regular vintage line and surely making some descent profit on these.

I've smoked some of them and they where nothing short of awesome!

[salimoneus]

there are about a dozen threads on this, give the search a try

[Cigary]

The Rocky Patel Vintage Segundos are the exact same blend as the popular Vintage Series, but are factory seconds (due to small wrapper blemishes)

I read this on just about every search I can come up with. I know that there are varying opinions on just exactly how these "seconds" are made but I have been smoking them for quite awhile and notice no difference in taste or quality except for maybe a small blemish on the wrapper or the RG. I have smoke just about every RP there is and have paid the primary price but then will smoke the A B C seconds and just don't notice a difference. There is a variety of online sites that offer them at a reduced price point that range from $44- $54 and of course, there is always the Devil Site.

[scottw]

I;ve never had one but I am a huge RP fan. My uncle raves about the Fusion 2nds

[smokin5]

I've smoked through many a bundle of the RP Seconds Vintage 1990's, mostly Torpedos & Churchills. Except for a very few that had draw issues, they are exactly the same as the 'firsts', but a heck of a lot cheaper. I don't think I ever bid more than $34 for a bundle of 15, often $31.
After many experiences, I can safely say there's no reason to spend the extra dough just for the label.

[PerpetualNoob]

I haven't had the exact same 1st's, but I'm having a Fusion torp 2nd right now. It's the first of my bundle, and other than the draw being a little tight, it's a damned good cigar. I also had one of the '92 torps a couple of days ago, and just based on having one of each, I think I liked the '92 a little better. Both had copious amounts of smoke, perfectly straight burn, and firm, white ash. Without having the 1st's and 2nd's both lit at the same time and doing a side-by-side comparison, I'm not sure I could even tell there was any difference, much less tell which was which.

I would recommend trying the seconds and see if you like them in their own right, and not worry about if they're exactly the same as the firsts. Let them be what they are.

[tprice]

Originally Posted by RGD

I smoke my fair share of Rocky Patel seconds. I normally always keep the Sun Grown seconds on hand.
Seconds can be defined in several ways - wrapper blemishes, off color - and, apprentice rollers. I think this is where the RG size difference may come in to play.
Rocky Patel (seconds) is one of the few brands that I would safely say will always match the firsts in flavor and construction.


Ron

Thanks for the heads up, I love the RP 90 & 92 and have started to order them several times but was not sure what to expect

[Cigary]

Originally Posted by rlacapra1

i've won several lots of seconds of both the '90 and '92 series at c-bid. so far all have smoked the same as the 'firsts' but at a fraction of the price.

Ditto this as I buy seconds all the time and they are as good as the firsts. I pay usually between $25- $35 for a box on C Bid.

[gary106334]

I got some seconds on c-bid

[RapidTransit]

They are not seconds, they are just a cigar made up for CI to taste similar to the Vintage line. Thats all, hear it from someone who knows.

If they were true seconds:
1. No Manufacturer cares what color the wrapper is as long as it's similar, if it was no good to begin with then its not used in the first place. Every cigar from the most costly Padrons to the cheapest piece of you know what have blemishes, Naturals darker than the Maduros etc.
2. A true second would have the the worst draw... ever. When a cigar does not pass a draw test it is thrown aside. This includes tight and loose draws.

But if you like them and taste similar to you by all means keep smoking them

[totallytentative]

Originally Posted by RapidTransit

2. A true second would have the the worst draw... ever. When a cigar does not pass a draw test it is thrown aside. This includes tight and loose draws.

How does a factory go about pre-testing the draw on a cigar? (Or do we really want to know?)

[tprice]

Originally Posted by rlacapra1

i've won several lots of seconds of both the '90 and '92 series at c-bid. so far all have smoked the same as the 'firsts' but at a fraction of the price.

Me too, I think the RP 2nds are great deals

[Cigary]

I'd be interested in how you come to this conclusion:
How is the draw tested?
What is your background in knowing about the seconds of this line of cigars?

I ask because of those cigars that are touted as a "second" from reputable cigar manufaturors.

Originally Posted by RapidTransit

They are not seconds, they are just a cigar made up for CI to taste similar to the Vintage line. Thats all, hear it from someone who knows.

If they were true seconds:
1. No Manufacturer cares what color the wrapper is as long as it's similar, if it was no good to begin with then its not used in the first place. Every cigar from the most costly Padrons to the cheapest piece of you know what have blemishes, Naturals darker than the Maduros etc.
2. A true second would have the the worst draw... ever. When a cigar does not pass a draw test it is thrown aside. This includes tight and loose draws.

But if you like them and taste similar to you by all means keep smoking them

[RapidTransit]

The Cigar draw is tested before the wrapper is put on, UST where the Vintage's are made draw test every cigar.

I have never seen the machine but I guess it is similar to a machine that flow tests cylinder heads of a car engine.

Also what is a reputable cigar manufacturer? The only ones I know really have been Ashton, Fuente, Padron and for the most part General, Altadis, Oliva and Tropical

The big question that you must ask yourself is if I were manufacturing cigars, if there was a blemish on the wrapper would I sell it as a premium or discount it as a second and make less money.

[smokering10]

my guess would be that hes trying to pass of a new cigar with classic tobacco that he knows will sell on the market. so people think they get a new cigar with time tested good tobacco and rocky gets to reuse the tobacco he already has. its a win win for everyone.