The foot lights very easily, a white ash forming with the burn starting out perfect. I take a couple puffs and then a long draw revealing a good medium to almost full strength smoke with a medium white pepper spice on the back of the tongue and throat. It’s rather light with a slight oiliness on the palate, and flavors incredibly rich right from the start. Strong black coffee, worn leather, earth, and dark roasted nuts come through with a really good twang in the delicious, lasting finish.
Getting further in, the burn is a bit uneven in places, but not so much that any touching up is required. A light gray ash is forming that is slightly flaky, but holds strong until tapped off in the ashtray. The smoke continues to be a medium to full strength, flowing well through the perfect draw, and flavors are consistently rich with that delicious twang that I really love in a cigar. I exhale slowly through the mouth and nose, savoring the smoke that has a very lasting finish on the palate.
Heading into the final third, the burn continues to be somewhat off, however correcting itself well with the light gray ash a bit flaky. The smoke is definitely a full strength and continues to flow effortlessly through the perfect draw with a fairly strong white pepper spice on the back of the throat. I can’t say enough about the bold richness coming through in the smoke, flavors becoming stronger as I get closer to the end, seemingly complex to my palate. It does get a bit hot towards the end, and I have to take very easy, short draws, however still a fantastic smoke with the finish lasting. With a bit of coaxing, the double-bands slide off easily enough.
I enjoy a number of Rocky’s cigars such as Old World Reserve, 90’s series, and Sun Grown to name a few, however this 1961 seems to surpass them all IMO. There’s a richness in this cigar that is undeniably above the rest with a lasting finish that just would not quit. Thank you very much Israel for allowing me to sample this excellent cigar!
