Rocky Patel Sapphire Shipping Next Week
At this year’s PCA trade show, cigarmaker Rocky Patel unveiled Sapphire, the third installment in what is unofficially known as his “crown” series of cigars, which explore the theme of precious metals and gemstones. Following Gold Label in 2024 and Emerald in 2025, the new Sapphire line is scheduled to ship next week.
To blend Sapphire, Patel turned to his vast reserves of aged tobaccos—some of which was grown as far back as 2014. According to the company, it took over a year and 100 prototypes before arriving at the final blend. The cigars are made using Mexican San Andrés wrapper, two binders (one Nicaraguan leaf from Estelí, the other from Honduras’ Jamastran Valley) and a combination of Nicaraguan leaves from Estelí, Jalapa and Condega in the filler. Aside from the wrapper, all the tobaccos were grown on farms owned by Patel.
In terms of strength, Patel says Sapphire registers “on the fuller side of medium.”
Rolled in Nicaragua at Patel’s Tavicusa factory, the line is available in four box-pressed vitolas: Robusto, measuring 5 1/2 inches by 50 ring gauge ($15.95); Corona Gorda, 6 by 46 ($13.50); Toro, 6 1/2 by 52 ($16.95); and Sixty, 6 by 60 ($17.95). All sizes come in blue, gemstone-shaped boxes of 20.
For a vertical brand tasting of Rocky Patel Sapphire, see a future issue of Cigar Insider.
