I'll cut right to the chase. The Olde World Reserve by Rocky Patel are the best and most sophisticated cigars in his arsenal.

I've had three in the past few weeks and they outperform even the younger CC's out there. I'm not kidding on this. Right off the bat, your palate is assaulted with rich black pepper and earthy flavors. However, after only an inch or so the cigar mellows with cream, leather, and softer spices combined with - and this is where it gets good - the distinctive Cuban mellowness that is so elusive for NC cigar makers.

I'm not saying this rates among the best Cubans out there. But I am saying that it can easily hold its own against a year old Montecristo 2.

It's not perfect by any means. On some vitolas, the construction is a bit loose causing the burn to be ever so slightly jagged. Also, those of you have a fetish for a nice white ash will be disappointed.

For me, this one has jumped to the front of the NC pack, right behind the Padron 64 natural imperial. I highly suggest you go out and pick a few of this very original, very sophisticated smoke.

Thanks Scottological for the excellent review.

I have been sampling a number of NC to compliment my stock of CC's. This is one I will try. I've always enjoyed the RP Vintage line.

One other label I want to smaple is the Camacho Select. I haven't found anyone that carries it as of yet.

have been smoking the maduro or the corojo olde world reserve? i've been anxiously waiting for these to come out...i'm a huge fan of rocky's stuff. i've thought about buying a box of each. just wondering which one you've been enjoying so much.

Been trying the corojo. I haven't tried the maduro yet mainly because I'm not a huge maduro fan. As is the case with the Padron 64's, I find the maduro can overwhelm the rest of the cigar and the subtleties of the flavors don't come through. That's just me, though. Our palates are all different after all.

As to the camacho select, I haven't tried them yet. I think whatsknottolove dot com may carry them as they seem to have every member of the Camacho family. They have a local retail shop near me and I find they have an enormous selection of harder to find cigars.

Just stopped by What's Knot to Love, they have the Camacho Selects, a ton of them. Give 'em a call. The owner, Matt, says Rocky Patel will not allow him to sell the Olde World Reserve on the web, but I'm sure if you call him a deal could be worked out...

I found RP Olde World at the Bonita Smoke Shop dot com web site. They are located just up the road from RP's home in Naples. Which is probably why they carry everything in the RP line!

Thanks for the assistance on the Selects. I just placed an order with them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: seabreeze,

thanks for the info. i've gotten cigars from what's not to love online before, and i've actually have been checking there for the olde world reserve. does the owner say why rocky doesn't want them sold over the web?

The owner says it's because the Olde World Reserve are a limited allocation product, meaning shops only get so many of them. I don't see why that means he can't sell them online, but apparently he was explicitly told this. It's sort of the way shops sometimes don't sell their stashes of Opus or VSG online, only to their walk-in customers.

These cigars deserve to be as popular and respected as the Opus or VSG. I hope they attain that.

I picked up six today in the maduro variety from the local. He has a pretty good supply of them. I tend to favor the maduros over the corojo's for some reason.

Mike

I just had one of the Corojos a couple of days ago. It was definitely a good smoke, although waaay overpriced. I paid around $12 or $13 for one that was about 5" x 46 or so, with a torpedo or belicoso tip. I'd enjoy this smoke a lot more for about $5 less.

The only thing I didn't like about it was at the last inch or so it developed a very pronounced and artificial kind of flavor...I can't really describe it but I had to double check to make sure I hadn't forgotten to take off the band or something.

Went to my local shop on friday to pick up a PAM but the owner said he ran out a few days before. I was gonna just pick up a Don Carlos #4 when the owner told me he just got 2 boxes of Olde World Reserves in a few days ago, and that if I liked the PAM's I'd love these. Bought one, had it tonight and absolutely loved it. Mine didn't have any of the construction problems mentioned above, had a nice draw and great flavor. Maybe a little pricey, but I wasn't at all disappointed with what I got for the money I shelled out. I would definately recommend these if you don't have a problem paying 12 bucks a stick

Uh, in no way would i begin to compare this to a CC. I had the Maduro and i thought it was flat and one-dimensional. I got a decent amount of ammonia. tasted like it was made at the General factory to boot. 3 dollar cigar at best.

My local cigar shop has some of these and I am going to have to try one just to see if they are all they are cracked up to be.

quote:

Originally posted by JSprizzle:
Uh, in no way would i begin to compare this to a CC. I had the Maduro and i thought it was flat and one-dimensional. I got a decent amount of ammonia. tasted like it was made at the General factory to boot. 3 dollar cigar at best.

I've never had the maduro. My review referenced the other, the natural wrapper, I believe. I would think the maduro wrapper would flatten out the incredible flavors found in the filler and binder.

i just recieved a box of the maduro torpedos yesterday, and although i normally let my cigars sit in the humi for a week or so before i try them out, i lit one up right out of the box. this would probably contribute to the burn problems that i had. i still enjoyed it though. the flavor was quite nice...med-full in body, some nice wood and black coffee notes. i certainly didn't find it to be one dimensional like JSprizzle did. but i would be lying if i said that it was the most complex smoke that i ever had either. was it worth the $525 i paid for a box? i'll reserve judgement after i let them sit for a little while and smoke 2 or 3 more. my gut tells me that rocky has another winner though.

Today I smoked my first natural Olde worlde reserve and I liked it much better than the maduro for some reason. The end cap is also much easier to get off of the natural for some reason.

my findings were the complete opposite. shows how much personal taste goes into it.

I found the corojo to be bland, and flat. super mild. Good smoke if you like super mild. I do not.

I really enjoyed the maduro. Very rich flavor and a good amount of spice. Similar to a PAM, not as good, but having to refer to PAM in comparison means it's doing something right.

Just my findings though. Both cigars are made very very well. perfect burn, and draw on every one.

quote:

Originally posted by PeteBal:
my findings were the complete opposite. shows how much personal taste goes into it.

I found the corojo to be bland, and flat. super mild. Good smoke if you like super mild. I do not.

I really enjoyed the maduro. Very rich flavor and a good amount of spice. Similar to a PAM, not as good, but having to refer to PAM in comparison means it's doing something right.

Just my findings though. Both cigars are made very very well. perfect burn, and draw on every one.

Well I have had four Maduro's now and I liked the first three were ok in my opinion. But the fourth one was awful. I do not know if I was just unlucky or what. Now I am trying the corojos and I seem to like those better. By no means do I like mild smokes. VSGs and are one of my favorite smokes. I think Ill go lite up a wizard 37 right now.

I had the corjo the other day and it was decent but i found it a little one dimensional. The one dimension was mainly leather after a while i felt like i was chewing on my couch. I enjoyed it but i won't buy another at 10.50 a stick it just wasn't 10.50 good.

10.50 consider yourself lucky. Minnesota has sin taxes Olde world reserves at my two shops go for 14.50-18 bucks depending on the size you get. Our wonderful governor increased tobacco taxes 100% last year and he calls himself a republican.