Buddy’s Picks: Three More Premium Cigars Handpicked in Las Vegas

When M.A.’s Smoke House manager Buddy Williams came home from the International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association (IPCPR) trade show in Las Vegas this summer, he was a happy man.

Buddy had handpicked no fewer than 10 cigar blends he was excited to bring back to Shreveport-Bossier for customers to experience and enjoy.

In previous blog posts, we’ve featured six of these blends: the Macanudo Inspirado Red, the Hoya La Amistad, the Punch Nicaragua, The Cohiba Macassar, The Cohiba Blue and the La Gloria Cubana Serie R.

With this post, we feature three more of Buddy’s Las Vegas picks including: The Rocky Patel Fifty, The Gomez Sanchez Leyenda and The Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 San Andreas.

Read on to see why Buddy brought these cigars back to share with customers.

The Rocky Patel Fifty

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Rocky Patel, CEO and President of Rocky Patel Premium Cigars, knows how to celebrate a birthday: he simply designs and releases a great cigar to commemorate the occasion.

That’s what he did on his 50th birthday in 2011, and the Rocky Patel Fifty was so well-loved that it earned a 93 rating and the #8 ranking in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2012.

For those who enjoyed their “Fifties” a few years ago, you’ll be glad to know that Patel has brought the cigar back this year for a limited run.

“We’re excited to have the Fifty back in the portfolio,” said Rocky Patel about the comeback cigar. “Over the past few years, we were asked repeatedly for this cigar. It was the blend. It was the box. It was the whole luxurious package that the Fifty represented.”

The Fifty Toro features Nicaraguan tobaccos aged upwards of eight years along with a smooth Habano-seed Oscuro wrapper grown in Ecuador. The complex medium-to-full-bodied blend features hearty notes of coffee, anise, with hints of chocolate and black pepper.

“This re-release is a limited run, which means it won’t be around for long,” says Buddy. “We are making them available to our customers on a first-come, first-serve basis. So get them now while they are in stock!”

The Gomez Sanchez Leyenda

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran

The Gomez Sanchez Leyenda, manufactured by Micallef Cigars, is described as a “true Cuban classic blend, originated by the late great Don Pedro F. Gomez and perfectly handcrafted today by his grandsons, Edel and Joel.”

The Gomez Sanchez Leyenda is made by hand with some of the finest leaves in the world, all aged for five years. Once the cigar is rolled, it is rested for a minimum of one year before going to market.

This cigar features signature packaging consisting of a small cigar-shaped wooden “coffin” that holds the cigar snugly with the band in view. 

When enjoying a Gomez Sanchez Leyenda, smokers can look forward to a medium-to-full strength with an exclusive aroma of thick hardwoods and a smooth draw with a perfectly balanced finish.

The Rocky Patel Vintage 2006 San Andreas

Wrapper: San Andres, Mexico

Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf

Filler: Nicaraguan

Rocky Patel Premium Cigars has reached far back into its treasure trove of tobacco leaves to bring out an 11-year-old wrapper from the noted San Andres region in Mexico for the Vintage 2006 San Andreas. (Note: Somewhat mysteriously, Patel branded this cigar “San Andreas,” adding an extra “a” to the Mexican region known as “San Andres.” We don’t know why exactly, but it makes for a nice piece of trivia.)

This vintage brand is crafted in Patel’s boutique Nicaraguan factory and features Nicaraguan fillers and a Connecticut Broadleaf binder.

When you enjoy a Vintage 2006 San Andreas, you’ll find a spicy, medium-to-full bodied smoke with a rich, leathery finish.

According to a reviewer with The Cigar Authority, “As we work our way into the San Andreas there is a subtle sweetness to the cigar reminiscent of marshmallows. That marshmallow goodness slowly begins to fade with the introduction of pecans and some subtle leather notes. The retrohale offers a warm spice and hints of mocha. And the last third sees the balance of the wrapper and binder play off each other brilliantly.”

If you want to try one of Buddy’s Picks, don’t wait too long. Some are limited runs and won’t last long! Stop by our store in Towne Oaks Shopping Center at 855 Pierremont Rd in Shreveport or at 2917 Old Minden Rd in Bossier City and let us help you choose one of Buddy’s Picks!