Rocky Patel has created several cigars to commemorate 2025 as the Year of the Snake according to the Chinese zodiac calendar. For the American market, the cigar is the Rocky Patel Year of the Snake Toro. It is produced at the company’s TAVICUSA factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, with a limited production of just 6,000 boxes of 10 cigars.

• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
• Binder: Nicaraguan Broadleaf
• Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan
• Size: Toro 6 1/2 x 52

The cigar has a dark, slightly mottled wrapper with shades of dark brown. It is slightly toothy and has a nice draw. The initial flavors include barnyard, cocoa, and loam, with a subdued sweetness.

The first third is very smooth and creamy, with notes of dark chocolate and a subtle cherry sweetness in the background. There are also notes of earth and charred oak, with some black pepper and occasional hints of citrus in the retrohale. The ash is white, firm, and not flaky, and the burn is straight with a nice thin burn line. As the cigar progresses further into the first third, it becomes more earth-forward, with notes of espresso emerging and the chocolate notes retreating to the background. The ash falls just before an inch.

In the second third, the sweetness and cocoa return to the forefront. The cigar remains very smooth and rich, with a medium to medium-plus body and medium strength. The profile of the second third is consistent, and the cigar produces plenty of smoke, perfect for smoke rings.

The final third transitions back to a more earthy and charred oak profile, with notes of dark cocoa and espresso. The retrohale includes black pepper and charred oak, and the hints of cherry sweetness are completely gone. There is an orange-black pepper zest on the finish.

The cigar’s flavor profile reminded me of the Emerald, though the blends are different between the two cigars. The burn was straight all the way to the end, with no need for touch-ups or relights. The Year of the Snake from Rocky Patel is an excellent cigar with a well-balanced and nuanced profile that leaves you wanting more. Yes, MSRP is $35.00, but it is not just blowing smoke. Highly recommended.