Habano wrapper · Medium to full · Limited release
Rocky Patel Year of the Snake: flavour profile and cigars like it
Rocky Patel Year of the Snake is a handmade cigar made in Nicaragua. Its published strength is medium to full. It has a Habano wrapper grown in Nicaragua and filler from Honduras and Nicaragua. The tasting notes in our sources point to cedar, fruit, pepper, cocoa and sweetness.
If you like it, the closest matches in the palate test are Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special 2026 and Protocol Silver Official Misconduct.
What does Rocky Patel Year of the Snake taste like?
- cedar and wood
- fruit and floral
- pepper and spice
- cocoa and coffee
- natural sweetness
How strong is it, and what's in it?
| Wrapper | Nicaraguan Habano |
|---|---|
| Binder | Nicaraguan Broadleaf |
| Filler | Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos |
| Strength | Medium to full as published by rockypatel.com |
| Body | Medium-full |
| Made in | Nicaragua |
| Made by | Rocky Patel Premium Cigars |
| Factory | Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. (TAVICUSA), Estelí |
| Sizes | Toro Extra 6.5×52 |
Strength here means nicotine, which mostly comes from the filler. Wrapper colour is not a strength guide.
What reviewers say
- William Cooper (cigar-coop.com): 86 points, Toro Extra, 6.5 x 52 (2025)In our words: The reviewer reported orange, cedar, wood, and pepper. Frequent touch-ups and one wrapper crack reduced the score.
- Cigar Aficionado tasting panel (cigaraficionado.com): 90 points, Toro, 6.5 x 52 (2025)In our words: The published note describes maple, dark chocolate, vanilla, dried fruit, and hickory.
Scores as published by the magazine or retailer, for the size named. Notes are our summary of the review, not quotes. We don't score cigars ourselves.
About Rocky Patel Year of the Snake
The line. This was Rocky Patel’s second Chinese Zodiac release. The U.S. version launched at PCA 2025. rockypatel.com
The brand. Indian Tabac Cigar Co. debuted in 1996. Rocky Patel Premium Cigars replaced that name in 2003. Rocky Patel Premium Cigars is the brand owner. TAVICUSA is its physical Estelí factory. rockypatel.com
Cigars like Rocky Patel Year of the Snake
- Espinosa Knuckle Sandwich Chef Special 2026Closest matchWrapper style not published · Medium to fullAlso made in Nicaragua, more pepper and spice, less natural sweetness, about the same strength.
- Protocol Silver Official MisconductAlso fitsHabano wrapper · Medium to fullSame Habano wrapper family, also made in Nicaragua, more pepper and spice, less cocoa and coffee, about the same strength.
- Oliva Serie VAlso fitsWrapper style not published · Medium to fullAlso made in Nicaragua, more pepper and spice, less natural sweetness, about the same strength.
- Tatuaje Skinny MonstersAlso fitsWrapper style not published · Medium to fullAlso made in Nicaragua, more pepper and spice, less natural sweetness, about the same strength.
- Tatuaje input reclassified to L'Atelier L'AtelierOne step furtherWrapper style not published · Medium to fullAlso made in Nicaragua, more cream and nuts, about the same strength.
Picked by the palate test's own engine, as if you named Rocky Patel Year of the Snake as a favourite: never more than one strength step above it, plain tobacco only, one cigar per brand.
Sources
- rockypatel.com/year-of-the-snake
- cigar-coop.com/2025/04/rocky-patel-year-of-the-snake-launched-at-pca-2025-cigar-news.html
- cigar-coop.com/2025/10/rocky-patel-year-of-the-snake-2025-u-s-cigar-review.html
- rockypatel.com/cigar/year-of-the-snake
- mikescigars.com/rocky-patel-year-of-the-snake-2025-toro
- cigaraficionado.com/ratings/26191/name/rocky-patel-year-of-the-snake-toro-toro