The Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company is a manufacturer of cigar

Cigar

A cigar is a tightly-rolled bundle of dried and fermented tobacco that is ignited so that its smoke may be drawn into the mouth. Cigar tobacco is grown in significant quantities in Brazil, Cameroon, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, Nicaragua, Philippines, and the Eastern...

s, founded by Rakesh "Rocky" Patel. The company is currently based in Naples, Florida

Naples, Florida

Naples is a city in Collier County, Florida, United States. As of July 1, 2007, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the city's population at 21,653. Naples is a principal city of the Naples–Marco Island Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated total population of 315,839 on July 1, 2007...

.

History

Born in India in 1961, Rakesh "Rocky" Patel introduced the Indian Tabac blend in the mid 1990s. He was originally a Hollywood attorney who represented several movie actors, including Arnold Schwarzenegger and Gene Hackman. Patel was exposed to cigar smoking by spending time with the actors between takes. This led to an interest in the industry. He subsequently sold his attorney practice
and spent five years in Honduras working and learning the cigar trade, including field and barn work. In 2002, the company changed its name from Indian Tabac to Rocky Patel Premium Cigars.

In 2003, Rocky Patel launched the Vintage 1990 and Vintage 1992 cigars. The Vintage Series received "Best of the Best" accolades from the Robb Report

Robb Report

The Robb Report is an American, English-language, luxury-lifestyle magazine featuring products — including automobiles, real estate and watches — for affluent connoisseurs.-History:...

. The Vintage 1990 Robusto was rated 92 by Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado

Cigar Aficionado is an American magazine that is dedicated to the world of cigars. Published since September 1992, the magazine is known for its articles about different brands of cigars worldwide, and for the celebrities that have appeared on its cover. It is also noted for its opposition to the...

, and the Vintage 1992 Torpedo was subsequently rated 90.

As of 2006, Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company's annual sales exceeded $25 million. The company manufactured 16 million cigars in 2007.

In 2008 the Rocky Patel Decade cigar achieved a classic 95 rating in Cigar Aficionado. The Decade marked the 10th year of their business.

In 2011, Rocky Patel launches a new online store featuring a complete line of Rocky Patel lighters including the collectable, individually numbered Limited Edition Series.

Production

The company does not own any plantations or factories. All materials are purchased from growers and produced in factory space in El Paraíso, Honduras

Honduras

Honduras is a republic in Central America. It was previously known as Spanish Honduras to differentiate it from British Honduras, which became the modern-day state of Belize...

 leased from Nestor Plasencia

Nestor Plasencia

Nestor Plasencia, Sr. , is a tobacco grower and cigar maker of Cuban descent whose factories in Honduras and Nicaragua produce over 30 million cigars a year. Contracting out the use of his factories to Rocky Patel and other leading brands, Plasencia remains one of the leading figures in the Central...

. The company has focused on strong quality control measures and refined the drying, fermentation, aging, and blending processes.

Cigars

Cigars produced by the Rocky Patel Premium Cigar Company range from the inexpensive to the premium. In addition to Rocky Patel brands intended for retail, the company produces several private label

Private label

Private label products or services are typically those manufactured or provided by one company for offer under another company's brand. Private label goods and services are available in a wide range of industries from food to cosmetics to web hosting...

cigars for retailers.

List of Rocky Patel Cigars

• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1992
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1999 (Connecticut shade wrapper)
• Rocky Patel Vintage 2003 (Cameroon Wrapper)
• Rocky Patel Decade
• Rocky Patel ITC 10th Anniversary
• Rocky Patel Olde World Reserve
• Rocky Patel Fifteenth Anniversary
• Rocky Patel Sun Grown
• Rocky Patel The Edge Maduro
• Rocky Patel The Edge Corojo
• Rocky Patel The Edge Sumatra (limited release)
• Rocky Patel The Edge Lite
• Rocky Patel Connecticut
• Rocky Patel R4
• Rocky Patel Patel Brothers
• Rocky Patel Connecticut
• Rocky Patel Summer Collection 2008
• Rocky Patel Autumn Collection 2008
• Rocky Patel Winter Collection 2008
• Rocky Patel Spring Collection 2009
• Rocky Patel Summer Collection 2009
• Rocky Patel Autumn Collection 2009
• Rocky Patel 1961 (introduced at 2009 IPCPR trade show)
• Rocky Patel Patel Brothers (introduced at 2009 IPCPR trade show)
• Rocky Patel TAA (tobacco association of America LTD)
• Rocky Patel Fusion
• Rocky Patel Fusion MM
• Rocky Patel I-Press
• Rocky Patel Signature
• Rocky Patel Gran Habano
• Rocky Patel Renaissance
• Rocky Patel Thunder by Nimish
• Rocky Patel Xen by Nish
• Rocky Patel Fifty

List of Rocky Patel Private Label Cigars

• Conuco
• Cruz Real
• Rocky Patel American Market Selection
• Rocky Patel Honduran Classic
• Rocky Patel Cuban Blend
• Rocky Patel Rosado
• Rocky Patel Fuma
• Vibe
• Reo
• Chicago Reserve Torpedo by Rocky Patel
• Nørding by Rocky Patel for [Eric Nørding Pipemaker]
• Rocky Patel Ocean Club (a Holts Cigar Company exclusive)
• Prodigy by Rocky Patel (a BestCigarPrices exclusive)

Cigar Lounge

On November 6th, 2010, Burn by Rocky Patel opened at the Mercato in Naples, FL.
The bar and lounge has a capacity of 300 people and features limited edition Burn cigars only available for sale there.