Disappointing RP event

[strife]

Went to a small Rocky Patel non-event at the local B+M Friday afternoon hoping to pick up a sampler and maybe a fiver of Fusion lanceros to try out. The rep was a 30 something decent looking woman with a couple of boxes of ITC 10th Toros that she pulled singles out of as freebies for buying 3 sticks of any RP in the humidor. There was also a raffle that one could enter only after purchasing said 3 cigars.

I walked into the humidor and immediately felt the moist air condensing on my skin. It had to be at least a 78 RH in there! I bought A Decade Lonsdale, a Vintage 1999 Connecticut Perfecto 4 x 48, and a Sun Grown Perfecto 4 x 48. My total was 23 bucks and as I picked up my freebie I filled out the raffle ticket and snuck a peek down the reps blouse (hey I felt there had to be some kind of door prize).

When I got home I went for the ITC and got about halfway when I had to remove the band and with it a chunk of wrapper! The friggin band was glued tight to it. Needless to say my favorite part of a cigar being the final third was near impossible to keep together (I was surprised to find that I was enjoying the ITC as much as I was, I'm not much of an RP fan).

This morning I fired up the Connecticut with my cup of beans and the thing was impossible to draw through. In fact if I didn't leave my brain on my pillow I would have figured out it was too wet just by the weight of it. I've had Presidentes that were lighter. Another wasted cigar.

Bottom line I didn't win the raffle, I have 2 "event" cigars left (in a dry box), she had no sampler packs, I still haven't gotten that Fusion Lancero that I've been curious about, and the rep was wearing a water bra!

.

 

[VirginIslander]

Not THAT is a funny story!

 

[Daviso27]

I went to a rocky event and RP himself made me spill my drink!!! I still love those 90's!

 

[tubaman]

and the rep was wearing a water bra!

Bad day all around for ya huh?

 

[rabbgp]

Funny stuff.

RP has fallen off my list since I found out he dyes some of his cigars.

Having said that the Decade is not bad.

 

[cigarguy71]

Sorry for your pain bro.

 

[smokemifugotem]

Not a big fan of the rp either...but I did the same thing last summer for a mac event. Figured I would pick up a couple giveaway sticks and by the end of it I was just bummed that I went.

 

[Phrankenstein]

RP has fallen off my list since I found out he dyes some of his cigars.

WTF? Dyed cigars? Is that how they get so dark?

 

[smokingIsh]

bummer dude!

 

[russell p]

I'm sorry to hear that bro but at least you got somewhat of a peek LOL ! :yes:

 

[dartfrog]

Funny you mention that about the band on the ITC 10th. Same happened to me earlier this week on one I picked up at an event several months back.
Horrible cigar and the wrapper felt like 600grit sandpaper in your hands.

I had a 2008 Spring last week and was not impressed with that one either. I think he's flailing away on the marketing trick/trend of "new" cigars and should dump those seasonal smokes, etc and stick to what he does best.

The only RP I will now purchase after this experimental RP kick I went on is the Edge. Always consistent and always good. I don't want any surprises during "me time"

 

[tedp]

I haven't been even able to smoke a RP anywhere close to the band. They're usually pitched well before that!:barf:

 

[njstone]

Sounds like that b&m needs to seriously look into thief humidification.

As for the RP Fusion, those are exclusive to Cigars International, so a rep cannot give you or sell you them anyway!

But if you want some, PM me and I'll send you a few :grin:

 

[njstone]

RP has fallen off my list since I found out he dyes some of his cigars.

Sorry to bust the bubble, but the VAST majority of maduros in the cigar industry are treated. Take the Padron 80th for example. The "treatment" is usually natural, made from the tobacco by-products.

 

[Moro]

Sorry to bust the bubble, but the VAST majority of maduros in the cigar industry are treated. Take the Padron 80th for example. The "treatment" is usually natural, made from the tobacco by-products.

Ok Nate, lick an RP and draw a line across yer arm. See the marker-like line? That means it's dyed. Take a PAM and do the same. That one FERMENTED it's way to that color.

 

[dpmrpa]

Great story. Very funny. Isdn't there a stick named cleavage

 

[Terrasco]

Great story! RP is going too mass market in my opinion. There are so many good boutique brands out there.

 

[njstone]

Ok Nate, lick an RP and draw a line across yer arm. See the marker-like line? That means it's dyed. Take a PAM and do the same. That one FERMENTED it's way to that color.

Padron admitted in an article (don't have the link) the the 80th (and some others in the line) is "treated," (i.e. dyed).

According to several articles I've read and interviews I've watched lately, most maduros in the cigar industry today are "treated" for color in some way. The process varries, and uses various parts of the tobacco plant pulped-down into dye. (Some companies will use coffee or other products for dye as well).

The degree to which they need to treat the maddies varies, as does the quality (I agree that the RP Fusion MM (i.e. "Double Maduro") looks way too black to be "real"). Another example--the 1st-gen boxed RP OWR maduros don't look nearly as dyed, and are actually fairly spotty looking. The newer bundled versions are VERY black, and I'd not be suprised if the color came off if it got wet.

The fact is that well-fermented leaves get darker and darker, and people know that. Therefore, manufacturers stared "treating" their maddies, which forced even the high-end manufacturers to "treat" just to keep up appearances.

The interviews I watched said that "treating" does not affect flavor, smoke, or anything else about the cigar at all--and that proper "treatment" will not turn the cigar into a magic marker.

I'd personally be interested to know if the wrappers used for sticks like La Riqueza and El Triunfador are "treated" at all. They wrappers look amazing, but they are not as dark as others I've seen (like the Padron 80th) so I'd think maybe not. Though it would not lessen my enjoyment if I found out that they were.

 

[caseabb]

Cause RPs suck. Have for a long time. There are too may great cigars out there to spend money on junk!!!

 

[e-man67]

I haven't had a steller RP...ever. Bought a box of the sungrown and smoked one and gave the rest away, smoked the edge and got rid of the rest of those, smoked the fusion, got rid of those. I have had a 90 that was ok but not great...not waisting my time anymore on the brand.