The Edge paired with an Axe Hill wine and 40 year aged Port

Winter days. Winter nights. It's cold outside but warm by the fireplace. What better time to light up a cigar? And what better time of the year to light up a cigar that took time to mature? Rocky Patel cigars need no introduction. But, if you haven't smoked one of these cigars... A cold and moody fireplace evening is the perfect time to light up the Edge 20th Anniversary masterpiece.

The Era of the Edge

Twenty years ago, Rocky Patel set out to create the boldest, most multifaceted cigar imagined.

The Edge. To honour twenty years of innovation at Rocky Patel. He introduced the sharpest cigar Rocky ever had the pleasure of cutting. What is the cigar? It is The Edge's 20th Anniversary.

The Edge 20th Anniversary features a contoured smooth surface. The cigar showcases a unique blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran excellence. This cigar highlight is the rigid and robust construction. The cigar boasts a rich Sumatra wrapper from the fields of Ecuador. Aged for over ten years, the Edge is a well-rounded cigar. It's a masterpiece.

The Edge 20th Anniversary debut

Rocky Patel's The Edge debuted in 2004 and is one of the company's best-selling lines. A cigar known for its unique packaging.

Rocky Patel blended this cigar around a 10-year-old Ecuadorian Sumatra. The original The Edge used an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper. Underneath the wrapper is a Honduran Habano binder and fillers from Honduras and Panama.

The company's Tabacalera Villa Cuba S.A. factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, produces The Edge 20th Anniversary cigar.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Pre-light Draw

The wrapper is dark brown with hints of red.

There are a few prominent veins with smooth seams on the chocolate brown wrapper.

Characteristics of the Cigar:

Dried fruit tastes and aromas

The dry draw delivers ripe peach tastes.

Spungy moistness

A wrapper with dryness

The Edge 20th Anniversary Cigar band

There are two bands on the cigar. Both carry a silver, burgundy and gold colour combination. The primary band has the company logo and line name, while the second denotes the sub-line. The cigar is double-banded with a 20th ANNIVERSARY' foot band. It has silver and red on top and gold and red on the bottom.

The Edge 20th Anniversary dry aroma

The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of damp earth, while the foot release mushroom and wet forest scents. The pre-light draw is fruity and woody. Aromas from the cigar included barnyard wood, dry, dusty sunset earth and mild clovers. The foot releases aromas of sweet tobacco, hints of fruit sweetness and prominent dusty earth and firewood notes.

Creaminess

Smooth vanilla

Dark chocolate

Smokey marshmallow

Smooth and enjoyable

The Edge 20th Anniversary First Light

The first puff has voluminous smoke with hints of vanilla, a bold dryness that draws light but firm. The cigar is creamy from the start. That is always a sign of an exceptional quality cigar.

The cigar begins with toasted oak, mushroom mustiness and pepper notes. After a few puffs, some earth joins the profile. The retro-hale is toasty, oaky, and earthy, with mild pepper and dampness that all contribute to the creamy smoothness.

All the cigar flavours blend to give a matured and oaky puff. The strength = medium.

The first flavours are sweet tobacco and fruity notes that blend into mild wood and earth. There is a bit of pepper on each puff, but not overwhelming.

Rich, creamy puffs. That is the evolution of the first part. Light chocolate notes join the oaky tastes on the retrohale as the first part of the cigar slow burns.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Second part

The mustiness and pepper move a bit further back in the profile.

The earthy tones have a dusty, dry character. The retro-hale remains toasty and oaky. Earthy and mild with black pepper and mushroom moistness.

The cigar remains medium in strength and body.

There is more sweet tobacco and fruit to lead into the second part. Cinnamon with wood and earth defines the post-draw. A moist vegetal component returns to the cigar as it progresses. Sometime later, wood finishes the draw with some sweetness to compliment it.

The Edge 20th Anniversary final part

The cigar's earthiness takes a slight lead over the toasted firewood oak. Subtle hints of black pepper increase but blends smoothly with the toasted oaky notes.

As the cigar wraps up, the flavours remain consistent. The strength bumped up to a bit above medium.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Burn

The burn was slightly wavy, but it was cold, and I did smoke slow. The burn was even from the middle until the end.

Flawless burn performance.

Even burn, tight ashes and cool burning temperature.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Draw

The draw was perfect, with the right amount of resistance. A loose draw for a well-matured cigar.

Overall, the Edge 20th Anniversary cigar is enjoyable from start to finish, with medium strength, an even burn and a smooth draw loaded with flavours with every puff.

Wine - Axe Hill Machado Red Blend

A unique blend of Touriga Nacional (59%), Souzão (21%), Tinta Barroca (15%), Tinta Roriz (5%) handcrafted by Mike Neebe

Tasting Notes

On the nose, red and black fruit, crushed herbs, chocolate, earth and spice.

The palate is dry but smooth and full-bodied. It is a well-balanced wine with fresh acidity, smooth tannins and a savoury finish.

Chemical Analysis

Alcohol: 14.00%

pH: 3.65

TA: 5.4

RS: 3.90 g/l

Axe Hill Machado Red Blend Nose

Fruity

Rhubarb

Dried fruit

Dark chocolate

Dark fruits like Plums

Dark, dry fruit skins like raisins

Taste

Dry

Juicy

Dried fruit

Dark colour

Ripe fresh cherries

The Edge 20th Anniversary and Axe Hill Machado Red Blend pairing

A bold cigar with a bold wine. The wine has unique grapes from Portugal that grow in Calitzdorp.

Axe Hill is a small winery specialising in Cape Port and Portuguese cultivars.

It's a great wine that compliments the matured Rocky Patel tobacco. For a 2016 vintage, the wine has settled tannins with bold flavours. It's an oaky and fruity combination that makes for a great wine and cigar pairing.

But to finish off the pairing, a special surprise.

I added something special to wrap up the pairing.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Wrap up

The cigar began with toasted oak, mushroom mustiness and pepper tastes. Some earthiness joins in quick.

What I love about this cigar is the consistency from start to finish. The first puff was smooth and creamy, and the last puff I had was stronger but still smooth and creamy.

The Rocky Patel, The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto flavours focus on toasted oak, earth, black pepper and mushroom moistness. A very enjoyable combination.

I thought the Rocky Patel The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto delivered an excellent puff. Being a fan of the Rocky Patel brand lines, I was eager to try the 20th Anniversary edition, and I would smoke it again.

The entire cigar is great. Full flavoured and balanced.

A wonderful smoking experience with roasted flavours, nuttiness, and espresso notes that lead to an earthiness with pepper, creaminess and a rounded toasty finish.

Royal o Porto - Oira de Cepa 40-year-old Port pairing

Smooth

sweet

earthy

caramel

subtle flavours to enhance the cigar wrapper's, fruity sweetness

Bold, sweet tawny caramel character with balanced acidity and a round, smooth, delicious finish.

Wine and a cigar pair well, but aged Port and a cigar pair like matured tobacco cured in an old temperature-controlled barn. To be honest, Port and cigars are exceptional together. The sweet, nutty and caramel-aged Tawny port flavours lift and enhance every puff and flavour from The Edge's 20th Anniversary cigar.

Enjoy your winter night with a The Edge 20th Anniversary cigar,

Click the link below to order now.

The Edge 20th Anniversary Robusto cigar