Beale Street Cigar by Rocky Patel

Beale Street Maduro (aka "Bass Guitar") Toro

Manufacturer: Rocky Patel, made for Havana Mix Cigar Emporium, Memphis, TN
Size: 6 x 52 (estimated)
Wrapper: Brazillian Maduro

Binder: Dominican
Filler: Honduran and Ecuadorian
Price: $10

Last weekend, Michelle and I went downtown with the Brannens and Lasters for a date night without children. We took the free trolly ride to the art district and wandered among the various galleries and art school museums on what amounted to "open house night". Most of the galleries served free wine.

We followed this with dinner at Pearl's Oyster House (red beans and rice with pulled pork barbecue followed by char-grilled oysters in chipotle butter and parmesan cheese) and then a jazz quintet at the Westin Hotel. The night ended at Havana Mix Emporium on 3rd Street, the new cigar lounge and bar.

To complete our celebration of the city, all the men bought the Beale Street cigar, which is the house brand from Rocky Patel. It sported a bright blue band in the shape of a guitar with the words "No Black, No White, Just Blues."

House blends are usually disappointing, but not this one. The cigar was very full-bodied without a lot of spiciness (somewhat reminiscent of the 5 Vegas Cask Strength). The burn was razor sharp. I got my ash up to over 2 inches; Shaun's ash exceeded 4 inches. Smoke time was nearly two hours.

It's pricey at $10, but this is definitely a great cigar.