Sapphire is the most recent cigar released in the Rocky Patel Crown Series*. The cigars are made in Nicaragua with a Mexican San Andreas wrapper, two binders (Nicaraguan and Honduran), and a blend of filler tobaccos from Nicaragua. These cigars became available during June 2026 in four box pressed sizes including a Toro (6½ x 52) that was priced at about $17 per stick at the time of this review. For more information about these cigars, please visit RockyPatel.com.

The Rocky Patel Sapphire Toro started off with a modest taste of spice along with hints of sweetness, which were quickly joined by an unassuming leather flavor. The smoke was smooth, mellow and medium bodied. The flavors in this Sapphire cigar were not as pronounced as the flavors in the previous two Crown Series cigars, but were relaxing and still very enjoyable.

I ashed the cigar for the first after 15 minutes into the smoking session. At this point, the most noticeable flavors were leather with hints of spice and a trace of lingering sweetness. These flavors then remained pretty much consistent for the remainder of the cigar, as there were no drop-offs in flavor nor obvious transitions. I ashed the cigar two more times at 15-minute intervals and continued smoking until the cigar went out by itself with 1½ inches remaining,after 60 minutes of total smoking time.

The Rocky Patel Sapphire was enjoyable from start to finish and was very well made. No relights nor touch-ups were required and the cigar held a long ash. The burn was mostly even along the way, but in the one or two instances when it was not burning perfectly even, the burn corrected itself before a touch-up might have been needed. The cigar had a great draw and delivered a nice volume of smoke. As evidenced by the total smoke time of 60 minutes with three ashings at 15-minute intervals, the cigar burned a lot quicker than the Rocky Patel Gold Label and Emerald Toros, which lasted 100 and 90 minutes, respectively, with ashings at 20-25 minute intervals.

Although the flavors in the Sapphire were much tamer than in the first couple of cigars in the Crown Series, the cigar was still enjoyable enough to earn a 4-plus rating on a 5-point scale. In addition, although it burned faster, the Rocky Patel Sapphire did not have the other burn issues as did the previous two releases. I consider it to be a very good to superior cigar that is very-well made and can be enjoyed by all levels of cigar smokers, including beginners.

Cigars in Rocky Patel's Crown Series *

Gold Label Released in July 2024, Rated 94** (read our review)

Emerald Released in Dec. 2024, Rated 95**    (read our review)

Sapphire Released in June 2026, Rated 91**   (read our review)


** As Rated by Cigar Aficionado