Mar 21st 2012 - Rocky Patel Patel Bros.

Today brings us the Rocky Patel Patel Bros. in a 6.5x52 Toro vitola. Patel Bros. is brought to us courtesy of a collaboration of Rocky Patel and his brother Nish. The Patel Bros. utilizes one of my fav wrappers the Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro. It contains a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. This is a solid med-full bodied cigar with flavors of coffee, leather, pepper, spice and a cocoa sweetness. I chose this to be today's cigar because of how thrilled I am that Sgt. Rafael Peralta's Medal of Honor case is being reopened. Sgt. Peralta valiantly gave his life to save those of the Marines around him in Fallujah, Iraq on Nov 15th 2004. Sgt. Peralta was assigned as a Scout and did not have to be clearing houses but volunteered to do it because he couldn't stand for others to and him not to. On their 4th house of the day when he opened the door to the 3rd room he was shot multiple times by insurgents with an AK-47. After he dropped to the floor and moved out of the way his Marines returned fire which caused a grenade to be thrown into the room they were in. Sgt. Peralta pulled the grenade under his body despite his wounds and absorbed the blast which killed him instantly but saved the lives of the Marines with him. His was originally awarded a Navy Cross but now the case has been reopened based on new video evidence of the events. If that isn't an act of true brotherhood I don't know what is...