Rocky Patel

Hollywood attorney Rakesh "Rocky" Patel founded the company in California in 1995 as Indian Tabac Cigar Co. His interest in cigars developed while spending time with actors between takes, and he sold his legal practice to enter the cigar business. The company began in partnership with Phillip Zanghi III and used the Indian Motorcycle name under license.

Zanghi directed growing and manufacturing in Honduras. The company initially made all its cigars with tobacco cultivated in El Paraíso on land leased from Nestor Plasencia. Patel later expanded into Nicaragua, growing tobacco in Estelí with Amilcar Perez Castro and building a factory there.

The business later moved to Naples, Florida, and adopted the name Rocky Patel Premium Cigars in 2006. The Indian Tabac brand was discontinued in 2014, and by 2015 the company was based in Bonita Springs.

Since 2013, Rocky Patel has co-managed the company with his brother Nish Patel, who leads sales and major client relations, and his cousin Nimish Desai, who heads production. Patel also opened the first Burn by Rocky Patel cigar and drinking lounge in Naples in 2010. From 2020 through 2024, Rocky Patel was the official cigar of the Cigar Smoking World Championships.