Review thread: 12 Days of Christmas Sampler

[El Presidente]

 

Review your 12 days of Christmas Sampler cigars here and go into the draw for a 10 count box of Punch 898 Regionals drawn Jan 2. Decent review and a photo required  

 

Cohiba Robusto – Punch Punch – Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2 – Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Rio Seco – Partagas Serie D Number 4 – Montecristo Number 1 – Partagas Serie P Number 2 – Montecristo Number 2 – Ramon Allones Specially Select – H. Upmann Connoisseur Number 2 – Punch 898 PCC Regional – San Cristobal Harimau

[Ford2112]

On the first day of Christmas El Prez gave to me:A San Cristobal Harimau!

I wanted to try this first as it is the first S.C. I've ever smoked, so I have no frame of reference. I will say it's one of the more unusual CCs I've ever smoked. Total smoke time was 90 minutes.

Initial thoughts: Draw was pretty loose and the cigar felt soft to me. Not totally underfilled but I wished it was a bit more firm. Not crazy about the big ring guage but I am going in with an open mind. Pre light draw has an interesting flavor.  Earthy,sweetness,and hay.

Paired it with a tonic and some Maiden! Great album. Anyway. 1st third:Interesting is the word. Sweet. Creamy. And a flavor I can only describe as earthy barnyard 🍄 mushroom? Enjoyable. Burn is good. Flavor on the retrohale that I can't put my finger on.

2nd third: Losing some of that sweetness. I feel like the draw is way too loose. I'm getting some tunneling. Overall still getting that earthy mushroom flavor ,best as I can describe it. A bit less smooth. Decent smoke. Not digging the size so much .just not so comfortable in the hand and it's like puffing on a pickle.

Final third: it's lost any sweetness now,not as smooth,kind of harsh. That barnyard earthy shroomy flavor is still present but not as enjoyable. Easy draw probably made this smoke suffer,and I feel it could benefit from some age. 

Overall I wouldn't necessarily turn down another but I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to buy a box. 85/100. 

[cgoodrich]

On 12/5/2021 at 4:44 PM, El Presidente said:

 

Review your 12 days of Christmas Sampler cigars here and go into the draw for a 10 count box of Punch 898 Regionals drawn Jan 2. Decent review and a photo required  

 

Cohiba Robusto – Punch Punch – Juan Lopez Seleccion Number 2 – Hoyo de Monterrey Le Hoyo de Rio Seco – Partagas Serie D Number 4 – Montecristo Number 1 – Partagas Serie P Number 2 – Montecristo Number 2 – Ramon Allones Specially Select – H. Upmann Connoisseur Number 2 – Punch 898 PCC Regional – San Cristobal Harimau

Love that Santa pic @Elpresidente!!!

[HuffnPuffff]

I picked up a Christmas sampler for my best mate (as well as one for myself) - he’s been shit out of luck this year and not fairing too well on it. I reach out to him often and try to remember the basics - not to give advice, don’t judge, to listen, expect nothing in return. If you have the choice to be right or be kind, it’s often better to choose kind.

So last night we get the wives out with us, go for some stellar grungy Sichuan food in Wanchai (Hong kong), and bring some cheap Prosecco with us (which is the ultimate match). The food is amazing and really zings, and the Prosecco accents it perfectly. Once full and zinged up we go round the corner to an Indian place with an outside patio. Wheat beer, G&T for the ladies. His wife always goes for a D4, mine always for a BRC (not in the Xmas pack but I brought one along - 2019). He’s never had a JLo so we go for one each. The patio turns out to be a wind tunnel - not ideal. His wife gets a work call. He gets engrossed with my wife chatting about some new cooking show with engineers. I listen in and just relax. JLo dancing on my lips making them zing. Wheat beer really is a good match. I hear high heels clattering off in the distance. Ho ho ho…


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[MossybackR]

13 hours ago, HuffnPuffff said:

I reach out to him often and try to remember the basics - not to give advice, don’t judge, to listen, expect nothing in return. If you have the choice to be right or be kind, it’s often better to choose kind.

What a great basis for a Resolution. Thanks, HuffnPuff

[Ford2112]

On the 2nd day ... Punch 898 PCC . Pretty moonlit evening over Monterey Bay and a little Elton John for mood. 

The draw is tight on this one. I dry boxed it with the freezer trick which helped some, but the perfect draw had to be implemented.  After a few passes it was acceptable.  Dry flavors. Tobacco lol. Some sweetness and hay. The smell is twangy

1st third: 1st few draws post light are toasted tobacco with a touch of sweetness. Some white  pepper at first which dissipated.  Draw is a bit tight still but acceptable. Getting decent smoke and burn. The first third is toasted peanuts,some fruit elements in there as well as some leather.

2nd third: A bit more pepper now,certainly not harsh though . An enjoyable smoke! The construction is good,very straight burn and good ash. I like this vitola size. Comfortable in the hand . Draw could be better. Oh well. I'll deal with it. Peanut flavor with that twang to it. Digging it overall but I feel like some age would make this thing really pop!

Final third: Same toasted peanut all the way through 🥜.  Getting a bit hot at the end here. This cigar is smooth through to the end which is nice. Some of that fruit element,sweetness has given way to a leather finish. 

Overall I enjoyed it. 91 points.

I had a seagull friend join me for a spell. Not a smoker himself.

M

[Kaptain Karl]

11 hours ago, Ford2112 said:

On the 2nd day ... Punch 898 PCC . Pretty moonlit evening over Monterey Bay and a little Elton John for mood. 

The draw is tight on this one. I dry boxed it with the freezer trick which helped some, but the perfect draw had to be implemented.  After a few passes it was acceptable.  Dry flavors. Tobacco lol. Some sweetness and hay. The smell is twangy

1st third: 1st few draws post light are toasted tobacco with a touch of sweetness. Some white  pepper at first which dissipated.  Draw is a bit tight still but acceptable. Getting decent smoke and burn. The first third is toasted peanuts,some fruit elements in there as well as some leather.

2nd third: A bit more pepper now,certainly not harsh though . An enjoyable smoke! The construction is good,very straight burn and good ash. I like this vitola size. Comfortable in the hand . Draw could be better. Oh well. I'll deal with it. Peanut flavor with that twang to it. Digging it overall but I feel like some age would make this thing really pop!

Final third: Same toasted peanut all the way through 🥜.  Getting a bit hot at the end here. This cigar is smooth through to the end which is nice. Some of that fruit element,sweetness has given way to a leather finish. 

Overall I enjoyed it. 91 points.

I had a seagull friend join me for a spell. Not a smoker himself.

M

Hell of a place to smoke there on the wharf!!! 

They're STILL catching big bluefin tuna town there. I'm dying! 

[Ford2112]

1 minute ago, Kaptain Karl said:

Hell of a place to smoke there on the wharf!!! 

They're STILL catching big bluefin tuna town there. I'm dying! 

I have a couple big hunks of BFT in the freezer. May have to indulge this weekend!

[Kaptain Karl]

18 minutes ago, Ford2112 said:

I have a couple big hunks of BFT in the freezer. May have to indulge this weekend!

Oh you have to!

3 buddies and me caught a 220# off Ensenada in June on my buddy's heavy salmon rod (5 hour fight, it was brutal! When he put it down when we started our night drift I gave him the WTF eyes and of course that rod got bit!) but didnt chase em local this year. They were off Cordell last month but I didnt have the energy after my wedding! 

[oneizzzz]

On 12/7/2021 at 5:48 AM, HuffnPuffff said:

I picked up a Christmas sampler for my best mate (as well as one for myself) - he’s been shit out of luck this year and not fairing too well on it. I reach out to him often and try to remember the basics - not to give advice, don’t judge, to listen, expect nothing in return. If you have the choice to be right or be kind, it’s often better to choose kind.

So last night we get the wives out with us, go for some stellar grungy Sichuan food in Wanchai (Hong kong), and bring some cheap Prosecco with us (which is the ultimate match). The food is amazing and really zings, and the Prosecco accents it perfectly. Once full and zinged up we go round the corner to an Indian place with an outside patio. Wheat beer, G&T for the ladies. His wife always goes for a D4, mine always for a BRC (not in the Xmas pack but I brought one along - 2019). He’s never had a JLo so we go for one each. The patio turns out to be a wind tunnel - not ideal. His wife gets a work call. He gets engrossed with my wife chatting about some new cooking show with engineers. I listen in and just relax. JLo dancing on my lips making them zing. Wheat beer really is a good match. I hear high heels clattering off in the distance. Ho ho ho…


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Stellar review man.  Fun to read.

[Chucko8]

First up out of the sampler decided to hit the CoRo. Couldn’t actually recall when last I had one as it’s not a vitola having often. Plus I need some reference points before taking on blind sample #4. Starts off Easy and first third I obtain some honey notes and light grassiness With a touch of white pepper on retro. 2nd third I’m a coffee spine backing the flavour with buttery cream feel tying in with the 1/3rd notes, though I do note it has some strength. The final 3rd and I feel like it’s showing the youth a touch and that strength is growing. Though must admit it’s still a quality tobacco and enjoyable. Personally I’d feel this will be better off left for 3 years longer. Solid 90

[Çnote]

I'm usually a stickler for at least 90 if not 180 days of rest, but since I have a 10ct of these coming, I figured I'd dip my toe in.

Right from the start, I know this is a mistake, muted flavors, slightly harsh, soft twang. Gets a little mocha after ashfall. Wonky burn, had to fix it. Starts to turn the corner at halfway, a little more mocha and the softest edge of real twang. Mild but full velvet smoke, this shows great promise after a proper rest. I'll hang on to the rest of the sampler til June. This reminds me of my 1st 2424 purchases that turned a huge corner at 3 months.

Finally becomes something approaching the band, still very muted, but at least the full spectrum of CC flavor.

I'll have to remember to stick to my guns and ignore the rott impulse.

The nub is almost worth the trouble of getting there, full twang, creamy smoke with a touch of bitter mocha.

All in all, shows the promise of a 2021 box code, but for me, CC need time to rest and blossom into their best.

[Boxer31]

RASS - first one I tried from the Xmas sampler this year. Only had a few weeks so wasn’t sure but with the way the RASS have been either young or old, haven’t had an off one in a while so figure let’s go with this first - two weeks ago. 

Aroma had the sweet tobacco and raisins almost like chocolate covered. Looks like a dessert. Draw was good. After light - reminds of Cadbury bar  

Getting some light wood with the raisin- fruit sweetness. 2nd third more of the fruit/tobacco sweetness and lighter chocolate and nuts. Draw and burn right on.  Last third more of the sweet fruit/wood, cream with a little bit of chocolate. 

[Edicion]

Enjoyed every single one with the standout favorite the Partagas D4, second place Mon 2, third CORO. 

[BlueRidgeFly]

I was planning to hold onto this entire Christmas sampler for a bit, but if there is one to try young it might be the Montecristo No. 1.

I've become lukewarm on Montecristos, have had a bunch with a few years of age and some up to ten years old. They can be kind of bland. But I've had enough good ones to want more. One of the best cigars I had last year was a 2018 Monte 1, tasted like a bar of milk chocolate all the way through. That keeps me hoping.

Beautiful looking stick here. Nice russet color with some sheen.

Cold draw is hay and some nuttiness, similar to the older M1s I have here, but fresher, more intense. Firm but good draw. I've had so many tight Monte 1s, so it's nice to not have to run this through with the fancy reamer.

Punch the head, light it up... Starts off mild, some wood, hint of cocoa powder, nuttiness, and mild coffee. Quickly turns a corner and becomes richer, walnut and noticeable milk chocolate notes. I'm digging this.

About ten minutes in and I start sipping this instant (and I now realize pretty stale) hot cocoa mix with some half-and-half, a good accompaniment at the 2pm pre- cocktail hour mark (should be thirty minutes away since I'm somewhat mature, on paper).

Fifteen minutes in, I try drawing more quickly and it gets slightly bitter. Backing off and it completely goes away. The chocolate turns into a nice molasses, with that sort of walnut flavor still here.

Nearly thirty minutes gone and into the second third. It looks like a beautiful Monte 3 now, and smoking like a pretty good one. Not a lot of complexity, some classic Monte flavors, and a hint of twang. But the chocolate is completely gone, a bummer.  Also has sort of a dry quality to the smoke now, a little dirty, but still burning cool and mostly straight. 

Then this weird-ass burn begins. I'm going to let it run and see where it ends up, same way I approach a lot of problems, sometimes with success.

Forty-five minutes in, the cigar corrects its strange burn, confirming all kinds of philosophical shit... It now has a little mongrel and charred wood, citrus, and molasses. Retrohale is really nice. I don't do that a lot, reminds me of going upside down under water. Call me a goober. But this is smooth and uncorks some faint chocolate notes. I'll try it again. Nice.

One hour gone and into the final third, band slides right off. Twangy, dark flavors of wood, malt, a little chocolate cake.

Then it's out. Relight... Dry texture returns. Rich and smooth though. A bit of faint mongrel mixing well with some earthiness now, some vegetal funk like a good mezcal, and still that twang and chocolate cake. Tastes like the few Especiales No. 2s I've had as they got short.

To the nub at one hour and twenty. Overall, I'd give it a 90. Probably would have been better with a few months down, but pretty nice now. 

[HuffnPuffff]

Great review @blueridgefly; thanks for posting


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[Boxer31]

Monte #2 - second one from the sampler last week

Aroma cocoa leather, cedar. But the draw was a big issue - wind tunnel.

First third-chocolate cream/biscuit, draw and burn were issue. Then after relight stated getting more wood and chocolate less cream into the second third. feeling light and under-filled. Required another relight. Last third getting a mint taste but in a good way like a thin mint candy.

Flavor was very pleasant and enjoyable just the draw was a major issue. Luckily these have been few and far between with issues.

[Glass Half Full]

Montecristo No. 1 from the Christmas Sampler.

My first Monte No. 1(?!)  (I’d bought a set from FOH but was letting them rest.  Maybe will change that plan after this afternoon’s experience!)  It all starts sweet, sweet.  Clear in the cold draw, remaining through much of the 1st 3rd, a constant refrain.

Enjoying this while listening to the “New Music Friday” play list on Apple Music (put out by NPR).  While I have never, ever liked all that’s on these lists (not even most of ‘em), there are always a few “keepers.”  And the selection is so eclectic, it’s kind of fun.

Back to the Monte No. 1:  Sweet flavors are foremost, touches of cream, very little chocolate.  (Totally different from No. 2’s IMO.)  …And the beats go on.  An early song, “Black Rhythm Happening,” by Makaya McCraven, sounds like Weather Report crossed with James Brown funk.  …Then, a new one from Robert Plant & Alison Krauss.  Then, (as you’ll see in the pic) former Beachboy Brian Wilson(?!?)  (new acoustic piano versions of his old songs; oddly nice as a change of pace.)

Meanwhile, the Monte No. 1 evolves.  It’s lost sweetness and finds a soft dough quality.  Retrohales break that up, in a wonderful way.  (And a sip of El Dorado 21 breaks the retro.)  

Sweetness returns a bit.  Bringing to mind what an unsugared doughnut might taste like.  ...The playlist turns vaguely “Afro-French-Cuban” (according to Wikipedia   The song is “Made of Gold” by the sister duo Ibeyi (born in Havana, apparently).  It also features English rapper, Pa Salieu.  …I’d never heard of ‘em.  Nice sound though.

Nice construction.  Only one touch up required on this Monte No. 1.

As the last 1/3rd begins, it turns bittersweet, which I like.  Loving the retros though spacing them out.  (They’ve become more complex but with a bit of “soft burn” to them, not in a bad way.)

Baking spices take hold in this third (to me).  Then creaminess returns, with a touch of tea.  (Could be because I’d savored the one rum, and now switched to a low abv Kolsch   The end, to me, is all entirely unsweet, all spiciness and tea.

Really amazed at how good this young cigar is.  Wish I had an aged one to contrast. …Guess I’ll find out in a few years

All the best,

[Monocle]

Well I’ll be darned. I’ve tried a half dozen young RASSs and never enjoyed them with less than four to five years of age. I just had the one from the sampler and it was great! I finally see the light and hope my luck improves on future young ones. It must have been from a db as it had a slight box press to it. I figure this just further confirmation that ‘21 production is fantastic.

[BlueRidgeFly]

The worst D4 I've ever had was pretty darn good. Judging by the comments around here, this 2021 from the sampler is ready. I say it's D4 o'clock...

Light colored, clean, silky wrapper, slightly toothy. Looks way nicer than the photo. Cold draw tastes like Partagas -- light spiced wood, slight sweetness.

Punch cut, draw is perfect.

I've only been into Cuban cigars for a few years. All the D4s I've had were 2018s and 19s, still have a bunch and an untouched 2020 box. This is my first 2021. Never got the code for any of these sampler sticks, probably not important for recent D4s.

Right away, very nice. Medium body, viscous smoke, wood and spice, pancake batter. 

Well into the first third, ROTT plus two weeks and this is as good as any D4 I've had, or at least way up there. Toasted white bread, touch of paprika, not super complex, but also has a subtle richness I can't describe that lingers on the palate, akin to the batter-like cold draw note. I've had many D4s that tasted a lot like this but without that richness. Solid so far. I'm happy.

Half-hour gone and into the second third... Like the Monte 1 I reviewed from the sampler, it starts to canoe. And like the Monte, I will ignore it. Not much evolution, just really good. If Partagas made something similar in a corona, I would be a fan. I'm in some bizarre minority that doesn't love a robusto, I guess. They're borderline too wide and a little short. Otherwise not a damn thing to complain about with this one.

Forty-five minutes in, the slight richness and sweet notes return, combining well with that toasted bread and spice. The uneven burn is slowly correcting, but I'm gonna dab the flame on that long bit now.

Three bald eagles in the sky (can't capture them with my phone camera, sorry). We have several year-round residents on the river below. Two of them spin on each other every now and then and reach out with their talons, like they're play fighting. Or it's foreplay. Who knows. A few weeks ago I looked up and thirteen were soaring out here. Good place for a cigar unless it's raining or the dead of winter.

Final third and the draw has tightened some. Have to squeeze it to bypass whatever is going on. Twangy taste arrives, everything else remains from earlier. No off-flavors or anything bad at all. Freaking good!

One-hour mark, reaching the end. I need more. I'd give it a solid 92, a 93 if pushed. I don't know if age is going to improve these a ton, damn good right now.

[saltbox]

I decided to give dry boxing a try for the first time after being disappointed with how muted the flavors were in the blind tasting cigars. I typically like to rest cigars at least 6 months after receiving them. I've always been a bit skeptical about how seemingly brute force the method seemed, but I stuck most of my Christmas sampler in a Nat Sherman (RIP) box I picked up on a trip to New York recently as a souvenir. Humidity inside ranged from 50-60RH during the 7 days they've been dry boxing.

First third: opens with a nice toasted tobacco, chocolate, and a touch of cream, orange peel, and brown sugar sweetness. There's a bit of a harsh bite on the finish and retrohale, but not too bad.

Middle third: the harshness has faded, but a bit of charred wood comes forward on the flavor profile to join the toasted tobacco and orange peel. However, by the end of this third, the charred notes fade and the creaminess picks back up.

Last third: creamy tobacco and some peppery spice, with the orange peel having faded away.

Overall: I was impressed by how well the dry boxing worked. I didn't have any burn issues or exploding wrappers, which happens pretty consistently for me with a cigar with this little rest typically. Flavors came through pretty well, though there was still a bit of harshness that I think more actual rest (or even more dry boxing) would get rid of. 89/100

[drinaldi84]

Meant to post this a few weeks ago. Lucky enough to score an Xmas sampler, and went with punch punch as the first, since I have my first box of these on the way. After just receiving the sampler, decided to go ROTT (sort of) on this one. Had the sampler for a couple days and left the punch punch in the dry box. 

Pairing with some crowd favorite champagne (Veuve yellow label) and a local sparkling (J Brut 2011). Thanks to FOH, the cigar/champagne pairing is a go-to for me now, just seems to work with my palate and almost any cigar. 
 

1st third: Draw is great, opens with lovely sweet cream and roasted peanuts. A touch of a woody/cedar kind of spice. Big flavors that lingers on the palate. Not an edge to be found. 
 

2nd third: More of the same in terms of flavor, but what’s interesting is the sweetness occurs more on the initial draw/front of the palate, while the roasted peanuts lingers in the finish. It’s really really nice, and still no edges to this point. There is some baking spice in there’s and a touch of cocoa joins the party. I couldn’t be more impressed by a cigar with very little rest time and age. 
 

Pairing Notes: Excellent pairing, the cigar seems bring out the stone fruit and acidity of both wines. Both wines are drinking much “younger” than they were before I started in on the cigar, I like that. There’s certainly a time and place for yeasty, brioche laden bottle of bubbles, but right now, this just works. The nuttiness and cream of the cigar still comes through strong and interplays with the bright fruit notes of the wines. 
 

Final third: The cigar gets a bit muddled toward the end, but not harsh or off putting. Can’t fault it to this point. Less sweetness at the end, mostly roasted nuts, but still pleasant. Great smoke, right down to the nub.

91/100.  So glad there’s a box of these headed my way. With enough rest time, these will be 93/94s all day long. 

[saltbox]

My sampler has reached just about one month of rest now, with 11 days in the dry box. Recent rain has made the ambient humidity fluctuate around 60RH, but the results have consistently spoken for themselves and I'll be experimenting with dry boxing even well rested cigars soon.

First third: opens with light cream, hay, and a touch of barnyard. The band, which was a bit loose to begin with, simply falls off. After a relatively light bodied first half inch, the flavor starts to pick up some raisin sweetness and plum tartness on the finish.

Middle third: cream, cedar, raisins, and plums. The flavors are coming through bright and crisp. I'm still surprised every time at how well the dryboxing works. These really are smoking as well as boxes I've had resting for over a year.

Last third: more of the same. In some of the aged RASS I've had (an HQ ASR JUN 17 50 cab), by this point of the cigar the creaminess really picks up and takes on an almost vanilla like characteristic, but there's none of that here. It's just more of the same young bright RASS tartness.

Overall: not sure if it's the dryboxing or the recent regular production being so great, but this was definitely the best fresh RASS I've had so far. 88/100

[saltbox]

I've had the Short de Punch, 48, and the Double Corona recently, but I actually haven't smoked a Punch Punch yet, so interested to see how this one compares to the other vitolas. I recently concluded, after the DC, that the Punch marca flavors just aren't my favorite, but always down to try everything at least once. 12 days of dry boxing at this point as I slowly work through most of the Xmas sampler I set aside.

First third: opens with sweet cream and spiced nuts, specifically peanuts and five spice. Over the course of the third, the cream as its own flavor note fades back and integrates with the nuttiness, giving a nice creamy peanut buttery nuttiness to the profile.

Middle third: sweet and savory creamy nuttiness, with a syrupy molasses sweetness on the finish. This is actually probably one of the sweetest cigars I've had in a while when I think about it, but it's not obvious as the sweetness blends in with a lot of other savory spices for a really balanced blend of notes. 

Last third: the creaminess of the nuttiness fades, leaving a rich, dark roasted nuttiness in its wake. A bit of coffee appears halfway through.

Overall: my favorite of the Punch vitolas I've had. It's been a while but I recall the Short de Punch and 48 being lighter than I expected. The DC was also mellow but had more presence. This Punch Punch Punch (what a fun full name) was definitely the punchiest and brightest in terms of flavors. 89/100

[saltbox]

It's been sporadically rainy in the bay area for the last couple weeks, which is a bit annoying. I'm not 100% sure yet, but I have a feeling that the ambient humidity during rainy days causes flavors to be a bit more muted. My sampler has been dry boxing now for 13 days, and the wrappers are feeling noticeably dryer and rougher. I've been working my way roughly from smaller to larger ring gauge in the sampler so the fatter cigars have more time to dry out (theoretically).

First third: opens with a light bodied cream, shortbread, and leather. While the strength picks up a bit, the flavor profile doesn't change much. The cigar is smoking more like a fuller H. Upmann than a Montecristo. There's maybe a touch of chocolate on the finish but if it's there it's extremely faint.

Middle third: a bit of chocolate starts to come through more clearly, though still not as strong as I like. I also start getting some hay, which I normally associate with an underfilled cigar. This one doesn't feel like it's underfilled and I wonder if the dry boxing has changed the combustion characteristics somehow to create that similarity.

Last third: still not as much chocolate as I like to see in a Montecristo but some coffee cream has appeared at least to bring the cigar closer to that profile.

Overall: an enjoyable smoke but not a great one. Montecristo is probably my favorite marca and this one didn't live up to the name. I do wonder if I've dry boxed too long at this point, but the rest of the sampler will remain for the sake of science. 86/100