Punch Double Corona OER OCT 21 (P&PLRW)

[hrs1]

Yesterday was a good day after a crazy week.  Started off well rested for a change.   The family grabbed breakfast at our favorite local diner.  I had a great PSdP during my youngest's morning nap.  The sun came out.  My oldest had a blast at a children's museum.  While the rest of the family napped, I watched my favorite college football team (Michigan) dominate a respectable opponent (Penn State).    My oldest woke up wanting to watch college football with Daddy.  We got an epic battle between Alabama and Tennessee.   Pizza for dinner.  Both kids went down easy.  It's the little things.

Time to celebrate with a big cigar and some bourbon.  

I've sampled a few Punch DCs from an OER FEB 20 box this year, but I feel the need to give this a go.   I've heard great things about the '21s.   This box is a beauty and smells even better.  It just turned 1 years old.   Today was a good day.  Let the good times roll.

Quickly grab a cigar and give her a punch.   Draw is tight and I'm not getting much flavor 😕 Give her a once over.   She's overpacked around the foot.   Like the craziness last week, I think this too shall pass.   Let's put this theory to the torch.

Put the foot to the fire.  Draw is tight.  Smoke output anemic.  Medium light body.  Flavor's on life support.   There's a hint of apple.  Some woody tanginess.   There's probably more here, but I don't feel like depriving myself of oxygen to find out.  

On the bright side, the Blanton's tastes great.  The cigar gives it a faint smokiness, which is nice.

After a healthy helping of bourbon, the ash drops halfway through the first third.  BOOM!  She opens up.   Smoke output goes from fumes to forest fire.  Body and flavor snap up to medium.  The fruity apple moves to the edges.  A little wood, but the tanginess is almost gone.  Peanut butter, nuts and bits of caramel are the stars of the show.  Either I'm buzzed, just got punched in the mouth or we just passed through the overpacked portion of the foot.   Perhaps all three.  

This is about to get good.

Second third and she’s ramped up to medium plus.  I think the apple has done an Irish goodbye.   The peanut butter is richer - like going from Skippy to Jif.  The caramel becomes butterscotch.  A bit of baking spice makes an appearance.  The woody note is now clearly cedar.  There’s coffee with teases of chocolate on the finish.  The Blanton's is pairing nicely.

Just as I'm cursing the apple for leaving just as the party was getting started, it reappears.  Voila!  We've got apple pie.  The long finish paired with bourbon tastes like Irish coffee.  

This is what greatness tastes like  

Final third and breadiness takes over.   I think she’s fading down the stretch ....   

But, she proves herself a prize fighter capable of going the distance.  The apple pie is back.   Some honey joins the fray.   A nuttiness joins the coffee and chocolate on the finish.   Toward the nub,  coffee takes over.   Bread still comes in and out.   Apple does too.   Again, I think she's on the ropes.  Again, she snaps back with apple pie.   She’s definitely got the DNA of a champ.

Rough out of the gate with some jerky transitions at the end, this cigar was exceptional in the middle third.  Overall, it was a 93/94 point smoke which kept me thoroughly engaged for over 2.5 hours.  

It's the little things in life.  Whisky and big cigars make them even better  

[ayedfy]

Great review! Would love to try one of these one day, your review captures not just a great cigar but also the best kind of day.

[HuffnPuffff]

Boom! Review of the year. Nicely done sir 🫡


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