Punch Double Corona

[SnakeHips]

I decided on this cigar out of curiosity. I bought two boxes of these, from 2000 and 2001, a year ago, from a multi-box deal before I discovered Czar. Over the last year I've been smoking out of one box, because it's been tasty; the other day I was digging around in my humidor and decided to look at the second box. To my surprise, I hadn't smoked a single one out of it, and to my greater surprise, this particular set of cigars is much more beautiful than the box I've smoked 65% of. About the same wrapper shade, but much more shiny with oils. This box was also a year younger, the 2001 box. I brought one from this box, and one from the other as a backup smoke in case this one sucked.

To summarize in advance, I gave the cigar from the reliable box to a buddy at the B&M.

I lit the cigar up, hoping for big things; the wrapper was gorgeous compared to the dry, almost grey wrappers on the others. Punch cut it - drew like a dream, just like those from the 2000 box. Pre-light flavor was sweet, just like I wanted.

Lit up perfectly, and by the first puff I knew it was good. Toasty like the first puff always is, but with the Punch sweetness that I look for in this marque. I was looking for a certain bitterness or "water" flavor that is typical of cigars from these sales, but it was nicely-rounded and tasty.

Most of the cigar was about the same, but that was okay to me. Sweet is the first thing that comes to mind; sugar sweet, on the tip of the tongue, not like the sneak-up-at-the-end sweet like H. Upmann has, on the back of the tongue. Woody, leathery, sugary...not terribly complex, but completely satisfying over a conversation with a few guys, a cup of coffee and lots of time to waste.

Prevailing Punch flavors, I can't really describe it better than that. The flavor that's usual of the marque - some say leather and sweetness, woodiness...I don't know. I just know it as "Punch" flavor. Strength was mild-medium. I've had several darker-wrapped PDCs from this period that were medium-full in strength, but this one satisfied me just fine.

Smoked it to an inch and a half, when it began to get bitter and gnarly. But I can say, it was a great smoke, though the flavors could have been more intense. Just a bit better than the other box - which is a good thing, since there's so many left now!

89/100

[thechenman]

Great review Snake Hips...The only Punch DC I've smoked is from '99, but that was an incredible smoke. It started me on exploring the Punch line where I found the possibly soon to be discontued RS11, which has been my favorite Punch cigar by quite a sizeable margin. Thanks for sharing the experience.

[android]

Great review.

[Ellery]

Thanks for the review

[stargazer14]

Thanks for the insight. I love the Petites and need to get ahold of some of the larger smokes.

If anyone wants to trade a couple of their Punch for anything else, leeme know.

[anacostiakat]

Had a box of '01s that were fantastic.

Have a partial box of '07s that are smoking magnificently and I am having trouble keeping my hands off them.

I have just not gotten around to ordering any current production but would think they were be excellent as well.

I like the Punch line. A line I really didnt pay a lot of attention to in the past. I have had some great Churchills and RS12 going back to 97/98.

[ilgatto]

Good review, SH. I enjoyed the one I had but it was older.

[Colt45]

Thanks for the review - I especially like the year to year comparison.

[roughrider]

Thanks.

[SnakeHips]

Great review Snake Hips...The only Punch DC I've smoked is from '99, but that was an incredible smoke. It started me on exploring the Punch line where I found the possibly soon to be discontued RS11, which has been my favorite Punch cigar by quite a sizeable margin. Thanks for sharing the experience.

Ah, the RS11. My favorite of the line, too - one of my favorite cigars ever was an RS11.

On a side note, I may do another Double Corona review some time - I was doing some digging and I have one left of another 2000 box, with a very dark and mottled wrapper; I remember these tasting completely different than the other two boxes, almost like they were mis-banded Partagas or something.