misterbulgarin
08-08-2009, 03:47 PM
Punch Petit Punch (1998)
Gauge: 42 Length: 102mm
http://i29.tinypic.com/2nm24h1.jpg
The Dickens Wine Emporium alerted me that they sold aged cigars recently, so next time I was in town, I'd pick one up. Never having tried an aged cigar before, I was eager to see the reason behind aging, and the actual difference(s) between new and aged cigars.
I was going to go for a Bolivar, I didnt want to break the bank, so I settled for a little Punch, at a very fair price for a 1998 stick.
Lovely sunny day and no wind outside in the garden, the perfect buffs for a cigar smoke! As with all 'special' cigars (my first aged), I lit it with a cedar splint. After a couple of minutes it was lit perfectly and chugging away.
First draw......................I hate to say it, but it was very punchy! Much like when you take a first sip of beer, it makes you pucker your lips and absorb that taste with your tongue, many draws had me doing that. Very nice, infact it made me go grab a beer, which I don't normally do. Beer, Cigar (albeit a very old one) and a bucket of sunshine, good stuff.
Burn was super, the cigar was burning merrily away without assitance, the only slight issue was a bit of wrapper side burn but that was fixed without any problems, also when the very large! ash broke off, I had some coning, probably me smoking a bit too fast (enjoying it too much).
The ash was quite large, infact I was surprised for the little stick.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2ekn5hc.jpg
The shape of the cigar was still boxpressed but I found that made for some nice easy draw, especially once the shape was becomming more rounded from the heat ,the construction and formation probably allowed for some good air flow. Super smoke stack this one! Even out in the sun with the wind I was looking like thomas the tank engine.
Flavor wise, This was like a fine beer taste, that very mild and flavorsome taste on the pallete, also I swear I could taste...burger a few times, yep, another weird flavor from Mr B.
I can see what's meant by aging cigars took the 'harshness' away, the duration of the whole smoke was very mild and pleasant; I didnt have any 'grimey saliva' and the smoke was very easy going to exhale.
My past Punch Cigars have been shit, not to put too fine a point on it, but to be fair they were Tubos from ASDA, so it's hardly a fair chance. Although I think I've hit a homerun with this 1998 Stick, to jettison Punch back into my 'Would buy from that brand again' rather than 'Stay the hell away'.
Overall: 8.75/10.
This would be a 9/9.5 if the size of the cigar was a bit bigger so I could enjoy it for longer, that's the only downfall of this cigar. Mild smoke, great to draw, very light but a plethora of flavors with this one. I now understand the need to age!
Gauge: 42 Length: 102mm
http://i29.tinypic.com/2nm24h1.jpg
The Dickens Wine Emporium alerted me that they sold aged cigars recently, so next time I was in town, I'd pick one up. Never having tried an aged cigar before, I was eager to see the reason behind aging, and the actual difference(s) between new and aged cigars.
I was going to go for a Bolivar, I didnt want to break the bank, so I settled for a little Punch, at a very fair price for a 1998 stick.
Lovely sunny day and no wind outside in the garden, the perfect buffs for a cigar smoke! As with all 'special' cigars (my first aged), I lit it with a cedar splint. After a couple of minutes it was lit perfectly and chugging away.
First draw......................I hate to say it, but it was very punchy! Much like when you take a first sip of beer, it makes you pucker your lips and absorb that taste with your tongue, many draws had me doing that. Very nice, infact it made me go grab a beer, which I don't normally do. Beer, Cigar (albeit a very old one) and a bucket of sunshine, good stuff.
Burn was super, the cigar was burning merrily away without assitance, the only slight issue was a bit of wrapper side burn but that was fixed without any problems, also when the very large! ash broke off, I had some coning, probably me smoking a bit too fast (enjoying it too much).
The ash was quite large, infact I was surprised for the little stick.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2ekn5hc.jpg
The shape of the cigar was still boxpressed but I found that made for some nice easy draw, especially once the shape was becomming more rounded from the heat ,the construction and formation probably allowed for some good air flow. Super smoke stack this one! Even out in the sun with the wind I was looking like thomas the tank engine.
Flavor wise, This was like a fine beer taste, that very mild and flavorsome taste on the pallete, also I swear I could taste...burger a few times, yep, another weird flavor from Mr B.
I can see what's meant by aging cigars took the 'harshness' away, the duration of the whole smoke was very mild and pleasant; I didnt have any 'grimey saliva' and the smoke was very easy going to exhale.
My past Punch Cigars have been shit, not to put too fine a point on it, but to be fair they were Tubos from ASDA, so it's hardly a fair chance. Although I think I've hit a homerun with this 1998 Stick, to jettison Punch back into my 'Would buy from that brand again' rather than 'Stay the hell away'.
Overall: 8.75/10.
This would be a 9/9.5 if the size of the cigar was a bit bigger so I could enjoy it for longer, that's the only downfall of this cigar. Mild smoke, great to draw, very light but a plethora of flavors with this one. I now understand the need to age!