vortex
"A billion Eddie Barzoons jogging into the future
- Joined
- May 5, 2006
- Messages
- 5,510
This falls into the "Great stuff you never hear about" category.
I bought this box of Punch Grand Cru Robusto Maduro three months ago and, after removing the cellos, put them down to rest. These are pretty good cigars without extra age but with aging they are special, IMO. They come with a couple of thick sleeves(1/8") of cedar to promote it, too.
I pulled one today and the flavor was already altered noticeably. VERY spicy compared to three months ago. I first tried one in yellow cello from my B&M and was wowed. Since then they've been "in the rotation".
Only problem is planning ahead but at $67 a box it's affordable!
Here is one of my first cigar reviews of the experience that made these a go-to smoke for me:
Punch Grand Cru Reserva Robusto Maduro
(These names can be a mouthful!)
We're talking cow manure here. Not strong but distinct.
5.25 inch X 50 ring
According to Famous: Blended with vintage Honduran, Nicaraguan and Piloto Cubano tobaccos, these most mellow of Punch cigars are draped in the most aromatic Capa Royale wrappers grown exclusively for the Grand Cru line.
I know from my own observation that it's been settin' fer a spell. Yellow cello and plume on a still oily wrapper.
I xikar it's double cap and got a nice even light from my cheapa*s triple-flame lighter.
First draw is great but a little harsh and spicy. It smoothed out real quick to a complex spiciness beyond my experience. I've had the Grand Cru Natural and this is totally different. Floral and leather and a little sweet and a little sour. A tad bitter, too. Somewhat like corojo wrapper but more complex. Burn is straight and ash is dark grey and draw continues perfect.
Flavor has not changed one wit for the whole first half of this cigar. I don't mind. I just usually get some change as I smoke a cigar. I guess the flavor is a little stronger but the sweet corojo like flavor is still dominant. As I move past the halfway point, the sweetness is asserting itself over the twangy sour. I'm getting some serious taste on my lips!
All right, the last third is where the heart of this experience lives. This is a wonderful flavor - kind of woody. A little burn correction here. This is the hardest flavor I've tried to verbally describe and I know I'm not doing it justice. Corojo is the closest similarity I have in my experience. I did get some ISOMs in a trade but they are still recovering.(When I wrote this I had yet to try an ISOM) It could be that kind of twang. Or a twong. I doubt it's a twung or twing.
I would not pair this with coffee or beer. Wild Turkey Rye!(I've since paired it with coffee)
This is not a cigar I would smoke every day. However, it is one I want in my rotation for a while. I'm thinking a five pack.
Moving toward the nub, the sour is fading and the sweet is taking over. Less twang. Not bad. I'll have to smoke another. The Grand Cru Torp Maduro looked interesting. Value is OK at $67/box of 20.
Construction - 9
Flavor - 8.5
Burn - 8.5
Draw - 9
Appearance -9
Overall - 8.8
_________________
I should add that I'm on my second box and still like this unusual cigar!
Also, since then I've discovered that the Gran Habano #5 is pretty close in comparison. This is much more complex, though!
I bought this box of Punch Grand Cru Robusto Maduro three months ago and, after removing the cellos, put them down to rest. These are pretty good cigars without extra age but with aging they are special, IMO. They come with a couple of thick sleeves(1/8") of cedar to promote it, too.
I pulled one today and the flavor was already altered noticeably. VERY spicy compared to three months ago. I first tried one in yellow cello from my B&M and was wowed. Since then they've been "in the rotation".
Only problem is planning ahead but at $67 a box it's affordable!Here is one of my first cigar reviews of the experience that made these a go-to smoke for me:
Punch Grand Cru Reserva Robusto Maduro
(These names can be a mouthful!)
We're talking cow manure here. Not strong but distinct.
5.25 inch X 50 ring
According to Famous: Blended with vintage Honduran, Nicaraguan and Piloto Cubano tobaccos, these most mellow of Punch cigars are draped in the most aromatic Capa Royale wrappers grown exclusively for the Grand Cru line.
I know from my own observation that it's been settin' fer a spell. Yellow cello and plume on a still oily wrapper.
I xikar it's double cap and got a nice even light from my cheapa*s triple-flame lighter.
First draw is great but a little harsh and spicy. It smoothed out real quick to a complex spiciness beyond my experience. I've had the Grand Cru Natural and this is totally different. Floral and leather and a little sweet and a little sour. A tad bitter, too. Somewhat like corojo wrapper but more complex. Burn is straight and ash is dark grey and draw continues perfect.
Flavor has not changed one wit for the whole first half of this cigar. I don't mind. I just usually get some change as I smoke a cigar. I guess the flavor is a little stronger but the sweet corojo like flavor is still dominant. As I move past the halfway point, the sweetness is asserting itself over the twangy sour. I'm getting some serious taste on my lips!
All right, the last third is where the heart of this experience lives. This is a wonderful flavor - kind of woody. A little burn correction here. This is the hardest flavor I've tried to verbally describe and I know I'm not doing it justice. Corojo is the closest similarity I have in my experience. I did get some ISOMs in a trade but they are still recovering.(When I wrote this I had yet to try an ISOM) It could be that kind of twang. Or a twong. I doubt it's a twung or twing.
I would not pair this with coffee or beer. Wild Turkey Rye!(I've since paired it with coffee)
This is not a cigar I would smoke every day. However, it is one I want in my rotation for a while. I'm thinking a five pack.
Moving toward the nub, the sour is fading and the sweet is taking over. Less twang. Not bad. I'll have to smoke another. The Grand Cru Torp Maduro looked interesting. Value is OK at $67/box of 20.
Construction - 9
Flavor - 8.5
Burn - 8.5
Draw - 9
Appearance -9
Overall - 8.8
_________________
I should add that I'm on my second box and still like this unusual cigar!
Also, since then I've discovered that the Gran Habano #5 is pretty close in comparison. This is much more complex, though!
