Punch SS #2

[olotti]

In Mi it's 72 deg at 11pm I decided after the mystery cigar to break out something real nice. My last of a cab of 01' SS#2.

Pre draw- beautiful draw. Firmly packed and nice weight in the hand. Draw of real rich aged tobacco, like Ken says an old leather football.

1/3- WOW. Just the perfect balance of power and complexity. Spice, nutmeg, clove, rich rich leather and tobacco with just enough oomph behind it. These have aged so well, for the first few years they were one dimensional and all nicotine and zero finish. This is what an aged cigar tastes like and I'm privelaged to have this chance.

2/3rd- More of the nutmeg, well aged tobacco and clove with a rum raisin character, just awesome. Still full bodied with spice through the nose, def still nicotine on the palate, real full finish. What a blend, just awesome. Real woodsy, cedary character coming in through the nose too and oh so smooth.

Last third- Still fullbodied and I'm guessing that these still have atleast 5 more years on em before the real oomph trails off but I love it now. Not much complexity, same flavors as the 2/3rd .

Overall- Depends on how you like your cigars. If ya like a nice blend of mongrel and intricate flavor these are good to go otherwise I'd say they def have legs on em to age. Right now I'd give em a 92 with the def chance of 94-95 with another 5 yrs but it's crazy to me to think of a 15yr old cigar that can have that but this blend proved it. Amazing that these were cancelled.

[shrink]

It's a shame that these were discontinued, but when you consider that they take almost a decade of aging to become "approachable", I can see why. Habanos has been putting a lot of effort into making their cigars smokeable young. They recognize that the old school collectors, who put down thousands of dollars of cigars for years, are being supplanted by a new breed that likes to smoke their Cubans young.

[headstand]

They recognize that the old school collectors, who put down thousands of dollars of cigars for years, are being supplanted by a new breed that likes to smoke their Cubans young.

Gee, are we talking wine here? Have I heard that story before. Too much impatience.

[Rogers72]

Great review. Sounds like it would have been right up my alley!

[tmac77]

Very nice review olotti. Such a damn shame these were discontinued. I had my last one about 5 months ago and have not been able to find another cab anywhere for love nor money.

[coneatty]

Thanks for the review, olotti. At least I got to experience it through you, knowing full well beforehand that the chance of my running across a ss 2 is slim.

[Ken Gargett]

tragic they were discontinued but i smoked a lot of the '02s quite some time ago and they were brilliant back then. still have, i think, one cab of the them left. can't speak on the 01's but the '02s certainly smoked well early as well as later.

[greenpimp]

Nice review. LOVE these cigars, have a few left from an 02 cab that I am still hoarding. Wish they still made 'em like that...