Punch Regios de Punch Limited Edition 2017 ATE DIC 17 FWRC*

[Chucko8]

Had the thought last Wednesday that I should dry box one of these sticks to see where they are at. First one that I tried of these last year, I had to throw in the bin as it was so plugged that it near on asphyxiated me. So hoped that a good 6 days of dry box would be best.

Stick looks nice enough and contain an oily sheen on what I's consider a maduro looking wrapper. Wrapper has a leathery scent. Cold draw I get a twang and a nutmeg feel on the lips. The cigar weight wise feels a little light but the draw is not loose.

1/3 starts off mild with some cedar and cream but quickly ramps up to medium by a couple of centimeters in and then starts displaying some vanilla and pepper. I'm already getting some burn issues and the cigar is canoeing.

2/3 I get a distinctive taste of juicy fruit chewing gum come in. First time I've experienced this, though have heard others refer to it occasionally. Also have white pepper and an earthy taste with the cigar definitely feeling more on the medium full flavour. Still have a burn which is all over the shop. To help correct this I decide to let the cigar go out and restart it for the final third.

Final third the strength is there and I actually feel like I'm getting a little light headed, perhaps due to this maduro looking wrapper. The white pepper has moved to black pepper, there is a saltiness in there now also and the juicy fruit has died off. Not sure that the relighting did me any favours here or it's just the cigar. At least I was able to remove the canoeing effect I guess.

Have to say construction wise this cigar is not a great example and don't believe any more or less dry boxing would have helped it. Don't think I'll go near the remaining sticks I have in the box anytime soon and perhaps wait another 12-18 months.

Score it 87

[KavalanWhisky]

Great review as usual, I'm going to leave mine sampler in the back of the humidor and forget about them.