Punch Regios EL 2017 unknown (RELERW)

[slowsmoke]

Got this in an amazing El Pres sampler prize about a year ago.  Never had one before, so here we go.  Paired with an Oskar Blues "Death by Coconut" porter.

The wrapper is kind of dull, but smells amazingly sweet, like a sugar cookie, with a little earth.

Cold draw tastes like hardly anything, some dry dusty wood.  The draw is perfect.

First puffs, definite peanuts.  First third, classic maduro flavors that I think of as "dark minerals", and some bitter walnut.  Then dark rye bread becomes the dominant flavor.  I get occasional roasted peanut shell, also some hay/straw, but still just lots of maduro and rye bread

Beer pairs quite well, a malty, dry coconut flavor that cuts through the rye bread.  I'm not a big porter drinker but I like these for an occasional change.

Draw is great, burn is good, white ash is flaky but holding strong into 2/3.  The best performance I've ever had out of an EL.

Not much change to the end, dark rye bread and bitter walnut just get stronger, until that is all it is.  Start getting a strong nic buzz and decide to put it down.

Overall, I'd rate this: Decent.  The construction and burn were great, the flavors were ok.  Zero resemblance to a punch punch.  I have a few more that I don't see myself touching for years. 

 

[Chucko8]

I agree with you that they need to lay down for a few more years. Tried one a week back and had a similar experience

[Lotusguy]

You can lay these down for a hundred years and that won’t fix the fireproof wrappers.

[slowsmoke]

15 minutes ago, Lotusguy said:

You can lay these down for a hundred years and that won’t fix the fireproof wrappers.

This is the first EL I've lit that didn't have a horribly flameproof wrapper, it actually burned quite well.  Tasted exactly the same as all the others though.