SCDLH La Punta, LGR NOV 17 (JBWP4RW)

[RDB]

I’m a fan of San Cristobal. They can have a sweet and indulgent aspect to them, but they don’t lack for oomph either. This cigar had just about as much oophm as I could handle.

This LGR NOV 17 box has always been an ass-kicker. Dark, oily wrappers. Tons of oil in the cigars. I’ve been trying to leave them alone, and you’d think four years would be enough. Nope.

This took a while to get lit, and then burned with a dark, dirty ash. Right off the bat we are in burnt Xmas cake land. You know the bits that escape round the edges of the tin and get all crisped up in the oven? Like that. There’s a strong sense of richness, and the body starts out over medium and gets stronger from there. Burn is not great, and when I relight it the oil sizzles under the flame. It’s full of flavour: dried fruit, cake dough, touch of coffee, rich earth full of leaf mulch. A bit of tingly Szechuan pepper. Gets a bit ashy into the last third, but frankly I’m done by then because the nicotine is getting to me.

These are as strong as a really punchy BBF. Did I enjoy it? Yes: score 1 on the binary scale. Do they need more time? Yes years more. What else would improve things? Smoking indoors, really slowly, not out in a cool breeze.

[Chucko8]

Nice read thank you. The wrapper looks like it has been coated in oil. Such an amazing contrast against the vibrant floral backdrop. Cracking shot

[karp]

Nice review - been wondering about these as I'm digging the La Fuerzas. Thanks for the info!

[Digi]

Great review!  I've also been surprised by their strength.  Hadn't had a La Punta since the mid-00's (my memory didn't have them down as strong) and fired up a stick from 2013 recently.  Still has plenty of backbone.  I have another box from 03 - will be interesting to see what's what.

[medzikone]

I got box of  SCdLH La Punta TOS MAR 17 with toothy wrappers and they are really mild. But also, there is a lottery every time I smoke them. Not a huge fan of them

[KCCubano]

Great review. Had a box of I believe EAR 02s that were plenty strong even at 15 yrs with complexity off the charts. All gone now. They too were very oily.