Had my first Punch Super Selection #2

[Fatshotbud]

This was gifted by someone a while back and dated 2001.

Not a formal review........

Nice looking cigar though it had gotten a bit tattered somewhere along the way. No major damage just a chipped foot and the slightest wrapper tear. The construction looked and felt good besides those cosmetic flaws.

This cigar had been resting for several months and brought down to 65% RH since last month. I felt she was ready to smoke.

The cap sheared well - the predraw (to my liking) was mildly resistant and clean.

Burn went better than expected considering the sloppy lighting I subjected it to and the less than optimal environment of traveling down the road in my truck during the first half of the smoking.

This cigar gave me a quite unexpected and pleasing volume of smoke. A thick smoke you can bite into that was somewhat peppery and rich in a burnt wood flavor rippling with hints of sweet/leather.

Had to give it a good purge toward the end due to moisture driven heat buildup causing some harshness - but she tamed right down.

Set this one down when it was beginning to singe my moustache.

Wish I had the boxcode for you folks but do not.

To me, this was a very enjoyable smoke.

Sure, got to assume it would only get better with more time but in my opinion this one was ready to get torched.

If I had a box of these (hmm idea coming on that) I would rest it down a couple of more notches on the RH but doubt I could keep my hands off of it any appreciable amount of time.

These are ready to go into the lineup in my humble opinion.

If this was a bonified review I would shoot it an 86.

BUD

[Shooter]

Thanks for the review! The Punch SS2 is indeed a great smoke. I've had a batch that really needed years to "come around," but once they did I was intrigued enough to snap-up another cab before they disappeared totally.

[shrink]

Nice review, BUD! Your description corresponds to my experience. I really love this cigar, but they can be tannic and harsh if not ripe. My cab of '02's are smoking better than my '01's. Go figure... It is my understanding that these won't truly mature until ten or more years old. A shame that they are DC'd... and getting harder to find.

[Fatshotbud]

» Nice review, BUD! Your description corresponds to my experience. I really

» love this cigar, but they can be tannic and harsh if not ripe. My cab of

» '02's are smoking better than my '01's. Go figure... It is my

» understanding that these won't truly mature until ten or more years old. A

» shame that they are DC'd... and getting harder to find.

I went straight to CC shop after smoking this one to see if they might have some -- alas none to be found :crying:

[n2advnture]

» Thanks for the review! The Punch SS2 is indeed a great smoke. I've had a

» batch that really needed years to "come around," but once they did I was

» intrigued enough to snap-up another cab before they disappeared totally.

Where the heck have your been?!

Agreed, the SS#2 is a fine smoke but needs a lot of time, lots and lots...

[El Presidente]

Great review Bud

Of all the cigars they could have deleted they deleted this gem :crying:

[The Privateer]

Thanks for the great review....been considering stocking up on a cab of these. You might have just pushed me over the edge!

[novasurf]

I was gifted one of these from Bunker. I nubbed it.

[Colt45]

Thanks for the review. I remember reading somewhere (I don't believe

everything I read), that the various Punch corona gordas were nearly the

same blend, but named differently according to where they were destined

for. Does anybody know if there is any truth to this?

[rd123456789]

No truth. They all taste different.

Only ~10 SS2's left in the cabinet and not too happy... please bring them back!

[sparks]

The finest Punch. What a shame.:-(

[pittesq]

» The finest Punch. What a shame.:-(

The search continues for one to try...

[MU Mike]

My favorite corona gorda.

Does anyone have an empty SS#2 cabinet box? I'll gladly pay a finder's fee!

[patrick]

Nice review. Too bad they are very hard to find.

[cigardawg]

My absolute favorite corona gorda. It is a travesty to have ever discontinued this cigar. Oh well, glad I have some in the humi.:-)

[PJ_CEONAD_CC]

» My absolute favorite corona gorda. It is a travesty to have ever

» discontinued this cigar. Oh well, glad I have some in the humi.:-)

Totally agree dawg!!!

[El Presidente]

Excellent review Bud

...how many times have we been surprised by a cigar which looks like a brown mongrel dog?

Love those bastards ;-)

[tey]

Does Habanos ever consult with real cigar smokers about what to discontinue.

Punch SS2 is a gem

[CigarZen]

This was one of THE most puzzling moves to me by Habanos. This is a GREAT cigar.

The only way I can understand the move is to believe Habanos intends on taking the P SS2 raw materials and putting them in another cigar and charging twice the price.

El Prez how were the SS 2 sales? Or was it there were 4 Punch cornona gordas and they axes the products at the extremes -- the strongest and the mildest?

Or does it take too long to age?

Please help me understand this one. TIA.

[shrink]

Or does it take too long to age?

That may very well be one reason. Especially given the efforts that Habanos and Altadis have made in the past few years to produce cigars that smoke reasonably well "Right Off The Truck".

Notwithstanding the relatively few aficianados that post on these boards, not many people are willing to age a cigar for five or more years, not to reach its peak, but merely to make it smokeable!

[korryp]

Just picked up a cab of these this last week. Smoked one the night they arrived. Will wait a week or so before I smoke another. This is an awesome stick. Thinking I may need to find another cab.

[sleeper]

Amongst my favorite CG's. A great smoke when the time is right!

[cigarnv]

Great review! While I tend not to reach for a Punch that often, I find the SS #2 to be my favorite among this marca's CG offerings. From my palates perspective I find the SS #1 a far better cigar than the SS #2 which tends to get all the press.