TX Duo Review - Punch Corona (1997)

[Capn_Jackson]

Was fortunate to come by a few of these a couple years ago, and haven’t lit one until now. 

29-year-old Punch Corona, here we go.

This one’s got a slightly gnarly look to it, bumpy wrapper and slightly uneven texture…the kind of thing that would make you pause if it didn’t also scream age. Color’s settled into a dusty brown the shade of my dad’s old pick-up. A little washed out from time, veins pressed down and smoothed over. Feels dry to the touch, but not brittle. Just old in a good way.

Back porch. Weather’s about as close to perfect as we get around here, slight breeze, sun is just right, temps hovering a touch above 70. Quiet, too, aside from the sounds of wind and singing birds…and the neighbor across the way griping at their dog for trying (again) to break into the chicken coop. Poor pup just wants some chicken fingers.

V-cut. Draw’s easy enough. Cold draw leans into berries first, then cocoa underneath. Light-up brings in coffee bean, followed by a buttered sourdough note that kind of spreads out across the palate, a little savory, and just a hint of honey on the edges. Still lots of life in this old Punch. Spice is present, more than I expected truthfully, but it’s hovering over everything rather than pushing through. Took a minute to recognize it… paprika. Just behind that, the berry and cocoa from the cold draw are still hanging around, and there’s an earthy wild mushroom.

From this picture, you can see the gold, embossed ring is slightly off-center. Worried me at first, but after talking to a couple of “old dogs,” this is not abnormal in 90’s Punch labels. Gotta love that quality control!

Texture is a little dusty, but there’s a nice glow that sits right on the tip of the tongue. As I go into the second third, it starts to give me sweet roasted pecan, one of those things I seem to get a lot from CCs of this age. Mushroom becomes the backbone. Texture loses that dryness and turns creamy. There’s a bit of raisin drifting in and out, and something like molasses.

Heading into the last act, the spice comes back into the picture, still that same paprika note but a little more assertive now. Coffee returns as well, tying things back to the start, with some cocoa hanging in the background. Mushroom never really leaves, it’s been the thread holding the whole thing together. Somewhere right around the band, huckleberry jumps into the mix, which I wasn’t expecting at this point, along with a little coriander. Excellent finish.

Can’t wait to see what @Çnote thinks of this one.

93 from me! Not a flashy stick, but an excellent aged little Habano smoothed with age, still showing lots of color and depth.

[Çnote]

Hit of twang at the start that never stops. Much more delicate than anticipated, gingercake and citrus, fades into anise. A hard touch up around the band, but otherwise no burn issues. More spicy than sweet until presenting marshmellow well into the nub. Touch of molasses at the end but never bitter. 

Great cigar, probably wasted on me without a continuous retro. This will haunt me.

[Capn_Jackson]

@Çnote interesting, we both picked up something surprising at the band/nub area. You got marshmallow, but I got huckleberry. Different perception maybe, but still that little pop of sweetness at the end existed for both of us…on two separate 29-year-old sticks. 

[Çnote]

5 hours ago, Capn_Jackson said:

huckleberry

Wild and sweet => molasses

Same cigar!

This very much reminded me texturally of CC I smoked in 1997, perhaps just nostalgia.

Truely haunting.