Punch Royal Selection No.11 GSO JUN 06

[Colt45]

Construction: Rock hard, rather light in weight. No detectable anomalies.

Wrapper: Medium colorado, a bit lumpy with some shriveled looking areas. Smooth but dry to the touch.

A slight sheen at the head.

Pre light aroma/draw: Aroma of sweet barnyard and decaying flowers. An easy draw with a light taste

of clean tobacco, with pepper on the tongue.

Taste: First puffs offer shortbread and sweet spice. Draw is as pre light, easy - a bit too easy. Smoke

volume is acceptable, but could certainly be better. Body early is light.

Nearly an inch in, smoke volume increases some, and with it, flavor. Smooth leather, subtle apple.

Shortbread and spice all but gone. A finish of lightly buttery leather. Still light in body - I feel due to

the easy draw. Medium gray, tightly striated ash.

Moving into the mid third, it stays the course. Leather, subtly spiced fruit, a lightly buttered mouthfeel.

Still rather light in body. Burn has been slightly off center, but not a problem. Not very complex -

rather straightforward and easy to smoke, but I'm enjoying it none the less.

Into the final third it becomes a little more earthy and just a bit musty, but remains smooth and balanced.

(the bees seem to like it, as they're buzzing my head and nesting in my hair)

I've had a few from this box, and they've all been consistent both in construction and flavor.

I don't foresee these progressing much, but time will tell.

Score: 85

Comments: A bit of an odd bird. Objectively, it suffers some obvious construction flaws -

very hard yet light in weight, with a draw that was just a little too loose.

Subjectively, regardless of the aforementioned shortcomings, it still had enough flavor to

make for an enjoyable enough experience.

[tapewormboy]

» Comments: A bit of an odd bird. Objectively, it suffers some

» obvious construction flaws -

» very hard yet light in weight, with a draw that was just a little too

» loose.

» Subjectively, regardless of the aforementioned shortcomings, it still had

» enough flavor to

» make for an enjoyable enough experience.

Yea, I hate sticks like that. They trick you into thinking it's gonna have a good draw. Loose draws seem to piss me off more than stiff draws in general. The smoke coming through doesn't seem to "develop" as it passes through the length of the cigar and the flavor and strength gets changed.

[smokum]

»I have the exact same boxcode. I found that right now they are nothing to write home about. Lets hope they come around.

[Taino]

»

» Comments: A bit of an odd bird...

...sounds like father, like son to me...

[Colt45]

» The smoke coming through doesn't seem to "develop" as it

» passes through the length of the cigar and the flavor and strength gets

» changed.

Flavor wise, I definitely feel this one suffered due to the draw.

» I have the exact same boxcode. I found that right now they are nothing to

» write home about. Lets hope they come around.

Smokum, I'd be very interested to hear about the construction of yours - are they a bit more supple, etc.

» » Comments: A bit of an odd bird...

»

» ...sounds like father, like son to me...

Birds of a feather, flock together.....

RA must have some incriminating photos of you somewhere....

Either that, or you're contemplating joining Smokin "I'll knock your socks off" Al :cool:

[smokum]

» Smokum, I'd be very interested to hear about the construction of yours -

» are they a bit more supple, etc.

I just poked thru the box Colt and for the most part they are reasonably supple. Some have a few green spots and overall not a bad looking lot .The smell of the box is terrific too. Barnyard all the way. The couple I smoked were just not all that great !! I will smoke one tonight . Maybe they are waking up....I'll post my thoughts later tonight.

[smokum]

Well Colt...I must say this was much better than the last I smoked. Construction was nice.

Weight in hand felt right on. Smell at cold was barnyard/spit. Cold draw was clean tobacco with a bit of spice. Nice wrapper with some oil, wrinkles and tooth and a good fill with what looked to be a decent amount of ligero.

I fired it up and from the gate it was a medium body with some great spice and nuttiness to it. Good smoke volume but I prefer a bit more. Draw was a bit on the firm side. for my taste but not distracting. Second third was the best with some nice complexity going on. Stewed fruit and spice coming thru. Final third lost some complexity and turned light/medium in body but a good kick in strength. It kind of fell off in the last 2 inches as I think I got it hot. All in all very good. Hope the rest of them are as good. Another year and I am hoping they are stellar with a full Punch flavor profile.

[yossie]

What a chance!

I also smoked it yesterday. It was nice vice versa.

[Colt45]

Smokum, thanks for the follow up. My gut feeling is that the construction of the box I have will

never allow them to fully develop. But they are still enjoyable enough, and I've smoked worse :-)

[smokum]

» Smokum, thanks for the follow up. My gut feeling is that the construction

» of the box I have will

» never allow them to fully develop. But they are still enjoyable enough,

» and I've smoked worse :-)

Colt , the box is definitely a mixed bag when it comes to construction...green spots, wrinkles etc. I expect quite a few duds but they are good enough to enjoy for sure.

[Evo03]

Hey Colt. I've got the same box code of RS11's. I've had 3 or 4, all of them had good weight and no real construction problems. For me, the flavor was great too. I guess there's a lot of variation from box to box.

[SmokinAl]

» Either that, or you're contemplating joining Smokin "I'll knock your socks

» off" Al :cool:

How the hell did I get dragged into this?

[hoyopr]

Thanks for the review colt & smokum, after reading the comments I also had a look at the construction of my box, same code, and I'd say the construction is a little less then consistent. A couple look like they're definitely under filled and a couple more will probably draw tight, but of the four I've had so far each has been right on and definitely true to what I find to be that distinct Punch flavor. I don't think I'll be looking at these for keeping for years though as they are tasty now.

[Colt45]

Yeah guys, I wouldn't be concerned. In my case I just think I've got some of the proverbial

"tent stakes"

They're still good and will not go unsmoked - I'm just not too sure that they have a chance

to become more than what they already are.

[Colt45]

» » Either that, or you're contemplating joining Smokin "I'll knock your

» socks

» » off" Al :cool:

»

» How the hell did I get dragged into this?

Alain, just always remember that you unlatched the door..... ;-)