Punch Super Selection #2, SUA JUN01

greenpimp · August 15, 2008

Had one of these this week with a friend. Been gone for awhile and thought I'd contribute something to the forum for a change now that I'm back.

Punch SS#2, SUA JUN01

Cigar felt smooth in the hands. Light Colorado, moderate veining. Prelight, sweet cocoa and earth. A bit of licorice in the pre-light draw which was just on the looser side of perfect. Kind of like….oh never mind the joke.

Haven’t had one of these for a year, maybe 2. Remember them as being quite strong. Starts out very smooth, some light chocolate. Good smoke production. Slowly increases to a solid medium strength, then medium full. Bittersweet cassis notes when expelled through the nose. God I love this cigar and remember why I keep trying to stay away from my little bundle of them. They keep getting better. Dark orange peel, roasted nuts. Rich and full of pleasant, dark flavors. Sweet mocha. The smoke is quite fragrant, almost sweet and chocolate. Ash mottled and somewhat flakey.

2nd third: Keeps getting stronger. Bountiful smoke. Seems to be smoking fast, or perhaps I’m just really enjoying it. Seems to go that way. Pretty girl on the lap measure of time sorta thing. Halfway down it suddenly tastes like a strong Punch DC. Then the next puff that cassis/hop-like bitterness shows up, that I find characteristic of the Super Selection. Sometimes like an anise character, but not this one. The draws alternate between the sweet nuttiness and the hoppy aftertaste. Quite pleasant and complex.

3rd 3rd—My favorite flavor arrives. Truffle. Black truffle. I’m trying to go slow, but it’s going too fast. Dried fruit and truffle and almost a bacon richness to it. Starts to run a bit hot, and I purge it and leave it alone a minute or two. Damage already done, I suppose. Still quite good but has lost some of its edge. I sip the last few inches. Still so damn tasty, just a little overroasted quality to it. Loose draw and my own fault, smoked it in just over an hour rather than an hour and a half it deserved. Salvaged it by purging and then leaving it for a few minutes, repeating the procedure. Came back to life, with pepper and coffee and even crème fraiche at the end, a nice surprise. Put it down with just about an inch.

These have mellowed, but still pack a considerable punch. The last half was completely full bodied, and the nicotine level was high throughout. Still some legs to age well for awhile, I think, but I would give this a solid 93-94. These continue