Punch Double Corona Review APR '05

[jamesward]

Last night I finally had a chance to try the Punch Double Corona that I had bought early last year. I shared a 50 cabinet of a 2005 vintage with a good friend of mine. He mulled a couple back from HK where I am keeping the difference to continue to age. I love the double corona format, but must admit all my experience with the prominente has come from the Partagas Lucitanias. Additionally, the reviews on this smoke tend to be high. Because I love the format and the decent aging on the cigar, I waited in anticipation to get my first crack at the lot. Need some time to think it over, but first impressions were mixed. It started off with a difficult draw and a slightly acidic, metallic taste. Metals is a new taste for me, but that is all I could come up with. The first third burned well nonetheless and the draw seemed to improve rapidly. The second third was much improved. Certainly not bold or savory, but decently consistent tobacco tastes with more vegetal flavors - grasses, straw. The burn was good, no trouble spots. Final thirds was not much different than the 2nd third, but slightly more powerful. Still not a lot of punch. Overall, the mildness and tough start would rank this smoke as an 85.

I have been smoking some great cigars lately, so I attribute my dissapointment with this cigar due to my recently heightened expecations. The people I know that smoke Punch, swear to them. I am not sure, but my guess is for people who like a mild smoke. Although I have had my share of mild smokes, that were more enjoyable.

[yossie]

Hey Delta. I have sometime met metalic taste in cigar. That's basically a bad attribute for cigar.

[Colt45]

I've only had a few - not sure of vintage but most likely '05 or perhaps '04 - and from memory they weren't terrible, but they

did not prompt me to acquire more. Hopefully the rest of your box will be more enjoyable.

Thanks for the review.