Punch, Super Selection No.1 (EMA MAR 08)

[BlackFriar]

Punch, Super Selection No.1 (EMA MAR 08)

Hey all!

Well it has been quite awhile since I posted a thread of any consequence and I feel a little guilty. After bantering a bit with a few of the guys on the shoutbox, (and many a drink) I feel up to trying my hand at another review. So I am laying off the booze, getting a water and moseying over to the coolidor.

I purchased a cabinet of Punch SS1 from Rob about a month and a half ago and have smoked about five. Naturally, I had to try a few immediately after arrival. A mistake as always but I can't help myself. I had one early in the day (after a month’s worth of rest) and I really like this cigar. Normally I smoke while taking a walk but it’s midnight now and I want to devote some time to this cigar.

So the SS1 is a Coronas Grandes, 42 ring gauge, 6 1/8" (155 mm) cigar, and comes in a cabinet of 50 (my first). I love cracking the box, it gives off a subtle damp smell of peppery tobacco and a sweet touch of what I like to think of as figs. Let's pull out a cigar.

I like the 42 ring gauge, and I find the extra length over a petite corona nice. It is a solidly built cigar with no soft spots. The foot is not as prettily cut as many cigars, but the fill looks even. The head is flat with a nice cap. The wrapper has the colour of dry but good soil and has the feel of brown paper, no real oils to speak of. Smelling the wrapper I can pick up the lovely spice notes that will make your nose curl a bit, and the elusive fig note I mentioned earlier.

Having inspected the cigar, I'm going to take it out on the back porch. I recently moved from Fort Huachuca, Arizona to Fort Meade, Maryland and the change in climates is dramatic. I'm a bit giddy to see so much green again after years in the desert. The night is balmy but cool (65 and humid) with some moon and thin clouds. The smell of damp grass is a bit overpowering. Beautiful night!

Removing the cap, there is a slight divot, and the draw is fairly easy. That's okay though, I have found that a tight draw on this cigar easily builds to the nasty tar build up that ruins the taste and makes you pitch the cigar. Some very light hay flavors on the pull, no spice on the lips from the wet head. Actually that is not quite true; there is a slight tingle on the lips now but very subtle.

First Third -- I've been taking my time toasting the foot nowadays with a non-torch Xikar lighter. I like to blow on the foot until the coal is evenly red before taking my first puff. I find this help keep the burn even later on. First tastes there is a good deal of spice in the back of the nasal cavity, and light toast notes. Really good smoke volume right off the bat, the kind that likes to linger around you in still air. There are some cedar notes coming through once I get used to the spice. I’m not so great at classifying tastes; it takes me awhile to figure it out. I want to say some form of nut, but I also get the pleasant memory of the damp chemical smell coming off of a pool. Sounds weird but it is not a bad thing. Bottom line is the cigar has a good theme and balance. It is pleasant and not overpowering. On the lighter side of medium. Taking a few more pulls I want to say buttered toast flavours.

The flavors are subtle, if not muted, but man this baby sure puts out a lot of smoke. I can take a slow pull and exhale a dense cloud for a few seconds. The pool smell I talked about is starting to remind me of mushrooms and the damp but pleasant smells of vegetal decay. A nice ash is forming with the segmented work look. It's not tight but it is pretty, grey in the troughs with black ridges. There is this elusive dried fruit flavor with the mushrooms, just a hint though. The ash just dropped off at about an inch and a half, I gave her a light purge and was rewarded with a strong mélange of the flavours I described earlier. This is a mild yet pleasant smoke so for.

Second Third -- Coming into the second third the initial pepper is back paired with the buttered toast, it seems the other flavours have headed backstage for a bit. The burn was getting a little uneven so I've just retouched it and it seems to be on track again. Smoke is excellent and the flavours are shifting over to a more woody profile that leaves a bit of a sharp aftertaste on the tongue. The pepper is getting strong, and the cigar is moving from the mild into the medium strength with a touch of sweetness to balance. I like the way the blend on this cigar has transitioned so far, makes me wonder what the last third is going to do.

Last Third -- It seems the good pepper notes and buttered toast are going to predominate. I notice that if you take your time and let it cool a bit before taking a puff you get rewarded with the subtle sweet notes. This cigar makes you concentrate to draw out the more subtle flavors. Kinda a fun and it definite keeps your interest. The pepper is definitely getting stronger, but it is coupled with a sugariness that you can identify buy the burning feeling in the back of the nasal cavity. I know it is there but just can’t seem to categorize it anymore; my palate just isn’t up to the task.

I've just finished the cigar and had a look in MRN for comparison. MRN mentions the strength of this cigar. I found it start off rather light and evolved into a stronger cigar near the end. The thing that really comes to mind though is the good balance this cigar has. I have to wonder what it will evolve into with time and for those of you with experience smoking SS1s I would really like to hear you comments.

I've enjoyed this smoke and give it an 87 now. Look forward to revisiting it later on down the road.

Chris

[Mr Peales]

The wrapper has the colour of dry but good soil

Are you saying the wrapper is dark gray?

[BlackFriar]

Are you saying the wrapper is dark gray?

No It is a darker brown, but not as much as EMS. The soil analogy comes to mind a lot lately having noted the differences in soil colour from Arizona and Maryland.

[kjellfrick]

Thanks for a very interesting review.

[sounddust]

Thanks for the review Chris, I have sampled a few new ones from '07-08 and have found them to be a consistent pleasure to smoke, with fine woody and cocoa, coffee bean flavors throughout. Good construction and burn too. The ones from '02 have mellowed out a bit, but the flavors are still distinctive.

[bolivr]

Thank you for taking the time to write. I like the way you review, great imagery.

[jdbrown]

Great review! Have not tried my 08's yet but have had a few 07's. Very rich and smoothe! May just be my favorite all time.

[Jimmy2]

07 are very good but the 08 have some excellant flavors much better than 07 right now.It's sad to see them not being made no more .

[tyler4178]

Wonderful review Chris. And thank you for your advice earlier on the shoutbox.

~John

[PointSource]

great review!

[BonVivant]

Nice review - sounds like this one has got legs. Thank you.

[habone]

Thanks for the dissertation...I had to take a break after the first third LOL-kidding. Sounds like you where eating some magic mushrooms to?

[DustyOats]

Nicely done! I like that you go into so much detail. It made me want to go out and fire something up!

[Bartolomeo]

Punch Super Selection #1 EMA MAR 08

Brown paper colored wrapper, wrinkly and veiny

56 min smoke

Ash was Grey & tight w/ cone

Flavors included Wood, Spice, Vanilla Bean, Honey

Pre draw was Medium draw w/ some cedar and wood

Initial puff was Vanilla, sweetness and immediate spice

Very smooth cigar

Seems to me like an “Old School” Cuban cigar?

Sweetness subdues on the last 1/3

I think it will age well and enjoyed this smoke very much, just a tad better than Punch Punch

Steady burn rate and medium resistance on draw

9.15/10

Bart

[aavkk]

Thanks for the review on this great cigar. Only time will tell what the 08's will turn into, but examples from the late 90's are smoking very well and I have a cab of 03's that are beginning to peak out of hibernation.

[shrink]

This was an exceptionally nice and interesting review of a classic "old school" cigar. I haven't sampled any '08s, but my cab of '07s are still very young. If you can resist the urge to smoke 'em up, you will find that the SS#1 ages beautifully. My '03 cab is smokeable, but not at all ripe. When this cigar is mature, just opening the cab and inhaling the aroma is intoxicating. Coincidentally, I have also compared it to the scent of dried figs and fermenting fruits. A ripe SS#1 does not have a spicy, peppery edge to it. These harsh and tannic elements help the cigar mature into greater depth and complexity, with a toasty tobacco core and a fermented, sugary sweetness. Patience will reward you with a truly rich and satisfying cigar. Keep the reviews coming!

[Bartolomeo]

Punch Super Selection #1 JUL 05

Bought a fiver off a member here to compare to the 2008 review I did above

Tan wrapper, oily, box press, minimal veins, very good condition

Pre draw was aged tobacco

Initial puff marshmellow, no heat and some wood...........this would be the only real sweetness during the entire smoke, some Sugar mixed in barely

Flavors included were Sugar(minimal), earthiness, woodsy, leather

Smoke time was 62 mins

Smelled wonderful

if I was an artist and could draw a typical Cuban cigar, this would fit the mold I think

Again, very "old school" cigar in flavor profile and body

Tobacco taste was the predominant flavor here, which I loved

Definitely a nice difference between this aged version and the 2008 version I smoked earlier

Very smooth

9.25/10..........I will buy a box of these, and specifically look for a couple of years on them although the 2008 was pretty good as well

Bart

[ksblazer]

Nice reviews on the 08's. I deffinatly need to get some 08's before they are all gone.

The last 2 late 03 Punch SS1's I've smoked have gained some sort of spicyness and strength (Punch) in them? Never expected this to happen. They are a totally different cigar than they were a year ago. Has anyone else noticed that this happens with aged SS1's?

Shrink: Looks like my experience is just the opposite of yours. I cant explain this? When younger they had a leather/fruityness to them. But that now is gone?

BTW: The youngest Punch SS1 I've smoked has had 3yrs on it.

[El Presidente]

I am a lover of the SS1

I have some aged examples (down to singles unfortunately) from 1998 in my personal humidor. Wood, cream medium bodied with still plenty of great Punch spice. The 07/08 had some serious fruitiness which I suspect will mellow over time.

I love the tactile feel and complexity of this cigar. It is a staple.

[Buch0]

Any of the good SS1's I have tried contain an exquisite mixture of dry/mild lemon and cinnamon from the get go.. A greatly underrated smoke that deserves more attention.

[stargazer14]

If only my review of the Punch Petite Punch was this beautiful.

I look forward to trying one of these as my other Punch have been grand.