Severely disappointed with recent Punch purchase

[Shaun Raney]

Has anyone else had this experience?

I went to my local B+M and bought the Toro Sampler 3-pack from Punch to try the Gran Puro and Rare Corojo blends. I lit up the Rare Corojo (it tastes amazing, lots of smoke too.) But as I was smoking it, the wrapper began to crack a little, not too bad, I was still able to nub it.

The Gran Puro on the other hand was a total disaster. When I first looked at it, the cap had cracked a little and filler was sticking out through it. It was tough to draw, not much smoke, uneven ash, and worst of all, the wrapper cracked and was flaking off big time. I finally quit and threw it in after about a good 1/4 of the wrapper fell off.

Is this a bad Punch, or improperly stored? I have never had any problems with any other Punch Cigars in my LIFE, and I'm a devoted fan to the brand as well. I'm hoping this was a storage issue just because it happened to 3 different blends of Punch :-(

[taltos]

I would suspect storage or a cold/dry climate condition. Probably not a problem with Punch cigars in general.

[Ratters]

Yep, often those aren't stored in the best conditions, I've even seen them on the counter of a shop. How much humi time did you give them?

[Munkey]

I've had very good luck with the Gran Puro. I think you just got a bad stick.

[tchariya]

Originally Posted by Shaun Raney

Has anyone else had this experience?

I went to my local B+M and bought the Toro Sampler 3-pack from Punch to try the Gran Puro and Rare Corojo blends. I lit up the Rare Corojo (it tastes amazing, lots of smoke too.) But as I was smoking it, the wrapper began to crack a little, not too bad, I was still able to nub it.

The Gran Puro on the other hand was a total disaster. When I first looked at it, the cap had cracked a little and filler was sticking out through it. It was tough to draw, not much smoke, uneven ash, and worst of all, the wrapper cracked and was flaking off big time. I finally quit and threw it in after about a good 1/4 of the wrapper fell off.

Is this a bad Punch, or improperly stored? I have never had any problems with any other Punch Cigars in my LIFE, and I'm a devoted fan to the brand as well. I'm hoping this was a storage issue just because it happened to 3 different blends of Punch :-(

I would have to say they were improperly stored. My B&M leaves those 3-packs out in the non temp/humidity controlled areas. They are just boxed and cello'd, so they still need to be cared for. Maybe they just don't move fast enough and have been there for months!

[Shaun Raney]

This was at JR with its giant humidified room. Im going to leave the other one in my humi for a few weeks.

[Poriggity]

I too have never had a bad punch experience.
Scott

[shilala]

I have a mess of Punch's and have only smoked one so far. It was nice.
No problems to mention at all.

[SR Mike]

I have not had any cracking problems with any Punch cigar purchase. Though I was at a local B&M, I purchase three different brand smokes out of their walk-in humidor, each one cracked just as you described. They replaced two of them and I went ahead and smoked through the third one. I gave myself a new rule, never smoke a fresh purchased stogie, let them rest at least one month in my personal humidor.

[CEC_Tech]

I've had most my problems with punch, with cracking wrappers. Either to humid (fresh from the b&M) or it seems like sometimes their too tightly wrapped and as you smoke, it cracks a little by the ash. 1 out of 10 times.

Other than that punch is usually a pretty solid smoke. The Rothschild Oscuro's are awesome. If you can find the 3 packs from christmas, they are great. My b&m can't move them and will blow them out by about the end of march. That's when I stock up!

[smokin5]

I think you just got a bad one on the Gran Puro.
I've smoked quite a few of these & never had a
split wrapper or bad burn with any of them.

Don't give up on these, they're an excellent smoke, especially for the $.

[Soprano3695]

I'd say let it sit for awhile before firing it up.

Just my .

[Tour De Cigar]

Originally Posted by taltos

I would suspect storage or a cold/dry climate condition. Probably not a problem with Punch cigars in general.

yep sound like a storage condition...

[Bax]

It was probably just put out on the shelf. I don't belive JR's stores them in a humidifier, just in a big whareouse. I recieved a whole pallet of HDM's that all had signs of being dried out. There were maybe 75 boxes. We sent back the whole lot.

I kept one stick, and the cello was very yellow. My guess is they had that pallet in thier steel for a long time.

[dwhitacre]

I can report that I have never had trouble with a Punch! They always burn evenly and I have never found a crack or problem with unraveling.

When I saw the title I got nervous. I am glad that most here have said that it sounds like a storage problem. I would agree!