[Not quite a Review]Punch Champion makes me Sneeze

[air1070]

Yes. I swear. I bought this stick along with a Rocky Patel at my B&M yesterday for weekend smokes. I'm kind of on an odd shaped Cigar kick right now, and the Punch fit the bill.

Got it home friday night and took a wiff. I started to sneeze! Weird. Put it in the Humi and smoked the Rocky Patel for my Friday night cigar...The Rocky didn't make me sneeze...

Pulled out the champion this morning and clipped it. I'm house/cat sitting for a friend while she is away, and I figured I'd smoke it on her patio...Took a wiff....SNEEZE! WTF?!?

So I get over there, and get out on the Patio and take another wiff. SNEEZE! I introduce the flame and spark this bad boy up...

There was a certain quality in the flavor of this cigar that I can't quite put my finger on...But it didn't taste natural...Chemical tasting would probably be the best way to describe it. I hung with it until it got to the fat part in the middle...that weird chemical taste was still there. I had to let this one die. I was not enjoying it at all...

I think ISOM's are messing with my palate...Don't think I'll ever buy another NC Punch. It is a nicely constructed cool looking Stogie though.

I have had a few cigars in the past that have put me in a sneezing fit, mostly when I take a whiff from the foot, but a couple that a sniff along the wrapper would have the same effect.

As to the tastes of your NC Punch?? Can't say, because I haven't smoked that specific one yet. I particularily enjoy the Rare Corojo sticks form Punch.

However, I have to say, I have yet to smoke a cuban Punch that wasn't a joy! As a brand, I would have to say that the cuban Punch has been more consistently good to me than any other cuban brand.

But, then again, I have enjoyed ALL the Rare Corojos I have smoked. The only NC Punch I have had an issue with was my own fault for smoking it in crappy weather, with a probable head cold, and was smoked back when I was a noob to cigars, and probably was less than optimally stored beforehand. Let them sit for a couple of months in a proper humidity, and give one a second chance!

[68TriShield]

The champ and rare corojo are my 2 fav nc punches...

[DETROITPHA357]

Im a punch freak. I love the Rare Corojo

[White97Jimmy]

I have to agree..the Rare Corojo is a nice smoke!

[The Professor]

Could the chemical-like taste be ammonia? I don't know if NCs ever go through a "sick" period or not.... It could also have been just that one cigar. I've had a Champion and remember enjoying it a lot -- especially since it was a couple of dollars cheaper than the Short Story.

~d.

[TommyZman]

The rolling of the Champion is one of the finest I've seen.
It's like a rock, but smokes like a dream.

Not a light-weight gar by any means.

Punch really makes excellent cigars.

The Grand Cru #2 is an all-time fave. That is a hefty smoke.

[Baric]

Ive never had a cigar make me sneeze, but the only thing i can think of is if youre sniffing part of it that is slightly breaking and getting very small flakes of tobacco irritating your nose?