Punch Grand Cru Reserva Robusto Maduro Review

[Isombitch]

Punch Grand Cru Reserva Robusto Maduro
(These names can be a mouthful!)

Prelight manure odor is not strong but very distinct.
5.25 inch X 50 ring
According to Famous: Blended with vintage Honduran, Nicaraguan and Piloto Cubano tobaccos, these most mellow of Punch cigars are draped in the most aromatic Capa Royale wrappers grown exclusively for the Grand Cru line.

I know from my own observation that it's been settin' fer a spell. Yellow cello and plume on a still oily, dark wrapper with light veining. I xikar it's double cap and got a nice even light from my cheapa*s triple-flame lighter.

First draw is great! A little harsh and spicy. It smoothed out real quick to a complex spiciness beyond my experience. I've had the Grand Cru Natural and this is totally different. Floral and leather and a little sweet and a little sour. A tad bitter, too. Somewhat like corojo wrapper but more complex. Burn is straight and ash is dark grey and draw continues perfect.

Flavor has not changed one wit for the whole first half of this cigar. I don't mind. I just usually get some change as I smoke a cigar. I guess the flavor is a little stronger but the sweet corojo-like flavor is still dominant. As I move past the halfway point, the sweetness is asserting itself over the twangy sour. I'm getting some serious taste on my lips!

All right, the last third is where the heart of this experience lives. This is a wonderful flavor - kind of woody. A little burn correction here. This is the hardest flavor I've tried to verbally describe and I know I'm not doing it justice. Corojo is the closest similarity I have in my experience. I did get some ISOMs in a trade(thanx opusxox) but they are still recovering. It could be that kind of twang. Or a twong. I doubt it's a twung or twing.

I would not pair this with coffee or beer. Wild Turkey Rye!
This is not a cigar I would smoke every day. However, it is one I want in my rotation for a while. I'm thinking a five pack.

Moving toward the nub, the sour is fading and the sweet is taking over. Less twang. The finish is sudden at an inch to go. Interesting and enjoyable cigar! I'll have to smoke another. The Grand Cru Torpedo Maduro(II) looked interesting, too. Value of these robustos is OK at $70/box of 20 at Famous.

Construction - 9
Flavor - 8.5
Burn - 8.5
Draw - 9
Appearance -9
Overall - 8.8

[trnsam]

Great review! thanks for the info!

[5thDan]

Haven't had one of these in a few months. May have a couple in the bottom of the coolidor, I'll have to look. I may just mosey up to the B&M this afternoon and fire up one. Great review.

[Bigwaved]

I recently had on of these bad boys. It must have needed a little rest period from the trip across the states because it stayed pretty spicy/peppery through the whole smoke. Or, my palette is just to new to figure it all out. I will have to go back at one soon.

[Danimal]

I love these cigars. Great flavor and construction but the price is a bit steep to make me buy a box.