Andthensome

The Punch Double Corona

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 disappointment with this cigar due to my expectations are quite high.  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.

Odd Sizes (Work In Progress)

In a previous post I went over what I think are the main sizes of cigars broken into three categories. Now I am going break out into some of my favorite odd sizes.

Short and punchy:
Montecristo Edmundo 52 gauge X 5 1/3" (130mm)
Cohiba Majicos 52 gauge X 4 1/2" (115mm)

The edmundo is slightly, just slightly, longer than a standard rubusto (127mm) at 135mm, or 5 1/3". Its a full bodied smoke that kicks with spices and rich tabaco flavor. Not a beginner's smoke by any stretch of the imaginition.

All Edmundos are tripa larga, totalmente a mano - long filler, totally hand made using medium to full-bodied blend of Vuelta Abajo Tobaccos that deliver the classic, bitter-sweet, tangy flavour that has made Montecristo the world's most popular Havana cigar brand.

Kennedy on Upmann

The [Upmann] brand was sold to the British firm of J. Frankau in 1922 and finally in 1935 to Menendez, Garcia & Cia. prior to nationalization, continues today in the H. Upmann factory, now known as Jose Marti. The famous request of President John F. Kennedy to his press secretary, Pierre Salinger, to obtain cigars on the evening prior to the declaration of the American trade embargo in 1961, was for Petit Upmanns.

Obviously the Magnum 50 was not available in Kennedy's time.