Punch Rare Corojo Magnum (2009)
Size – 5.1 x 54 boxpress
Age - 1 month
Cost – $5
Wrapper – Sumatra (Ecuador)
Construction – A nice looking, rich brown wrapper adorns this very well constructed boxpress cigar. It has good heft and even symmetry.
Burn – An very uneven start smoothed out into a somewhat uneven but acceptable burn
Ash – Medium grey and compact, the ash held in 1″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was just right and produced a very large volume of smoke per puff.
Flavor – After lighting, I was hit with a significant amount of peppery spice, with a dry finish that included flavors of wood and cocoa. The cigar mellowed a bit and the harshness of the first third diminished as a woody and earthy flavor set in. However, there was an acrid, campfire quality to the cigar at times. The final third saw the return of some of the initial harshness along with additional flavors of black pepper, earth and some leather.
Strength – Med/Full
Rating – 6/10
Value – 5/10
Drink – Water
Notes – This is an interesting cigar which is produced only part of the year and is typically available to buy in the springtime. The name is misleading as the wrapper is not really a corojo, but a sumatra. The $4-5 range is a very crowded one for cigars and you can find many better ones for the same price. 2009 may not have been the best year for this seasonal smoke, or they may just need a nice long nap in the humidor.
Reviews
54 Ring, 6/10, Cigar Review, Med/Full, Punch, Sumatra
Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro Toro
Size – 6 x 52 boxpress
Age – 3 months
Cost – $2-3
Wrapper – Maduro (Nicaragua)
Construction – An expertly constructed boxpress, cloaked with a gorgeous, oily and smooth maduro wrapper. The band is a bit large and overstated.
Burn – The burn was a bit stubborn in the beginning, requiring one relight early in the first half. The burn line was very uneven at times with a couple of touchups needed.
Ash – Ash was a bit flaky and held in 1/2 – 3/4″ pieces.
Draw & Smoke – Draw was tight but not impossible. Amount of smoke per puff was average.
Flavor – The flavors of this cigar are mostly earthy and rich tobacco. Conspicuously absent was the smooth sweetness typical of a maduro wrapper, although this was occasionally present in the aroma of the smoke. In the second half, some flavors of caramel and cocoa became apparent, but the stogie also became a bit harsh. The cigar is full bodied but does not have the usual black pepper or tingle of a fuller smoke.
Strength – Full
Rating – 6/10
Value – 5/10
Drink – Water
Notes – The Indian Tabac Super Fuerte Maduro is a decent low priced cigar that was a bit disappointing when compared to other Rocky Patel blends. It was also difficult to keep the cigar lit and burning evenly, which cost it bit in rating. Super Fuerte means extra strong, but I’d put this in the Medium/Full or lower end of Full bodied.
Reviews
52 Ring, 6/10, Indian Tabac, Maduro, Rocky Patel, Toro
Gurkha Doble (Double) Maduro Toro
Size – 6 x 52
Age - 1 month
Cost – $4-6 online
Wrapper – Maduro (Dominican Republic?)
Construction – This is a well constructed cigar with a very attractive dark chocolate colored wrapper that had no evident flaws. The symmetry was good and the feel was springy and firm. (9/10)
Burn – Burn was a little unruly but mostly even. No touchups were needed but I did have to relight once and overall it was not a straight, even burn. (6/10)
Ash – Ash was very light grey, nearly white. It held solid for 2″
Draw & Smoke – Draw was just right and a fair amount of smoke was produced with each puff.
Flavor – There is a type of beer called a rauchbier, in which the malted barley is smoked, usually by virtue of being dried over an actual fire, before it is used in making the beer. Their flavor is very distinctive and not always in a good way. The Gurkha Doble Maduro had a base flavor profile of coffee bean, some cocoa and dark bittersweet chocolate, but it also had another, distincive smoky characteristic. The closest thing I could compare it to was a rauchbier – it has almost a campfire-like quality to it. The cigar is mellow and smooth but I found the “smoky” quality to be equal parts interesting and off-putting. Room aroma was nice, with a cedar note and some of that sweet maduro smell.
Strength – Medium
Rating – 6/10
Value - 4/10
Drink - Australian Merlot. A good pairing but nothing extraordinary.
Notes - I am still on the fence about this cigar. I’m not sure if the unique flavor I experienced was typical of this line or if my review stick had one strange leaf tucked in it somewhere. I am looking forward to revisiting this cigar once my other stick has aged.
Reviews
52 Ring, 6/10, Cigar Review, Gurkha, Maduro, Medium, Toro