Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016

(Updated 2/21/2016)

After nine days of travel, work, spending time with my Texas family, and burning cigars with Tony, I returned back to Michigan safely this past Sunday. I am finally settling back into my routine and trying to get my butt in gear with cigar reviews. I need to thank Tony and Jeff for keeping up with fresh reviews while I slacked it. Up for review today is the Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016, which I believe is the first 2016 release to be reviewed here at Casas Fumando.

In all honesty, I planned on this review going live last Friday, but due to the limited information available on the Rare Corojo 2016, I decided to hold off. Well, its a week later and there is still not much out there, but we will make due. Deputing in 2001, the Punch Rare Corojo line has expanded to seven eight vitolas in its annual release, along with an annual limited edition vitola release since 2013. The 2016 Limited Edition is the 7 1/4 by 54 Regalias Perfecto. Manufactured in STG Danli in Honduras, the Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016 utilizes Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder, and Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan filler tobacco.

The Facts

MSRP: $7.99
Vitola: Regalias Perfectos
Size: 7 1/4 by 54
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes

Pre-light

The Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016 is a huge cigar dressed in a dark brown wrapper with a marbled appearance with even darker color imperfections and watermarks. The color of the bands works well against the dark backdrop of the wrapper. There is a light oily sheen, a couple medium veins, and the cigar is rock solid. It is hard to discern any aromas from the wrapper or nippled foot as the cigar has a strong paint smell from the box. The only thing I can pick up on is a pungent vinegar aroma. Clipping through the tapered head, I find a crisp apple cider flavor, cinnamon, and some cedar notes.

First Third

The draw is good and the smoke is satisfying even with the tapered head, and I expect both to improve as the cigar burns down. There are notes of pepper, leather, wet earth, and citrus. While there is a pepper  flavor, there is hardly any related spice heat. The burn-line is thick and mostly even and performing much better than many other perfectos I have smoked. As the cigar opens up, I find a yeast quality, with the wet earth and citrus beginning to dominate and there is a hint of sweetness and cocoa on the finish.  A small crack has formed a half inch down from the burn-line but it does not appear to be having an adverse effect on the cigar.

Middle Third

Moving into the middle third, the yeast and sweetness gain ground as the citrus and wet earth continue to make up the core of the smoke. The play between the yeast and sweetness reminds me of Mexican sweet bread. Pushing the smoke through my sinuses, the pepper stands out with a bit more heat, along with a saltiness. The flavor on the finish has deepened with notes of coofee and cocoa. Up to the this point of the Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016, I would characterize the smoke as medium with absolutely no noticeable nicotine.

Final Third

A larg crack is forming in the thin wrapper as the burn-line closes in on the bands. The sweetness has leveled off, the earth is developing to more dirt like and coffee has moved into the profile. The pairing of yeast and sweetness, now jelly-like, peaks through every few puffs. The cracking in the wrapper, while not impacting the smoke or flavors as far as I can tell, is causing one flaky ash. The retrohale is an extremely enjoyable part of the experience as the spice picks up. Even as I close out the cigar, the flavors that begun this journey remain evident.

Wrap-up

Upon opening the box of the Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016, I instantly fell in love with this year’s format and presentation. However, it was short lived as pungent paint fumes made their way to my nostrils. Allowing the cigars to rest for several weeks, hoping the fumes would clear, did not help from what I could tell. The wrapper and foot tobacco aromas were overwhelmed by the not some welcoming paint smell. Once lit, the profile began off balanced with the wet earth and citrus, which held nearly the entire cigar. There were a few high points throughout when the sweetness and richness pulled through, but they were far and inbetween. The cracking of the wrapper was of little annoyance but took place in all samples. With a half of box left, I am going to let them rest for another few months and give them another fair shot, but as it stands today, I would hold off on purchasing the Punch Rare Corojo Limited Edition 2016.