Reviews by Steve R

I never quite understood why the Punch Rare Corojo is called, Punch Rare Corojo. After all, the wrapper is not Corojo. Rather, this box-pressed handmade sports a dark, oily Sumatra leaf from Ecuador. A head-scratcher indeed. Whatever the case may be, the Rare Corojo can be considered rare, since production is limited to just once per year, hitting retail shelves mid-to-late Spring.

A few years ago, we couldn’t keep this brand in stock. We would literally sell out within days, even before our catalog arrived in the customer’s mailbox. Boy, did we receive our share of hatemail! Fortunately, along with the addition of a new 6” x 60 El Doble size, production seems to have been juiced up a bit, making the Rare Corojo more readily available.

Punch is produced in the Villazon factory, a facility known for consistency and quality. The Rare Corojo is a step up from the traditional blend, featuring a rich, reddish Sumatra wrapper and robust tobaccos from Nicaragua, Honduras and the Dominican. Fresh out of the box, each cigar performs wonderfully. Slow, cool burns that run straight as an arrow and a draw that’s just right. The flavor, on the other hand, needs some time to mature.

Because of this, I forced myself to learn a little trick. Buy a box, sit on it for a year until the next release, then smoke it. In the meantime, buy a new box from the current production and repeat the process. It’s a chore, but worth it when you compare the flavor after a year-long nap. Given the right amount of time, these tobaccos marry to form a smooth, medium-bodied smoke that’s rich in hearty flavors, including subtle hints of wood and leather. The sharp, peppery notes mold into a subtle spice on the aftertaste, allowing me to appreciate the chewy flavors with each puff. Overall, it becomes better balanced, with a more gradual transition between flavors.

It’s inconvenient, and for that it suffers in the rating department. But, it won’t stop me from picking up a box each year.

Romeo y Julieta was one of the first cigars I've ever tried. Come to think of it, I believe it was numero uno. I was in Cancun - don't worry, I brought my own smokes - and had just a few too many Coronas, so my memory is a little hazy. Regardless, had I not enjoyed my first few cigars, I wouldn't have become the crazed cigar lunatic I am today. Therefore, I do give thanks to RyJ for beginning my allegience to the world of handmade cigars. It was the Bully, a 5"x50 robusto the represents the brand's top-seller.

Today, I decided to light up a Belicoso from the traditional 1875 blend of Romeo y Julieta. Aside from a few soft spots throughout the tapering barrel of the cigar, it appears to be made very well. The chestnut-colored Indonesian wrapper offers a smooth, silky sheen, but seems dry and 'hairy' to the touch. The pre-light aroma is short, and there is virtually no pre-light flavor. The 54-ring took some effort to light, but I’m off and puffing, filling the office with heavy clouds of light grey smoke. The straightforward flavor is toasty, with a distinct woody note and creamy texture. The finish is dry and lingers for about 10 seconds after each puff. Mild to medium-bodied, the Dominican fillers maintain a character that’s smooth and unobtrusive, without becoming harsh or overwhelming at any point.

Romeo y Julieta is a fantastic brand, one which everyone should try at least once. It’s well-made, super consistent and carries a solid reputation for top-notch cigars. However, over time, my palate has grown more complex, developing into a high maintenance menace that demands more with each cigar it consumes. While it was nice to revisit a cigar that introduced me to this exciting hobby of ours, I find myself looking for more interesting cigars, ones layered with flavors that change throughout the burn, growing more intense towards a satisfying finish.

Here’s the deal. I have just about every cigar toy imaginable, including countless cigar cases, caddies, travel-dors, etc. The only thing I never had was a 3-finger leather case. Why? Because I just couldn’t find one I truly liked and I was afraid I’d crush my cigars sitting down at the bar. Instead, I kept my 5-capacity Herf-a-Dor on me at all times, stocked with 5 cigars, even when the night only called for just a few.

Last year, we decided to carry the Envoy from Xikar. Finally, a stylish leather case that’s crushproof, yet slim enough to fit into my jacket or jeans pocket. Dressed in top-grain, black armada leather and fitted with metal caps on each end, this case fit the bill to a ‘T’. It’s lined with Spanish cedar and can hold three 54-ring cigars. With a quickness, I rang myself up for another employee purchase.

I’ll be honest; it took a good 4 months to truly appreciate this case. In January, a few of us went to see Arturo Gatti throw down with Thomas Damgaard in Atlantic City, NJ. Of course, the first thing I packed was my Envoy, and holy cow did I abuse this thing. It flew down the concrete steps just outside the arena, I accidentally kicked it down the steps inside the arena, sat on it twice at the arena and sat on it countless times at the Blackjack table. It took a pounding worthy of a heavyweight championship belt, while the cigars inside remained safe and sound. You may ask, “why were there cigars inside?” I’ll tell you: the freaking cigar Nazis wouldn’t let us smoke anywhere. At one point, we were hiding in the stairwell during the Undercard bouts, puffing away furiously to get back to the action. Even the Blackjack tables were smoke-free! What the hell is this world coming to?!

But I digress...the Xikar Envoy is one of the best purchases I’ve made to date. I couldn’t be happier with this buy, and am glad I held out to find the perfect 3-finger leather case.

I’ve smoked more Exodus Torpedos and Toros than I could ever begin to count, so I could probably write this in my sleep. But that would just make me want one, so I might as well grab another from the humi. As usual, Torano is right on key in quality. The Habana 2000 wrapper is prime – smooth, dark, oily and nary a blemish in sight. Construction is solid – the torpedo cap is perfect, there’s no soft spots to be found and the square-press is impeccable. What more can you expect from Carlos Torano? The man knows how to make a stogie! Now it’s time to sit back and relax as I enjoy this super-slow burning Honduran cigar. To say it features an assortment of flavors is an understatement. It’s made with a 5-country blend of long-leaf tobaccos: Honduran, Dominican, Mexican, Nicaraguan, Costa Rican. Amazingly, the Torano family managed to pinpoint the best nuance from each of these tobaccos to create a wonderfully complex smoke. I notice a rich, chocolatey character from the Nicaragua leaves. The robust earthiness must be derived from the Honduran leaves. The spiciness that lingers on my palate is a combination of premium Mexican and Costa Rican tobaccos. All while the mellow and smooth Dominican tobaccos tame the smoke a bit, keeping things on the medium-bodied level. A 90 minute, 5-country tour for my palate that I’ve revisited many times before, and will probably never get bored of. Open up any of my humidors, on any given day, and you will find at least one Exodus 1959 waiting for me. Just make sure it’s still there when you close the humidor, ya mooch.

To me, The Centurian is a must-have cigar, so I have a canister full of Centurians on hand - each is waiting its turn for a special day. Unless you overslept, last weekend was New Years, a perfect time to break open the canister and enjoy one of my all-time favorites. You can’t say enough about the look of this perfecto - a solid, 60 ring gauge double torpedo that’s packed with aged Cuban-seed Dominican long-fillers and sports a flawless Connecticut wrapper leaf that’s silky to the touch. Upon sparking up a full-flavored burst of spice and rich earthiness shifts my palate into overdrive. After my first few puffs my only thought is Cuban Bolivar. The rich Cuban-like earthiness put forth by this cigar is so smooth that I hardly notice the underlying strength that creeps on me. Word to the wise, do not smoke this while operating heavy machinery, on an empty stomach, pregnant or a few drinks over the limit. As the cigar enters its thickest point, it tends to mellow a bit, but continues to deliver a potpourri of flavor. Spicy, woody, earthy, toasty, rich, but always smooth. But give it time. Just as I start to recover from the mellow buzz, the cigar begins to taper into a full-bodied finish that’s loaded with creamy spice, giving new meaning to the phrase “go out with a bang”. Eventful from start to finish.

Gurkha’s Centurian is the reason why we become an enthusiast of fine cigars. Enjoying a cigar is a moment we look forward to and make plans for. Because of this, we are often disappointed, making the satisfaction of enjoying a perfect cigar, at the perfect time, much more meaningful. This cigar is an experience that I will continue to make plans for.