Vitola: Double Corona- 7.5” x 54 ring gauge
- MSRP $9.99
- Purchased from Small Batch Cigar
Background
In 2019, General had a few projects that seemed to fly under the radar a bit. One of them was the Store Press series in the Punch brand. I heard about it around the time it shipped; by the time I talked to the local rep (I worked for Burns Tobacconist at the time), I believe he said they were sold out, but he had samples of each that I could try. I smoked them…they were good…and I didn’t wonder about them much more because I had plenty else to do.
As things started to get a little thin for reviews here in QuarantineLand, I began to go through what was available for a good price from Small Batch Cigar, one of Leaf Enthusiast’s sponsors. I found a sampler of the Store Press Series and decided that would be a good way to fill out 3 review dates anyway. Today I’m starting with the Punch Store Press Broadleaf.
SP Broadleaf uses Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan fillers, along with Connecticut Broadleaf binder and wrapper leaves. This whole series is packaged in boxes that resemble the trays used to box-press cigars in a cigar press at the factory, and the stores that bought into this series got a replica cigar press to display at their store, as well.
This review is the third time I’ve smoked this blend. I bought the cigars from Small Batch Cigar. Background information came from Halfwheel’s news story about the release.
Prelight
The box-press tray boxes that these come in are cool, similar to what LFD has done with Factory Press releases. The main band is the same used on the Punch Signature line, although these cigars seemingly have nothing to do with that line. Each has a color-coded secondary band that has the name of the wrapper on it. The secondary band here is a dark red with “Broadleaf” in gold foil.
The wrapper leaf was dark chocolate brown, almost to the point of being black, and almost to the point where I was questioning if they had made artificial alterations to it to make it darker than it would normally be. I did the lick-your-finger-and-rub test and got no coloration off on my finger, so…maybe these were just fermented extra long. The aroma from the wrapper leaf was cocoa powder, leather, and anise. The foot of the cigar had notes of earth and semi-sweet chocolate.
I snipped the head and got a good draw that had flavors of cocoa powder, dark fruit, and earth.
Flavor
Put a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper on it and I’m going to be predisposed to enjoy it. This Punch Store Press is no different. I got almost a brownie level chocolate and bread note on early puffs, backed up by notes of espresso bean and earth. The retrohale had nutty, bready notes with just a touch of black pepper. As I got into the cigar a few minute, I noted some prominent anise notes adding into the mix. I also noted that the draw was a little on the snug side. This happened with the first sample from the sampler I bought, as well, but it did open up a little later.
I recut the cigar a little later and it did draw much better. As I got into the second third, I had notes of dark chocolate, espresso bean, and cinnamon, along with earth and leather in the background.
The last third had leather coming up in the mix, with coffee bean and dark chocolate taking a small step back. Underneath were earthiness and some wood notes.
Construction
The draw was fine after I recut. The burn line was even enough and the ash was solid.
Value
Good cigar at a pretty decent price, considering the large vitola, so good value.
Conclusions
The Punch Store Press Broadleaf was a good medium-plus-bodied cigar that lasted a good long time due to its extra long Double Corona size. I didn’t love it, but I did like enough that I would smoke it again from time to time if it were available. It had a good amount of complexity while allowing the Broadleaf wrapper to play in its space. For me the biggest drawback is the size…I would rather smoke this in a Robusto and move on to something else after an hour or so, rather than smoke the same thing for closer to two hours.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9/10
