Cigar Weekly

Prof2B · 01-11-2002, 03:16 AM

Cigar: Punch Ninfa, cabinet selection
Vitola: Panetela, 7x33
Tobacco: Cuban (puro)
Age: about two years
Review Date: 1/10/02
Street price: $5-$6

Appearance: Good. Medium brown wrapper, colorado, with no blemishes. One rather prominent vein, several fine veins.

Construction: Very good. Short cap, no soft spots. Tightly wrapped, nicely filled.

Burn: Very good. A couple times one side burned just a bit more quickly, but it always worked itself out just as fast.

Problems: None.

Draw: Excellent. Comfortable draw from start to finish, with generous amounts of smoke. Not an easy thing to do in a Panetela. I was impressed.

Ash: Grey to dark grey, firm.

Smoked to: Band. Got a little hot at that point. About 60 minutes.

Strength: Mild to Medium/Mild. I had a moderate meal beforehand, and I just started to feel a little headiness at the end of the cigar. The effect, though mild, was weighty.

Aroma: Excellent. The first inch was classic Havana Punch: creamy and dense, with an almost milk-like scent. Once the cigar got going, it was toasty and earthy, dripping with hints of molasses.

Taste: Very good. A soft tang throughout, the predominant flavors being freshly tilled earth and sweet spices. Not especially complex, but the flavor was rich and hearty with a clean finish.

Overall: Excellent smoke!

General comments: I'm not a huge fan of most Punch Habanos: the flavor profile usually doesn't do much for me. Who would have thought, then, that a panetela of all things would turn out to be such a rich smoke. As I mentioned, it's not especially complex, but it does take a big turn after the first couple inches, which kept me intrigued. And the Ninfa is consistently flavorful throughout, quite a surprise in such a small ring gauge. At around $6 I'd say this is one of the best values in Cuban cigars.

The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.

MetsFan · 01-11-2002, 07:42 AM

Excellent review. The Cubans have definitely mastered the skinny cigar.

Let's Go Hawks!

The Garfather · 01-13-2002, 02:49 AM

A fine review my friend!

I think of this cigar as very nice tasting but not especially complex. I was hoping for more profile changes in a Havana cigar like this that is 7 inches.

I really am an optimist, but the only thing this glass is half full of is PISS!

bigbear · 01-13-2002, 11:46 PM

Thank you for your review.

01-11-2002, 03:16 AM	#1
Prof2B Starting Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Waltham, MA USA Posts: 78	Cigar: Punch Ninfa, cabinet selection Vitola: Panetela, 7x33 Tobacco: Cuban (puro) Age: about two years Review Date: 1/10/02 Street price: $5-$6 Appearance: Good. Medium brown wrapper, colorado, with no blemishes. One rather prominent vein, several fine veins. Construction: Very good. Short cap, no soft spots. Tightly wrapped, nicely filled. Burn: Very good. A couple times one side burned just a bit more quickly, but it always worked itself out just as fast. Problems: None. Draw: Excellent. Comfortable draw from start to finish, with generous amounts of smoke. Not an easy thing to do in a Panetela. I was impressed. Ash: Grey to dark grey, firm. Smoked to: Band. Got a little hot at that point. About 60 minutes. Strength: Mild to Medium/Mild. I had a moderate meal beforehand, and I just started to feel a little headiness at the end of the cigar. The effect, though mild, was weighty. Aroma: Excellent. The first inch was classic Havana Punch: creamy and dense, with an almost milk-like scent. Once the cigar got going, it was toasty and earthy, dripping with hints of molasses. Taste: Very good. A soft tang throughout, the predominant flavors being freshly tilled earth and sweet spices. Not especially complex, but the flavor was rich and hearty with a clean finish. Overall: Excellent smoke! General comments: I'm not a huge fan of most Punch Habanos: the flavor profile usually doesn't do much for me. Who would have thought, then, that a panetela of all things would turn out to be such a rich smoke. As I mentioned, it's not especially complex, but it does take a big turn after the first couple inches, which kept me intrigued. And the Ninfa is consistently flavorful throughout, quite a surprise in such a small ring gauge. At around $6 I'd say this is one of the best values in Cuban cigars. The mustard seed is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. __________________ Zeal for your house consumes me.

01-13-2002, 02:49 AM	#3
The Garfather Herf Meister Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Pacific NW Posts: 5,265	A fine review my friend! I think of this cigar as very nice tasting but not especially complex. I was hoping for more profile changes in a Havana cigar like this that is 7 inches. I really am an optimist, but the only thing this glass is half full of is PISS! __________________ --Smokelikeabigdog

01-13-2002, 11:46 PM	#4
bigbear Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Central Florida Posts: 777	Thank you for your review. __________________ -- Jeff www.bigbearworks.com "I don't care to belong to a club that accepts people like me as members." -- Groucho Marx

01-11-2002, 07:42 AM	#2
MetsFan Herf God Join Date: Jun 2000 Posts: 12,223	Excellent review. The Cubans have definitely mastered the skinny cigar. Let's Go Hawks!