Cigar Weekly

Polestar · 02-01-2004, 02:31 PM

Ultimately, I just couldn't enjoy the Punch Gran Puro Rancho.

It's a beautiful looking 5.5x54 rock solid cigar with a fine oily sheen on a smooth dark wrapper. The thing looks edible. The draw was free and the burn was good, producing copious smoke. And it's got plenty of strength throughout to at least maintain a modicum of interest. But I kept expecting something in the way of distinctive flavor. At best it seemed to have a flat cedary tone and seemed dry tasting and woody. Reminded me of criollos, which tend to leave me cold. Its looks had me drooling. But it just, for me, didn't deliver on expectations. Granted, this was my first and it may have been a fluke. I haven't seen much talk about these here, so it makes me wonder.

Btw, I thoroughly enjoy the standard and Gran Cru Punch lines. That only added to the degree of disappointment.

trout · 02-03-2004, 07:10 AM

...while i do not enjoy the std and gran cru, i happened to have liked the 2 gran puros i have had.

rkm · 02-06-2004, 04:57 PM

I had a better experience with the Rancho. I got big flavor and upper-mid strength from it. But I just haven't been motivated enough to pick up a box. I guess it's because I already have so many that I like equally well (Camacho SLR and Corojo, CAO Brazilia, Torano Exodus, etc. etc.)

ColbyPants · 02-11-2004, 09:32 PM

Hmmm odd. I am sorry that youre expectations were not met. these have been on my short list for a box purchase for a while. Mmm mm good with loads of flavor IMHO.

Ah well,

TomC

Polestar · 02-12-2004, 02:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyPants

Hmmm odd. I am sorry that youre expectations were not met. these have been on my short list for a box purchase for a while. Mmm mm good with loads of flavor IMHO.

Ah well,

TomC

Tom, I've since tried another of the Ranchos and came away with the same impressions. But I seem to be clearly in the minority on these. I expect to try some other sizes. They really are good looking cigars and I want to give them every opportunity to hook me.

tmdeguy · 02-12-2004, 02:26 AM

I want to give them every opportunity to hook me.

Mike...you have ODO BIG TIME!!!

Polestar · 02-12-2004, 03:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tmdeguy

I want to give them every opportunity to hook me.

Mike...you have ODO BIG TIME!!!

You weren't supposed to see that!!

Linn · 02-13-2004, 10:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ColbyPants

Hmmm odd. I am sorry that youre expectations were not met. these have been on my short list for a box purchase for a while. Mmm mm good with loads of flavor IMHO.

Ah well,

TomC

I'm with you Tom!

I bought a box of the churchill sized Serrias when they first came out. Put 'em into the humi' straight away for a month, and then tried one. Very peppery/spicey smoke, but still lacking the kind of finese that only additional age can bring. I smoked another one after three months and they are really begining to come around. I am thinking that these 'gars simply need a year or so in the 'dor. Just as in whiskey there is no substitute for years in the barrel so it is with cigars in the wood. I only wish that I could afford to keep several years worth of smokes aging at all times. I am working on it.

- Linn -

moob · 02-15-2004, 06:19 AM

I had one last week from a sampler my wife gave me for Christmas - something like modern legends - also had a mac., El Rico Habano, and a couple of others.

I had an identical experience to Polestar. Great burn and draw. Medium to full body. Lovely wrapper. But lacked any complexity to vault it into a great cigar category and as a consequence I would not place a high value on it for the price. Especially when you can get a box of MMMM in maddies for 45$ and have IMHO all of the above with distinctive flavor changes... a much better value.

I think I like the regular Punch line better. When a brand attempts to distinguish itself with hype , i.e. "Gran" or "Reserva" or estate selection etc.. whatever, and it doesn't live up to your personal expectation of what that might mean then the special band and box/packaging and lovely use of branding language makes it a "pretender" cigar. A most subjective statement that last line but the Grand Cru falls into that category for me.

02-01-2004, 02:31 PM	#1
Polestar Club Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 1,820	Punch Gran Puro Rancho Ultimately, I just couldn't enjoy the Punch Gran Puro Rancho. It's a beautiful looking 5.5x54 rock solid cigar with a fine oily sheen on a smooth dark wrapper. The thing looks edible. The draw was free and the burn was good, producing copious smoke. And it's got plenty of strength throughout to at least maintain a modicum of interest. But I kept expecting something in the way of distinctive flavor. At best it seemed to have a flat cedary tone and seemed dry tasting and woody. Reminded me of criollos, which tend to leave me cold. Its looks had me drooling. But it just, for me, didn't deliver on expectations. Granted, this was my first and it may have been a fluke. I haven't seen much talk about these here, so it makes me wonder. Btw, I thoroughly enjoy the standard and Gran Cru Punch lines. That only added to the degree of disappointment.

02-03-2004, 07:10 AM	#2
trout Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Chicagoland Posts: 906	...while i do not enjoy the std and gran cru, i happened to have liked the 2 gran puros i have had. __________________ Look Mommy, there’s an airplane up in the sky.

02-11-2004, 09:32 PM	#4
ColbyPants Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Marion, Ohio Posts: 206	Hmmm odd. I am sorry that youre expectations were not met. these have been on my short list for a box purchase for a while. Mmm mm good with loads of flavor IMHO. Ah well, TomC __________________ "Wish not so much to live long as to live well." - Ben Franklin "What do you expect me to die of, Old Age?!"

02-15-2004, 06:19 AM	#9
moob Herf Meister Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Fabius, NYS Posts: 6,163	I had one last week from a sampler my wife gave me for Christmas - something like modern legends - also had a mac., El Rico Habano, and a couple of others. I had an identical experience to Polestar. Great burn and draw. Medium to full body. Lovely wrapper. But lacked any complexity to vault it into a great cigar category and as a consequence I would not place a high value on it for the price. Especially when you can get a box of MMMM in maddies for 45$ and have IMHO all of the above with distinctive flavor changes... a much better value. I think I like the regular Punch line better. When a brand attempts to distinguish itself with hype , i.e. "Gran" or "Reserva" or estate selection etc.. whatever, and it doesn't live up to your personal expectation of what that might mean then the special band and box/packaging and lovely use of branding language makes it a "pretender" cigar. A most subjective statement that last line but the Grand Cru falls into that category for me. __________________ "50% of all schools are performing below average."

02-06-2004, 04:57 PM	#3
rkm Member Join Date: May 2003 Posts: 107	I had a better experience with the Rancho. I got big flavor and upper-mid strength from it. But I just haven't been motivated enough to pick up a box. I guess it's because I already have so many that I like equally well (Camacho SLR and Corojo, CAO Brazilia, Torano Exodus, etc. etc.)

02-12-2004, 02:26 AM	#6
tmdeguy Club Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Huntsville, AL Posts: 2,980	I want to give them every opportunity to hook me. Mike...you have ODO BIG TIME!!!