Punch Rare Corojo Magnum Staff Review
I anxiously await the annual release of my favorite Punch cigar: Rare Corojo Magnum – a chunky 5.25 x 54 shape finished in an oily Ecuador Sumatra wrapper. The Punch brand has been a staple in the cigar industry for over 150 years. Granted, for most of that time, Punch cigars made in Cuba have occupied the spotlight.
In the 1960s, the trademark for Punch was purchased for use in the United States. Punch cigars sold here, however, are obviously not Cuban. Today they’re mostly made in Honduras, while a few blends are also produced in Nicaragua. Since 1997, Punch cigars sold in the U.S. have been manufactured by General Cigar Company. The Rare Corojo blend debuted in 2001. The company releases a limited number of Rare Corojo boxes every year, but they sell out quickly. If you miss your chance to buy it, you’ll have to wait until next year.
Punch Rare Corojo is handmade at the STG (Scandinavian Tobacco Group) factory in Danlí, Honduras. The blend is comprised of tobacco from five different countries. An aged blend of Dominican, Honduran, and Nicaraguan long-fillers are bunched together under a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. The cigar is finished in a coffee-brown wrapper grown in Ecuador. The bands and boxes were recently redesigned with a deeper color of red. When I slide the cellophane off the Magnum I’m about to smoke, the wrapper reveals a spicy, earthy, and nutty aroma, and I can taste nutmeg, cinnamon, and leather in the cold draw.
As soon as I light up, I know why I so look forward to the annual release of Punch Rare Corojo. Intense notes of oak, leather, and crushed red pepper flakes kick things off. The retrohale adds depth with hints of freshly brewed black coffee and hay. The cigar’s zest lingers nicely on the palate but slowly mellows to reveal a floral profile. As the middle of the cigar nears, notes of black coffee and leather build up.
The flavor evolves nicely in the second half. Notes of bitter dark chocolate and coffee complement the cigar’s smoky and hearty profile perfectly. The spicier flavors mellow out on the palate but are noticeable in the retrohale. The last stretch of Rare Corojo is especially floral with smooth and leathery texture. The finish is long and a bit woody. Tasting notes of oak and earth settle in at the end of a delicious finale.
When it comes to Punch Rare Corojo, the flavors are complex and beefy but not too strong. However, construction could always be better. The Magnum burned unevenly almost the whole time I smoked it, but I never had to touch it up with my torch. It straightened out on its own for the most part. Smoke production was above average thanks to the impeccable draw. The cigar is medium to full-bodied at its strongest, hitting a 7 out of 10.
If the flavors aren’t enough to convince you to try Punch’s annual limited-production Rare Corojo, perhaps the price could seal the deal in the $7-10 range. Do yourself a favor and snag a few when they’re in stock. Or better yet, scoop up the Punch ‘Haymaker’ Monster Deal and smoke the Rare Corojo alongside the bestselling Punch Vintage blend. Punch is a premium Cuban-legacy brand worth exploring.
