Cigar:            Punch Rare Corojo Rothchild

Size:             50 x 4.5" box press

Wrapper:          ECSU, E

Binder:           CTBL

Filler:           Hon/Nic/DR

Flavor Body:      Medium

Stength:          Medium

Country:          Hon

Date Received:    2004-06-07

Suspected Age:    Unknown

Vendor/Price:     Gifted from JP, ASC - Thanks!

Beverage(s):      Bridgeport IPA, water

Smoke time:       1:10

Date:             2004-08-11

Posted to ASC:    2004-08-12

Ambience:   Another hot one in the Great Pacific Northwest - pushing 90F. 

Mariners lead the Minnesota Twins 4-2 (won 4-3).  Sky clear, light variable

wind.  Sun about 45 minutes from the horizon (it set).  Returned from a fast,

short bike ride, and installed a handle tube mounted low-profile rear view mirror

during the smoke. 

Construction:     Beautiful dark brown wrapper with very few veins, though seems

quite thin.  Double cap.  Cocoa and coffee aroma.  Quite firm.  Box pressed.

Cut & Prelight:   Cut very well with my new, virgin Xikar (2fer sale at Thompsons). 

Tight draw.  Spicey, leathery draw flavor.

First third:      Honduran tobacco evident.  Nice flavors. Spicey leather with

aromatic wood.  Some nuttiness.  Sweet finish.  Low smoke volume.  Initial

crooked burn.  Smoke volume increasing.  Did not hold a long ash - dropped off

after about 1".  Draw opened up.

Second third:     If smoked slow it is kind of chocolatey.  If smoked fast, stoking,

it becomes more leathery and woody.  Still sweet finish.  Having trouble burning

down one of the 4 sides.  Why the hell do they mutilate an otherwise good cigar

with a god damn box press.  It is hard to believe that it improves them in

ANY way.  Struggled with the burn throughout.

Third third:      More of the same.  Difficult burn.  Poked it with a toothpick,

massaged it, but nothing could get the one side to burn straight.  Nicotine buzz.

Overall:    Nice flavor, poor burn.  Admittedly, my experience is very

limited, but to date I don't think I have had a box pressed cigar burn well.

Might be worth a box based on flavor, but I wouldn't risk the poor burn.