Punch Uppercut - Review

kenstogie · 03-31-2010, 08:19 PM

While at a recent Herf (NERF) I was given a bag of 15 or so cigars. It had some good ones too like the Room 101, Liga Pravada T-52 and so on. One of them was the Punch Uppercut. I had heard of Punch a million times but never actually had one.

Supposedly this was one of those cigars that had some angle. This one’s was a super special ingredient …
“A feisty binder leaf grown in the volcanic soils of Ometepe - an island off the coast of Nicaragua.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ometepe Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning two mountains.

This was kept in my humi for about a month at about 65%.

Although I had heard of Punch I had never heard of Uppercut. Hence a review. I figure if it’s good, give the BOTL’s/inmates a heads up if it’s a dud well hey let em know that too. Cost for these at CI is about $30 for a fiver and $103 for a box. ON to the review….

PRE-LIGHT - The cigar was obviously a well built cigar so props to Punch for that. Draw was just about perfect maybe a little tight for me but still right on. That’s a preference thing, you know. More props. It was solid with no spongy spots but still had a touch of give. Smell had a nice smell nothing overwhelming or really intense.

LIGHT/FIRST IMPRESSIONS - The first tastes were a little sweet, a lot of earth and a touch of dirt and leather. Didn’t notice any spice to speak of and I wasn’t overwhelmed nor especially excited about this cigar so far.

ONE QUARTER THROUGH - The sweet picked up a bit and the earth subsided a bit while the leather picked up. Still it was ok but not great.

ONE HALF THROUGH - I noticed a grass flavor and the varying degrees of the other flavors above especially the leather.

THE REST - That was about the entire cigar for me. It was a very well built cigar and burn was flawless but the flavor didn’t do it for me. Not bad although some of it seemed a bit off (grass/dirt).

CONCLUSION -Would some age do anything for this? Maybe. And maybe it just wasn’t my kind of cigar. Definitely (for me at least) there are better values out there to be had. I had fun with the review and the photography so it was a good time.

kelmac07 · 03-31-2010, 08:21 PM

Nice review...thanks for sharing.

03-31-2010, 08:41 PM

Good review and I smoked one the other night and I'd have to agree with your conclusion. I have one more laying down in the humi I will revisit later this summer (something about it just seemed comfortable and screamed beer gar on a hot, clear summer night star gazing trying to catch a falling star).

NCRadioMan · 03-31-2010, 08:51 PM

If you remember the Punch Vote promotion where you get two cigars (A and B) and vote on which one you liked best, this was the one that received the most votes.

KenyanSandBoa · 03-31-2010, 09:20 PM

Nice review...thanks. I still have my Uppercut from the NERF sitting in my humi. I'm curious to see if I have a similar experience.

homerjay19 · 04-01-2010, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenyanSandBoa

Nice review...thanks. I still have my Uppercut from the NERF sitting in my humi. I'm curious to see if I have a similar experience.

As do I, I will probably let it sit for a while.

OHRD · 04-01-2010, 09:00 AM

Nice review Ken, and great photos!

KenyanSandBoa · 04-01-2010, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by matthewjmichael

Nice review Ken, and great photos!

Yeah, those photos are amazing. That one with the cigar next to the watch looks like it should be in a magazine...it makes me want to by that cigar...or the watch.

I noticed that weird "time effect" on the second hand of the watch...is that from leaving the shutter open?

kenstogie · 04-01-2010, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KenyanSandBoa

Yeah, those photos are amazing. That one with the cigar next to the watch looks like it should be in a magazine...it makes me want to by that cigar...or the watch.

I noticed that weird "time effect" on the second hand of the watch...is that from leaving the shutter open?

Thanks for the compliment.

Yes it's from a 6 sec exposure or thereabouts.

04-01-2010, 02:03 PM

Very nice review and good pics but no pics of the burn or ash?

I smoked one last night and thought it was a good cigar, had a crazy white ash (crazy because of how white it was) and it held on nice. I didn't get and grass or dirt flavors from it. But grass is not always a bad flavor anyway depending on the rest of the profile.

04-01-2010, 03:45 PM

Well, guess I can skip this brand. Used to love Punch ncs esp. the London Club and Roths, until I tried the cc Punch Royal Coronationes!! Man, now that's a cigar with a...

PUNCH!!!

Scott1966 · 04-01-2010, 05:49 PM

I had a couple of these from last year's trade show and I liked them. Pricepoint makes them appealing.

G G · 04-01-2010, 06:17 PM

Thanks for a great review.

kenstogie · 04-01-2010, 06:27 PM

Thanks for the compliments. In all fairness some folks like this cigar. Maybe I got one that was not as good as others. Maybe the my tastes don't suit the flavor profile of this cigar too. But either way thank you.

kenstogie · 04-01-2010, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tx_tuff

Very nice review and good pics but no pics of the burn or ash?

I smoked one last night and thought it was a good cigar, had a crazy white ash (crazy because of how white it was) and it held on nice. I didn't get and grass or dirt flavors from it. But grass is not always a bad flavor anyway depending on the rest of the profile.

No pics of the ash, sorry. I will say that my ash was not white at all just a typical gray.

CEC_Tech · 04-02-2010, 09:27 PM

If there's one thing I've ever gotten from Punch, it's leather and earth. They seem to excel at putting out cigars with those flavors and not much else. Most of the one's i've gotten I've let sit for about a year and it seems to take the bite out of them. Flavors do not change much though.

MarkinAZ · 04-03-2010, 09:19 PM

Nice review and photo's Ken. Sometimes a little rest is just what is needed for certain brands

04-04-2010, 12:16 AM

Thx for the review. Been wondering about these.

kenstogie · 04-17-2010, 04:43 PM

Thought I might mention that the HDM excal legend has some of the Ometepe tabaco in it. I am enjoying this considerably more than the Uppercut. Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Legend is incredibly complex due to its Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. The majority of the filler is ligero, which produces robust notes of earth with exaggerated hints of spice in the aftertaste. In addition, Legend also contains a unique tobacco grown on the volcanic island of Ometepe, also in Nicaragua. This tobacco creates a complexity unnoticed in other cigars, creating oak flavors, cedar, and a rich aftertaste..."
Posted via Mobile Device

MarkinAZ · 04-17-2010, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenstogie

Thought I might mention that the HDM excal legend has some of the Ometepe tabaco in it. I am enjoying this considerably more than the Uppercut. Posted via Mobile Device

What size in the Legends series are you smoking Ken? I've really enjoyed the Crusader (5.75 x 45) which is an awesome little stick...

03-31-2010, 08:19 PM	#1
kenstogie following the whiterabbit Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,325 Trading: (3)	Punch Uppercut - Review While at a recent Herf (NERF) I was given a bag of 15 or so cigars. It had some good ones too like the Room 101, Liga Pravada T-52 and so on. One of them was the Punch Uppercut. I had heard of Punch a million times but never actually had one. Supposedly this was one of those cigars that had some angle. This one’s was a super special ingredient … “A feisty binder leaf grown in the volcanic soils of Ometepe - an island off the coast of Nicaragua.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ometepe Ometepe is an island formed by two volcanoes rising from Lake Nicaragua in the Republic of Nicaragua. Its name derives from the Nahuatl words ome (two) and tepetl (mountain), meaning two mountains. This was kept in my humi for about a month at about 65%. Although I had heard of Punch I had never heard of Uppercut. Hence a review. I figure if it’s good, give the BOTL’s/inmates a heads up if it’s a dud well hey let em know that too. Cost for these at CI is about $30 for a fiver and $103 for a box. ON to the review…. PRE-LIGHT - The cigar was obviously a well built cigar so props to Punch for that. Draw was just about perfect maybe a little tight for me but still right on. That’s a preference thing, you know. More props. It was solid with no spongy spots but still had a touch of give. Smell had a nice smell nothing overwhelming or really intense. LIGHT/FIRST IMPRESSIONS - The first tastes were a little sweet, a lot of earth and a touch of dirt and leather. Didn’t notice any spice to speak of and I wasn’t overwhelmed nor especially excited about this cigar so far. ONE QUARTER THROUGH - The sweet picked up a bit and the earth subsided a bit while the leather picked up. Still it was ok but not great. ONE HALF THROUGH - I noticed a grass flavor and the varying degrees of the other flavors above especially the leather. THE REST - That was about the entire cigar for me. It was a very well built cigar and burn was flawless but the flavor didn’t do it for me. Not bad although some of it seemed a bit off (grass/dirt). CONCLUSION -Would some age do anything for this? Maybe. And maybe it just wasn’t my kind of cigar. Definitely (for me at least) there are better values out there to be had. I had fun with the review and the photography so it was a good time. __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good.

03-31-2010, 08:21 PM	#2
kelmac07 Resident Maduro Whore!! Join Date: Apr 2009 First Name: Mac Location: Newport News, VA Posts: 27,322 Trading: (218)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Nice review...thanks for sharing. __________________ Dom in the MLB thread "I could probably get you to wear a Yankee hat for a Maduro!"

03-31-2010, 08:41 PM	#3
SmokingPoker Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Good review and I smoked one the other night and I'd have to agree with your conclusion. I have one more laying down in the humi I will revisit later this summer (something about it just seemed comfortable and screamed beer gar on a hot, clear summer night star gazing trying to catch a falling star).

03-31-2010, 08:51 PM	#4
NCRadioMan Chutney Lovebusciut Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Chutney Location: On the shores of Loch Shiel Posts: 4,275 Trading: (66)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review If you remember the Punch Vote promotion where you get two cigars (A and B) and vote on which one you liked best, this was the one that received the most votes. __________________ The path to loyalty is trust.

03-31-2010, 09:20 PM	#5
KenyanSandBoa The Nightman Cometh... Join Date: Jan 2010 First Name: Jim Location: Massholia Posts: 1,463 Trading: (74)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Nice review...thanks. I still have my Uppercut from the NERF sitting in my humi. I'm curious to see if I have a similar experience. __________________ I hope you brought a change of clothes because your eyes are about to piss tears.

04-01-2010, 09:00 AM	#7
OHRD Garage w/ couch & ashtray Join Date: Sep 2009 First Name: Matt Posts: 1,377 Trading: (39)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Nice review Ken, and great photos! __________________ Did I tell you my garage has a couch and an ashtray? My wife doesn't let me sleep or smoke inside.

04-01-2010, 02:03 PM	#10
tx_tuff Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Very nice review and good pics but no pics of the burn or ash? I smoked one last night and thought it was a good cigar, had a crazy white ash (crazy because of how white it was) and it held on nice. I didn't get and grass or dirt flavors from it. But grass is not always a bad flavor anyway depending on the rest of the profile.

04-01-2010, 03:45 PM	#11
bookman Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Well, guess I can skip this brand. Used to love Punch ncs esp. the London Club and Roths, until I tried the cc Punch Royal Coronationes!! Man, now that's a cigar with a... PUNCH!!!

04-01-2010, 05:49 PM	#12
Scott1966 Herf God Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NY Posts: 82 Trading: (1)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review I had a couple of these from last year's trade show and I liked them. Pricepoint makes them appealing.

04-01-2010, 06:17 PM	#13
G G BR549 Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Greg Location: Taylor, FL. Posts: 12,701 Trading: (10)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Thanks for a great review.

04-01-2010, 06:27 PM	#14
kenstogie following the whiterabbit Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,325 Trading: (3)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Thanks for the compliments. In all fairness some folks like this cigar. Maybe I got one that was not as good as others. Maybe the my tastes don't suit the flavor profile of this cigar too. But either way thank you. __________________ I intend to live forever. So far, so good. Last edited by kenstogie; 04-01-2010 at 06:34 PM.

04-02-2010, 09:27 PM	#16
CEC_Tech Old CS Gorilla Join Date: Feb 2010 First Name: Armando Location: TEXAS!!! Posts: 202 Trading: (5)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review If there's one thing I've ever gotten from Punch, it's leather and earth. They seem to excel at putting out cigars with those flavors and not much else. Most of the one's i've gotten I've let sit for about a year and it seems to take the bite out of them. Flavors do not change much though.

04-03-2010, 09:19 PM	#17
MarkinAZ Formerly MarkinOR Join Date: Oct 2008 First Name: Mark Location: Sun City West, AZ Posts: 6,220 Trading: (40)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Nice review and photo's Ken. Sometimes a little rest is just what is needed for certain brands __________________ "Don't worry, God will work out His plan for your life..." Psalm 138 8

04-04-2010, 12:16 AM	#18
Sanchy Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Thx for the review. Been wondering about these.

04-17-2010, 04:43 PM	#19
kenstogie following the whiterabbit Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Albany, NY Posts: 1,325 Trading: (3)	Re: Punch Uppercut - Review Thought I might mention that the HDM excal legend has some of the Ometepe tabaco in it. I am enjoying this considerably more than the Uppercut. Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur Legend is incredibly complex due to its Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. The majority of the filler is ligero, which produces robust notes of earth with exaggerated hints of spice in the aftertaste. In addition, Legend also contains a unique tobacco grown on the volcanic island of Ometepe, also in Nicaragua. This tobacco creates a complexity unnoticed in other cigars, creating oak flavors, cedar, and a rich aftertaste..." Posted via Mobile Device