Punch Gran Cru Certified Vintage 2000 No. 2 Pyramid

Cigar: Punch Gran Cru Certified Vintage 2000 No. 2 Pyramid

Origin: Honduras
Length: 6.12
Ring: 54
Strength: Medium
Wrapper Color: Light Brown
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: DR/HON/NIC
Shape: Pyramid

Date: December 6, 2008

Place: Mike's Garage

Cut: Double Guillotine

Lighter: Wooden Matches

Accompanying Beverage: Gevalia Antico Caffe Greco

You know in an instant that this is a classic cigar. The construction is faultless. The draw is perfect, the burn is perfect, the ash is perfect, the aroma is perfect.

Initial flavors upon lighting consist of roasted nuts and a mild salty leather.

An inch or so into the stogie a wonderful Earl Grey bergamot creeps in with lots of cream with it!

This cigar has an aroma to die for: the bouquet of classic Caribbean craftsmanship.

I cannot overstate the perfection of the draw of this fine figurado. There is a mild and very cool creaminess on the tongue and palate without the slightest hint of harshness. What a pleasure! There's just a mellow cornucopia of sweet heavenly spice.

Long, long llllllooooonnnnggg finish with nothing but sweet creamy spice.

This is a high-dollar cigar for my budget (about 10 bucks a stick), but worth every penny. This may well be the perfect Holiday smoke, a real companion to the aroma of fresh pumpkin pie, piñon, cedar, and the soft sounds of Christmas carols (or Beethoven's Ode to Joy or Pachelbel's Cannon in D).

Let me also say that the accompanying beverage I chose for this cigar was a fine fit. Davy sent me a pound of Gevalia Kaffe's Antico Caffè Greco in the whole bean a while back and it's been in my freezer for several months. I got it out yesterday and ground me some. Nice. This is a light coffee with hints of dark caramel and just the right touch of sweetness.