Punch Super Selection #2 EAR JUL 02

[PigFish]

... these videos don't appear to be getting any shorter!!! -LOL

I used to think, 'what am I gonna' talk about for 10 minutes...!'

Enjoy. -PIggy

 

[hoyopr]

Thanks Ray for taking the time and for a great review.

Although I've not smoked the SS#2 I am a big fan of CG's and the first punch I smoked was a Black Prince.

Good tip on wetting the head before cutting.

[Ken Gargett]

ray, i try not to watch my own reviews so you can imagine...

but this is one of my all time faves (going to be miffed, having said that, if you bag it). stunning smoke. whoever discontinued these should be in jail.

[99call]

Great job Ray, very thorough and considered. 

Glad it came through in the end.

I do agree with you that any given cigar is essentially just its own entity, and not to be considered as just a certain blend/brand etc.   It's more exciting that way anyway, I don't know why anyone would want to limit their expectations to anything before an experience. 

I do however think there are truisms. Every Monte 2 i've ever had, had a flavour profile which was either just a bad or good version of the same tune (so to speak), 

I think its all about a level of magnification, some might think they could pick the difference between a 80's R&j Churchill and one from the 90's. I like you would be very sceptical, I think seeing the brands as loosely being able to offer certain characteristics/truisms to be the correct degree of clarity in cuban cigar production. 

Punch as a brand isn't something I've had a great deal of (mainly getting into the RS range now). But it's very intriguing as It seems to be able to walk the line of being relatively strong, but hard to put your finger on (or at least for me anyway). Ramon Allones, Partagas, and Bolivar all come across as quite distinct to me. 

Cheers again, great review, and very useful

[PigFish]

7 hours ago, 99call said:

 

I do however think there are truisms. Every Monte 2 i've ever had, had a flavour profile which was either just a bad or good version of the same tune (so to speak), 

I think its all about a level of magnification, some might think they could pick the difference between a 80's R&j Churchill and one from the 90's. I like you would be very sceptical, I think seeing the brands as loosely being able to offer certain characteristics/truisms to be the correct degree of clarity in cuban cigar production. 

This could be true... I just cannot taste it. I have proffered for some time that many might have more sensitive tastes than I do. I have been smoking cigars for 30+ years and enjoying hot spicy foods for far longer. There are some things I just cannot taste!

I have always left the 'amplitude' argument open, in my mind, but not really in my discussion. The reason is evidence, evidence other than anecdotal.

I have seen this as 'it must be recognized' by the general population, or a reputation, taste, market presence... etc., does not exist.

Thanks for watching and commenting.

 

@Ken Gargett, no mate did not end up panning the cigar. I enjoyed it. Cheers all!

-Ray

[99call]

48 minutes ago, PigFish said:

 enjoying hot spicy foods for far longer. 

As a foodie, this grabbed my interest, how spicy are we talking? 

15,000,000 - 16,000,000		Pure Capsacin
2,000,000 - 10,000,000		Pepper Extracts - ie, The Source, Blair’s Reserve
8,800,000 - 9,100,000		Norhydrocapsaicin
6,000,000 - 8,600,000		Homocapsaicin, Homodihydrocapsaicin
2,500,000 - 5,300,000		US Grade Police Pepper Spray
2,000,000 - 2,200,000		Carolina Reaper
1,150,000 - 2,000,000		Trinidad Scorpion, Butch T, Naga Viper, Common Pepper Spray
855,000 - 1,463,000		Ghost Pepper (Bhut Jolokia)
876,000 - 970,000		Dorset Naga
350,000 - 855,000		Red Savina Habanero, Indian Tezpur
100,000 - 350,000		Habanero, Scotch Bonnet, Bird’s Eye, Jamaican
50,000 - 100,000		Thai Hot Peppers, Chilitepin, Santaka
30,000 - 50,000		Cayenne, Tabasco, Piquin, Aji
15,000 - 30,000		Chile de Arbol, Manzano
5,000 - 15,000		Serrano, Yellow Wax Pepper
2,500 - 20,000		Jalapeno, Poblano, Chipotle, Mirasol
1,500 - 2,500		Sandia, Cascabel, NuMex Big Jim
1,000 - 1,500		Ancho, Anaheim, Pasilla, Espanola
100 - 1,000		Paprika, Anaheim, Mexican Bell, Pepperoncini, Cherry
0 - 100		Sweet Bell Peppers, Sweet Banana, Pimento

I like a lot of West Indian food a lot,  and I think I top out at Scotch Bonnet peppers.   Have you ever tipped into the badlands of the 350.000+ Scoville scale?

[joeypots]

A nice episode of As Ray Sees It with a cigar review. PSS#2 were the bomb and Ken is right, who ever discontinued them should be in jail. I haven't smoked Cuban cigars long enough to be very  familiar with "old school" pre cigar boom cigars but the '02 SS#2, I think, comes as close as I going to get. They needed more than 5 years to come around, too strong and tannic for me, but when they did, wow.