Punch Bareknuckle Elite Review

6/11/2014

Cigar: Punch Bareknuckle Elite
Size: Corona, 5.2”x45
MSRP: $6.00
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Origin: Honduras

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Prelight: This cigar is very smooth and oily, and quite frankly…absolutely delicious looking! The wrapper has a stunning floral aroma coming off of it, and the foot matches it, while upping the ante with some powdered cocoa. Despite the very broad shoulders (which would allow even the drunkest Puffer a chance at a quality cut), I v-cut the head and get a cold draw with good resistance and a woody, floral taste.

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1/3: There is an immediate pepper kick, but behind it is a creeping woody profile with a bit of citrus tang. The citrus is a little bitter as well. Soon, the peppery wood outweighs the citrus and dominates the cigar. But, there is an ebb and flow to a dash of chocolate which keeps things on the sweet side.

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2/3: This cigar is burning flawlessly, with great ash and a near razor-sharp burn line. The sweet wood flavor progresses into a more simple cedar and pepper, and this continues into the final third.

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3/3: The last third of the Bareknuckle becomes extremely woody. There is a straw or two of hay in the mix as well, but as the nub reaches the burning (of my fingers) point, the hay increases to be a full-fledged partner, with the support of just a hint o’ mint.

Overall: This is a good cigar. Not great, but for the price point, good. I am interested in trying the other vitolas, but this corona sized cigar seems perfect for me. The flavors were good, albeit not mind-blowing, and the construction was perfect. I’d be happy to share my humidor space with a fiver of these for sure.