Connoisseur’s Corner: Punch Serie D’Oro No. 2 Edición Limitada
This rich, dark and perfectly crafted pirámide was a powerhouse when it hit the market, and eight years of age have done nothing to temper its intensity. Soon after its fat foot glows red from the lighter, it delivers big opening notes of wet leather, black peppercorns and Earl Grey tea. After an inch or so of warming up, the cigar blossoms into a chocolate bomb. It’s full of flavor, has the proper amount of balance and seems far from its prime. It’s one of the very finest Edición Limitadas ever rolled. —David Savona
Wrapper color and texture is rarely this pristine, as the thin veins were nearly invisible and the hue, a perfect shade of brown. The start was surprisingly slow, staying in muted woody territory for the first few puffs, but it picked up a raw nuttiness that developed into a richer, focused palate of walnut, hazelnut and almond, all culminating in a creamy cappuccino finish, with the slightest hint of dried fruit. —Gregory Mottola
Before the Davidoff Millennium Blend became a general release, there was a limited-edition line of three perfectos bearing the name, with the No. 1 the longest. Nearly nine inches long, this 21-year-old smoke is chewy and woody, with an increasing amount of strength as it burns. Just a hint of orange marmalade is revealed, along with plenty of leather, licorice and a hint of malted chocolate. A lovely cigar. —David Savona
From its gorgeous, dark and oily colorado wrapper to its slim, streamlined size, this medium- to full-bodied lancero exhibits all the characteristics of a well-made cigar. A perfect draw and a wonderful burn blend together to create an easy smoke. Solid notes of coffee beans on the front and mid-palate, and a slightly dry but earthy note on the medium-length finish. Not overly complex, but delightful, with lots of life left. —Gordon Mott
