Punch Chop Suey (2021 Year of the Rat Limited Edition)

It's been a couple years since I reviewed the Punch Egg Roll, a limited edition release from April Fool's Day of 2019— but the Chinese food-themed seasonal limited edition sticks are something Punch has kept up with, now timing the releases to be closer to the Lunar New Year. Before I get to the 2021, though, I realize I haven't reviewed the 2020 release, so let's hit that one, because it was damned good.

Cigar: Punch Chop Suey (Limited Edition 2020)

Vitola: Lancero (7” x 37)

Price: $5.50/stick

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Dominican and Nicaraguan
Body: Medium

Rating (out of 10): 9.9

Appearance:
The Chop Suey is reminiscent of its predecessor, the Egg Roll, in that the primary feature on the band is the Chinese character 击 (Jí), literally “to attack,” but in this case just a translation of the brand name “Punch.” The band on this release is gold-on-red, more suited to the holiday on which it was released.

Again, just as the previous release, this stick features a shaggy foot, this one about an inch in length. The wrapper is a rich, chocolatey brown, with a slight reddish hue to it; it's quite “knobby” and a little veiny.

Construction:
Construction is neat and tight, no visible flaws. The cap is well-placed, and cuts easily.

Aroma:
The length of the stick smells fairly musky, with subtle notes of leather underneath. The foot smells a bit earthier, some wood notes with a hint of something more floral.

First Third:
The cold draw is quite sweet, tasting of chocolate and a soft hint of... graham cracker? Whatever I'm picking up, there's a faint touch of honey to it, as well.

After lighting, the draw tightens up just a bit, tasting more of molasses and honey than the chocolate I picked up before the light. Very quickly, though, it also takes on notes of black pepper.

After the first inch burns away and we reach the Sumatra wrapper, the flavor becomes more savory, and faintly “meatier.” Not really a hearty kind of meatiness like a steak, but something more like chicken or pork. That honey and molasses sweetness is still there, like a sweet glaze, and the black pepper as well, really rounding out the flavor.

The burn is perfectly even, leaving behind a light grey ash. The smoke is a nice, flat medium body.

As a side note, the last time I was home on leave, this cigar was one of my mother's boyfriend's favorites. I'll have to remind myself to bring more with me next time I make it home.

Second Third:
Pretty consistent flavor rolling into the second third. Just the right blend of sweet and spicy.

Not much change this third, other than the spice picking up just a touch.

Final Third:
Peeling the band off as I start the last third. Just like the Egg Roll, these bands feature a fortune cookie-like statement on the reverse side of the band. Tonight's note:

“This cigar is never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down, never gonna run around and desert you.”

I JUST GOT RICKROLLED BY A CIGAR. Well played, Punch!

Flavor profile is very much the same this third, as well. Where this stick is almost like smoking a stir-fry, consistency is everything. You probably wouldn't want the taste of your dinner to keep changing as you ate, either.

Still smoking nice and cool down to the end.

Closing Thoughts:
Honestly, I don't think lanceros get enough love as vitolas. They're amazingly smooth, and generally give a really great concentration of flavor.

This one, specifically, was, as I noted, exactly like its namesake. It was like smoking a stir fry. It's amazing to me these limited editions almost never happened, as they were supposed to just be an April Fools gag. Instead, they're a wonderful smoke to look forward to every year, and I can't wait to follow this review up with a review of the 2021 Punch Kong Pow.