My friend, Eric mentioned a cigar to me one time that burned his lips.  After some joking about the Three Stooges and Bugs Bunny exploding cigars we shelved the subject.  Then another of my friends, Bert, got a fistful of these lip burning cigars in a sampler pack and the jokes resumed.  Bert traded me one for a review.  Now....I love spicy food....habanero is no big deal to me....but I was a bit nervous to try the Punisher from Cu-Avana.  How was it?  Let's see....

Construction: When I pulled this cigar out of the tube I half expected it to have spikes and barbed wire and crushed glass sticking out of the wrapper leaf.  In actuality, it's a beautiful dark oily cigar that is expertly rolled.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw:  Out of the tube I get a rich spicy tobacco from the wrapper and an intense almost whiskey smell from the foot.  I am actually a bit nervous to try this one out....

Light and Burn: I put the Punisher in my mouth to light it and BLAM!  Chili pepper infusion.  It actually burns the lips and tongue like when you get Tabasco sauce on your lips.  Spicy enough to make my lips tingle but I weathered it well.  Most folks might freak out at this stage but I urge you to hang in there.

Tasting: While not the most complex cigar I have ever had nor the most potent ligero tobacco I have smoked, the Punisher offers up a deep cocoa and espresso flavor that is rich and meaty.  About halfway through the spice on the lips finally subsides - or maybe my lips are just numb - and the cigar smooths out a bit.  I would compare it to a Rocky Patel Edge maduro rolled in cayenne pepper.     Overall a very pleasant and interesting cigar.

Value: A box of 13 will run you a hundred bones on the CI website.  It's pretty easy to snag some in samplers as well.

Final Thoughts: I am a bit shocked at how pleasant the Punisher is.  I thought it would be like smoking a hand grenade or that it would blow up in my face....or at the very least that it would be a bad cigar.  How very wrong I was.  Now, if you are looking for a good " gag" cigar for someone that is a lightweight with spicy foods or just hasn't heard about this cigar, I would highly recommend it from the sheer fun factor.  If you are looking for a knockout ligero punch, try the La Flor Dominicana Ligero series instead.

Wrapper: Nicaragua - as far as we know
Binder: Nicaragua - as far as we know
Filler: Nicaragua - as far as we know

Strength: Full

Size: 6 x 52

Pretty cool presentation on this spicy firecracker