Smoked my 1st one yesterday. I give it a solid 9. Isn't it great when a product surpasses your expectations? I found myself looking at the wrapper again and again. The taste was that of a much darker wrapper. Viva corojo!!

What's a PRC? X

I believe he's talking about a Punch Rare Corojo, which actually is not a corojo wrapper. It is a very good cigar though.

-Lenny

For those who don't know what Corojo means ...

Corojo (pronounced: kawr-oh-ho) is the name given to a specific variety of tobacco plant that was originally developed in the Vuelta Abajo Valley in Cuba.

It is named after the plantation that first grew it, called El Corojo Vega. The leaf's thin, oily texture, along with its small thin veins, make it the pinnacle for a wrapper leaf on the highest rated of the Cuban brands. This farm had a unique combination of mineral content in the soil, irrigation, drainage, and exposure that allowed the plant to thrive.

The plant is very temperamental and delicate, and only survived when planted in the valley of its origin. Most attempts to relocate the seeds to other tobacco growing regions in both Cuba and other Caribbean nations are met with crop failure.

Within the last 5 or 6 years, there have been only two growers, both in a valley in Bonao, Dominican Republic, who have been able to harvest successful crops of the Corojo variety.

The characteristics of this valley duplicate those of the original Cuban plantation. The wrappers cultivated from this plant are often designated as "rosado" shade, which is a very rare, reddish tint.

BTW --- Punch Rare Corojo cigars are made with extra rich, dark Sumatra wrapper leaves that are grown in the mountains of Ecuador ...

... which makes Lenny4z correct!

The makers of Camacho corojo have also perfected the corojo variety but it's grown in Honduras with the flagship of the line being the Camacho Diploma/11-18/Liberty. I'm not sure about the Dominican variety as I don't know the cigar names grown with that variety, but I'm well familiar with Camacho and it's 100% corojo (wrapper, binder, filler).

jd1 --- that's very interesting, and I hadn't thought about the Camacho ...

Many cigars say they are Corojo ... but it's only Corojo seed grown elsewhere, and from the article I posted above ... it states that it it is inferior tobacco due to the different regions and climates that it is grown in, and the crops are not very successful.

As you know, the Camacho lines are grown in the Jamastran Valley of Honduras, a region where perfect soil and ideal climate can compare to Cuba's renowned Vuelta Abajo Region (where Corojo originated) ... and these lines are planted with 100% original Cuban Corojo seed.

We all know what an outstanding cigar the Camacho is ... so maybe my sources aren't keeping up-to-date with the facts.

Now I'm reading that Ecuador has demonstrated an ability, through technology and climate, to replicate some of the finest wrapper in the world. The makers of Cusano Corojo Cigars even go so far as to claim, that in some cases, the Connecticut Shade coming out of Ecuador today is better than that of Connecticut.

An experimental crop of Corojo was harvested in 1996 and, while intended for Cuba, they were fortunate enough to taste it, and purchase the entire crop (enough to wrap one million cigars) ... and then created Cusano Corojo - 1996 vintage.

The Corojo wrapper leaf grown in Ecuador has none of the problems that are found in the Cuban (susceptibility to disease) or the Honduran grown Corojo. They feel the Ecuadorian grown Corojo has a better burn than the Honduran grown Corojo (which is a much heavier leaf).

Man ... who can you believe, except trusting your own taste buds ... LOL!

Youse guys got me wanting something in Corojo. So's methinks a Camacho Liberty is the choice. X

The Punch Rare Corojo isn't made with a corojo wrapper? It's a great cigar at any rate. Why don't they just call it what it is? It would be the same cigar. Now I've lost that warm and fuzzy feeling.

I agree X; will be burning one Sunday...been about a month since the last one.

THL --- I wouldn't sweat it, at this point, I'm as confused as you are ... LOL!

According to the last article I read on it ... the Punch Rare Corojo uses Corojo wrapper leaf grown in Ecuador.

Now ... I'm wondering ... what is it exactly that Lenny4z meant, when he stated "... actually is not a Corojo wrapper." If he meant that it is not grown where the true Corojo originated ... then he is correct ... 😉

I will grudgingly continue to buy them as they are a fine cigar, although I resent being manipulated.

Marketing types and lawyers can sometimes be despicable. That's probably why I dislike most politicians; they're often both.

From the Punch website:

Punch Rare Corojo cigars are made with extra rich, dark Sumatra wrapper leaves that are grown in the mountains of Ecuador. The filler is a rich blend of Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican tobaccos.

They don't mention corojo anywhere but in the name. Regardless of this they're still damn good smokes, especially with age!!

The Camacho Diploma, 11/18, and Liberty are far superior, but are also much more expensive. I like both brands!

Chris just quoted exactly what I based my "not a corojo" comment on. Actually I don't really care what they call it or what it's made from, I like them and I'm glad my wife bought me a box of them for my birthday. But I understand where you're coming from THL.

-Lenny