Top 9 Punch Cigars
The first Punch cigars were created in Cuba in 1840 and are named for the famous British marionette, Mr. Punch. Statues and bobbleheads of the mischievous Mr. Punch are popular fixtures in cigar shops and man caves. Today, the Punch cigars we know and buy in the U.S. are primarily made in Honduras, while a handful of blends are also crafted in Nicaragua. The brand is owned by General Cigar Company, the parent company of Macanudo, CAO, and the non-Cuban versions of Cohiba and Partagas cigars. Punch cigars are considered a solid utility brand and are a mid-tier staple in nearly every premium cigar store around the country. They’re made well, affordable, and are rated one of the best Honduran brands available. Explore the most popular Punch cigars you can buy today.
1. Punch Vintage
Hands down, Punch Vintage is the bestselling Punch cigar of all time because the quality and price are tough to match. The brand is handmade in Honduras from a complex blend of premium Dominican and Honduran long-fillers bound by a pair of Connecticut Broadleaf binders. Punch Vintage is available in two different wrappers: an Ecuador Sumatra (Natural) or a Connecticut Broadleaf (Maduro). Both are medium-bodied and deliver ample notes of cedar, earth, and leather. The Natural blend blesses with the palate with notes of espresso and cayenne, while the Maduro version is sweeter, revealing notes of dark chocolate and pepper. Add Punch Vintage to your collection for an all-around consistent value cigar adored by seasoned aficionados and newbies alike.
2. Punch
The original Punch blend is finished in either a succulent Sumatra-seed wrapper grown in Ecuador or a dark and oily Connecticut Broadleaf. Beneath each is an intricate amalgam of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran long-filler tobaccos. Hearty and peppery notes of hickory, coffee bean, and leather leave a tangy impression. The Maduro blend introduces more sweetness with notes of molasses and dark cocoa. Indulge in Punch in several classic sizes today.
3. Punch Rare Corojo
Every year, Punch Rare Corojo is released. The annual small-batch blend is especially popular with Punch fans who scoop up enough boxes to last them until the next year. An oily, reddish-brown Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf envelops a meaty blend Nicaraguan and Honduran long-fillers tucked inside the quintessential Connecticut Broadleaf binder Punch cigars are known for. A sophisticated profile of cocoa, mesquite, and nougat culminates in a woody, medium to full-bodied finish in a collection of well-made sizes, including a small Figurado called the Champion. Score a 20-cigar Punch sampler with the Punch ‘Haymaker’ Monster Deal, which includes 10 Punch Rare Corojo cigars with 10 Punch Vintage No. 20s for a big discount.
4. Punch Deluxe
Punch Deluxe pushes the original Punch profile a bit further with a stronger, full-bodied profile of nuts and wood. Hints of vanilla and cedar surface in a handful of traditional shapes finished in either an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper or a Connecticut Broadleaf. Inside each is a more intense array of Cuban-seed tobaccos grown in the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Honduras. Punch Deluxe is potent and blended for cigar lovers who prefer earthy, spicy cigars.
5. Punch Signature
Punch Signature cigars debuted in 2015 and are blended by one of General Cigar’s master cigar-makers in Danlí, Honduras. Signature is drawn from a Cuban-seed Corojo wrapper cultivated in Ecuador and a Cuban-seed binder grown in the Connecticut River Valley. A combination of Dominican and Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos completes the blend. The critics in Cigar Aficionado rated Punch Signature 91 points for its medium to full-bodied profile of milk chocolate, dried fruit, and pepper.
6. Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua
An oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper conceals a bold blend of Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos in a series of easy-burning shapes in Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua. Earthy notes of minerals and spices start out with a degree of fortitude but become sweet and nutty in a 90-rated cigar that ushers in a finish of almonds and cedar with a touch of fruit.
7. Punch Diablo
Punch Diablo is blended to singe your nose hairs if you’re unprepared for this cigar’s ultra-spicy, intense, and nicotine-dense taste. A deep, dark Ecuador Sumatra wrapper leaf embraces an abundant blend of Nicaraguan and Honduran long-filler tobaccos enclosed in a robust layer of Connecticut Broadleaf binders. On paper, Diablo looks like any other Punch, but don’t be fooled. Spicy notes of cayenne, paprika, and cracked black pepper punctuate woody and resonant notes of hickory, chocolate fudge, and espresso before a feisty finish rolls over the palate. Eat first, and go back for seconds, before you smoke the 93-rated Punch Diablo.
8. Punch Gran Puro
The original Punch Gran Puro scored 93 points and a ‘Top 10’ ranking in Cigar Aficionado’s annual list of the top 25 cigars for 2016. The blend is drawn entirely from Honduran tobaccos, including its glistening Sun Grown wrapper leaf. Leathery, sweet, and floral notes of baking spices and dried fruit culminate with remarkable balance in an excellent expression of Honduran terroir. Savor an authentic Honduran Puro from Punch today.
9. Punch Grand Cru
Punch Grand Cru cigars are prepared from a silky and smooth blend of Dominican, Nicaraguan, and Honduran long-fillers rolled in a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. The blend is finished in a Connecticut Shade (Natural) or a Connecticut Broadleaf (Maduro) wrapper. Grand Cru is distinguished by its age – the cigars rest for three to five years before they’re shipped. A luscious profile of wheat, baking spices, cocoa, and oak marries in a pleasant and smoky finish.
