Punch Vintage Maduro Staff Review
Time to smoke… My pick for today’s review is the outstanding, Punch Vintage Maduro #35, our best-selling Punch brand. Punch is one of the most celebrated legacy brands in existence, receiving numerous awards and top ratings from publications around the world. Handcrafted in Honduras, Punch is produced by General Cigar Company, which is also famous for other top brands like Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, and more. A few noteworthy pieces to the Punch Vintage backstory is that it is an exclusive blend for Holt’s Cigar Company, and has been produced for over two decades now. That type of longevity verifies just how great these cigars are. The second piece would be the extra aging that takes place in specially designed cedar cabinets for over a year before they are packaged and shipped.
One of the more noticeable aspects of this cigar is the dark, oily Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, which almost looks like a piece of mouthwatering dark chocolate. After clipping the cap off, hefty notes of earth, Ancho Chiles and cocoa come together to create a pleasant aroma during a handful of cold draws. During light up, my Toro-sized #35, produces plenty of smoke as the room fills with hints of cedar and spice. The blend of Dominican and Honduran long-fillers used in this cigar are no doubt a perfect match and create a well-balanced, medium-bodied profile.
As I near the end of the first third, the burn maintains its line and hardly needs any touching up. At the halfway point a bit of leather and cocoa is present and intertwines with the earth and Ancho Chile very nicely. Once my smoke transitions to the final third, everything is supremely consistent, from the tasting notes and aroma to its burn and draw. While I finish smoking this cigar, I really feel that Punch Vintage is as steady as any uber-premium on the market. Overall, I have to say this is a very satisfying Maduro; a rich, complex blend that checks off all the boxes I look for in terms of flavor, aroma and construction.
All in all, Punch Vintage Maduro is definitely an approachable blend for a ton of cigar smokers, especially for those that love a sweet, Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. For just over $5 apiece, this has to be one of the top budget-friendly cigars available and I will certainly be adding this to my normal rotation going forward. If you find yourself browsing our All Brands List for something new, don’t forget to click Punch Vintage and give it a try. Enjoy!
