 Tasting and grading General Cigar’s famous Punch line-up!
Los Angeles, September 14 – You have to be impressed with a brand which has been around for 38 years, let alone 167 years! That’s Punch.
Created in Cuba in 1840, the brand was reportedly originally conceived for the British market, which appreciated a more powerful taste. The brand name does not refer in any way to boxing of fighting, but much more likely to the character of Punch in the “Punch & Judy” puppet shows that were popular in the 1800s.
Like all other Cuban brands, it disappeared from the U.S. market following the imposition of the Cuban trade embargo in 1962. But after Francisco Palicio, owner of the brand in Cuba, sold his ownership rights to Dan Blumenthal’s Villazon & Co. and with U.S. court decisions that allowed Blumenthal to produce a Punch cigar for the U.S. market, it appeared in 1969.
As with its predecessor in Cuba, this is a cigar which offers what one commentator called “a tang of the native soil, more or less fruity or woody according to the cigar.” There is a power to this blend, which General Cigar notes in its ad campaign, calling the brand “true to its name.” But it’s not harsh or bitter, but almost seductive in its approach, but always with a resolute intensity that’s always apparent by the time you finish.
We tried each of the styles now on the market and found a lot to talk about:
Punch – Natural wrapper:
[Honduras: available in 16 sizes]
Here is the famous Punch line as it appeared on the American market, with a full body, a toasty aroma and excellent construction.
There is a creamy touch to the taste, even slightly sweet at times. The finish is short but the flavor is quite subtle. The blend is strong enough to tickle the back of your throat by the halfway mark, even if there is no discernable spicy or peppery element on the tongue!
There’s a modest note of spice near the end, but the overall impression rests with the subtlety rather than the strength of the cigar. As always, it’s a great value, with suggested retail prices from $3.75 to $6.75 each, before local tobacco taxes.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Punch – Maduro wrapper:
[Honduras: available in 13 sizes]
Instead of the Ecuadorian-grown wrappers used on the natural-shade line, extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf wrappers are used for the maduro versions and there’s a definite difference.
The maduros are also full-bodied, but with a spicier aroma and the obvious, sweet taste you would expect from a high-quality maduro-wrapped cigar. The taste is rich and sweet with a notable caramelized element in the first half. The finish is short and the draw is excellent, so there’s plenty of flavor and character to this blend.
It’s consistent in approach to the end, although the intensity of the flavor recedes some in the last half. Well-priced like the natural-wrapped line, this is a very high quality cigar that will satisfy smokers with a sweet tooth as well as those looking for a serious, well-made cigar that can be enjoyed at any time of the day.
Overall grade: A: Exceptional.
Punch Deluxe:
[Honduras: available in 3 sizes]
The Deluxe line has some extra aging to it and we couldn’t resist another shot at the maduro-wrapped editions. We were happy we took the chance.
The Deluxe has a sweet and toasty aroma and the sweet maduro taste we anticipated. Very well controlled, the flavor is warm and engaging, with a modest but still-sweet finish.
Well made and easy to smoke, a spicy and peppery note enters on the finish in the second half and adds depth to the blend. It becomes quieter at the end, but offers a bit more finesse than the standard line. The price has been finessed, too, at suggested retail of $4.00 to $6.00 each before local tobacco taxes, again an excellent value.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Punch Grand Cru:
[Honduras: available in 8 sizes]
The Grand Cru uses vintage tobaccos and has wide popularity, especially the pointy-headed, square-pressed No. II. These cigars are just beautifully made.
There’s a toasty, slightly spicy aroma to this cigar and a lightly spiced taste with a hint of sweetness and a small finish. It’s the balance between the spice and sweetness that’s so impressive in this blend and marks it as quite refined.
The finish picks up a peppery note in the second half, making the taste a bit bolder but never eclipses the spicy and sweet elements. This cigar is very well made and draws easily, but could be confusing for those not used to such subtlety in blending. It’s certainly not a beginner’s cigar.
Overall grade: B+: Very Good.
Punch Gran Puro:
[Honduras: available in 6 sizes]
The Gran Puro was introduced in 2003 and offered a rarity at the time: an all-Honduran blend of tobaccos with the expected full body, but without a trace of harshness.
It has a spicy aroma and a light but rich caramelized taste with a short finish. This cigar smokes very slowly, so don’t rush it. The spicy elements become more prominent at halfway and are obvious on the tongue, but it’s all under control and never off-putting or grainy.
There’s a note of pepper at the end, but it’s also well controlled and signals you’re reached the finish line. The Gran Puro could be an excellent candidate for long-term aging if you have the discipline not to sneak one not and again, especially as a late-night companion with your favorite adult beverage.
Overall grade: A-: Excellent.
Punch Rare Corojo:
[Honduras: available in 5 sizes]
The Rare Corojo was first made available in 2001 and is named for its Ecuadorian-grown Corojo wrapper. It’s not always available, but is offered when there is enough wrapper to make the cigars. It’s square-pressed and double-banded and you’ll know when you see it since it comes in a bright red box!
Given the dark Corojo wrapper, you might think this cigar is all about power, but you’d be wrong. It offers a medium-to-full body and there a creamy note in the taste with a light finish and a nip of spice on the tongue.
The oily and reddish wrapper may be irresistible to the eyes, but this is a “counter-puncher” rather than a fighter, with some hidden power in the blend. You’ll get the most from this blend if you enjoy it slowly rather than try to pull heavier flavors from it than it will give. It’s also a very good candidate for aging. At prices of $3.50 to $6.30, it’s accessible and an interesting cigar to try after dinner.
Overall grade: B+: Very Good.
Perhaps the name “punch” is a bit of a misnomer for this brand. It’s more like “jab.” There are plenty of interesting flavors in the Punch line, but none of the cigars are overpowering or harsh. Instead, this is a sophisticated line of very well made cigars that’s clearly a winner but not a knockout artist. Kind of the Sugar Ray Leonard of cigars? That's a winner indeed!
~ Rich Perelman
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