Tag Archives: punch

by Craig Vanderslice | March 11, 2020 · 8:05 pm

The New Punch Knuckle Buster Cigar

A few weeks ago I posted about the new Punch Chop Suey, as well as the Shop Press, and I included the press release for the new Punch Knuckle Buster. To recap, the Punch Knuckle Buster is a new regular production cigar made at the HATSA factory in Honduras with Habano seed tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras. The wrapper is Nicaraguan, the binder Honduran and the filler a blend of the two. The cigars are priced between $5 and $6 before state taxes where applicable, so they are very reasonably priced. I smoked one last night and I actually hadn’t even looked at the pricing before I smoked it, so I had no preconceived notions. First, I’ve enjoyed a lot of Punch cigars over the years. I wrote a post about a controversy which existed in the ’90s about Punch and Hoyo de Monterrey cigars back in 2012 (http://www.cigarcraig.com/punch-vs-hoyo-de-monterrey-a-debate-finally-settled/) dispelling the myth that the two cigars were exactly the same. There have been some hits and misses in the Punch line in recent years to my palate, but otherwise it’s been a solid line. For instance, the Punch Diablo I smoked tonight, made by A.J. Fernandez, is a fantastic cigar to my palate.

The Punch Knuckle Buster I smoked was the 6″ x 50 Toro, it also comes in a 4½” x 52 Robusto and 6¼”x 60 Gordo, I’d happily smoke any of them. It’s a nice looking cigar, the Nicaraguan Habano wrapper is an attractive shade of brown without blemish.The construction on the sample I smoked was perfect, it had the flat ember that I enjoy, no cone, all of the leaves in the blend burning at the same rate. When I first lit it up I wondered where it was going. It started out rather blah, if I had known the price point I wouldn’t have been surprised at that point. After about the first inch, started sweetening up and really got good. It was a medium bodied cigar all the way through, and it was really quite nice. There was a nice, sweet, nutty flavor that I really enjoyed. Now that I see that it’s a very reasonably priced cigar, I’m surprised and quite happy. I thought it was a beautiful cigar, and contemplated smoking another tonight. It seems to me there was a Punch Bare Knuckle some time ago, it might have been a Maier and Dutch exclusive, but it was a strong cigar, this one was not. It was smooth and tasty. Maybe it isn’t the greatest name, as it implies it packs a punch, which it doesn’t, I’d be comfortable sharing this with a novice smoker. It has a load of flavor,

Interestingly, it’s been brought to my attention that the new CigarWorld.com site is having their first official contest, and it happens to involve the Punch brand. You’ll have to register and join the Groups, and go HERE. If you review a Punch cigar on the site this month you’ll be entered to win a Punch Bobblehead. Follow the directions on the post. Thank you to General Cigar Co. for sending the Punch Knuckle Buster samples. That’s all for today, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Knuckle Buster, punch

by Craig Vanderslice | February 26, 2020 · 8:38 pm

A Visit to Black Horse Cigars and some Punch Cigars

Yesterday I took a drive to Sicklerville, New Jersey and paid a quick visit to Black Horse Cigars for a smoke. My wife was doing some research at the library at Rowan University about 6 miles away, so it was a good excuse for a visit. The Black Horse Cigar Shop is at the end of a small shopping center and has a well appointed walk in humidor with reasonable prices for New Jersey. I selected a Punch Store Press Mata Fina and their own Aniversario cigar in a Lancero size and went to check out the lounge. They have a really nice lounge with all the amenities, a bar area, comfy seating, several hightop tables and TVs. I settles into one of the leather couches (and hoped that I could get up after sinking in!) and lit up the Punch. They had recently had an event featuring the Punch Store Press series, and the line was prominently displayed in the humidor, so it caught my eye. The 5½”x 55 Mata Fina not only looked like it was the right size for my time allotment, but the Brazilian Mata Fina Wrapper was a beautiful dark brown and looked tasty. They are displayed in trays with wooden dividers like they use to press the cigars in the factory to create the box press presentation. The lounge has lighters and cutters liberally sprinkled throughout the place, of course, I carry my own tools. The Punch Store Press Mata Fina started off a with little odd flavor, almost sour, but developed nicely over time. It sweetened slightly, but was more on the savory side for the most part. I really liked it and hated to put it down. Just before I had to leave one of the members came in and was very friendly and had he been there when I came in I can imagine that I would have spent the entire time having a great conversation with him. I was impressed with the shop and look forward to the next time I’m in the area and can stop in and spend some more time in the lounge.

When I got home I took my evening walk with the Black Horse Aniversario Lancero, which is a 6½” x 40 San Andrés wrapped cigar with and Dominican Binder and filler. OK, so it isn’t really a Lancero, it’s Lancero-ish, they also had a Gordo. I probably should have picked up their Connecticut version as well, it’s something for the next time I go there. They were tight-lipped about the factory where this is made, I asked, but my question went unanswered. This cigar has a dark maduro wrapper, and a pigtail cap. The burn and draw were perfect and I enjoyed it for a good hour and a half. It was earthy and on the milder side of medium, with some espresso flavors. I found it to be quite enjoyable and the $10ish price-tag was not out of line.

Speaking of Punch, this news came out last week:

PUNCH TO LAUNCH FULL-TIME LINE CALLED “KNUCKLE BUSTER”

Punch is set to launch a full-time, wallet and palate-pleasing line called “Knuckle Buster.” The three-cigar collection will begin shipping to retailers in March.

Named for a phrase made famous by a university basketball coach who described a rough and tumble physical game as a “Blue Collar Knuckle Buster,” the Punch Knuckle Buster was created to deliver a hardworking blend for hard working people.

Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Punch said, “Punch is committed to staying true to what the brand has represented over the last six decades: a consistent, well-made, no-nonsense cigar at a price that’s fair and reasonable. Punch Knuckle Buster honors this commitment with a solid, enticing blend for the people who work hard to enjoy the good life.”

Punch’s blending team at the HATSA cigar factory set out to make a medium-bodied cigar that would appeal to both new and seasoned smokers. They selected only Habano-seed tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras to deliver when it comes to balancing flavor and strength with complexity. Knuckle Buster has a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan Habano binder and its filler tobaccos are from Nicaragua and Honduras.

Punch Knuckle Buster will ship to retailers on March 9 in these three sizes:

Robusto (4.5” x 52); SRP per cigar $4.99; Available in 25 count boxes

Toro (6” x 50); SRP per cigar $5.49; Available in 25 count boxes

Gordo (6.25” x 60) : SRP per cigar $5.99; Available in 20 count boxes

Lahmann continued, “Our hope is that Punch Knuckle Buster becomes a ‘go to’ blend that cigar smokers can rely on time and time again, without having to think twice when they hit the cash register or click on their carts. We want it to be the perfect smoke for walking the dog or mowing the lawn or enjoying with cigar smoking friends. Because after all, a cigar is not about money or status or boutique cigar makers. It’s about removing those barriers and enjoying a moment of well-earned relaxation.”

Punch cigars are handcrafted at General Cigar’s HATSA factory in Danli, Honduras.

A few weeks ago Punch released the limited Edition Chop Suey, following up last year’s Egg Roll. I never did get around to trying the Egg Roll, not sure why I didn’t pick some up. The Chop Suey is a 7” x 37 Panatela with a 1” shaggy foot. I receive a pair of these from General a few weeks ago and figured tonight was a good night to give one a try. This has an Ecuador Sumatra wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers, and retails for around $6. They package the bundles of 25 in boxes that look like Chinese take-out, and the bands have fortunes on the underside, mine said “Avoid people who take cigar fortunes too seriously”. I guess that’s better than “Help. I”m being held captive in a fortune cookie factory”. The first inch of this, without the wrapper, tasted pretty good, when the wrapper caught, it didn’t seem to change a whole lot. The draw tightened a bit, and when this happens I usually check the foot to see if there’s a tar build up, and there was, and I’m glad I cleaned it off with my finger before it hit my lips or tongue. If you’ve ever had that tar hit your tongue, it about ruins a cigar, or anything else, for the rest of the night. I re-cut the cigar and fixed the tar problem, sometimes cutting the absolute bare minimum off the cap just isn’t enough. The rest of the cigar smoked well, it tasted fine with leathery flavors. It lacked the sweetness I expect from Sumatra wrappers, but the higher combustion temperature from the. smaller ring might have something to do with that. I’ll give this cigar another try under different circumstances.

That’s enough for today, until the next time.

CigarCraig

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Tagged as Black Horse, Chop Suey, cigar, cigars, Mata Fina, punch, Store Press

by CigarCraig | July 6, 2018 · 4:52 pm

News: Punch Launches Diablo

News from General Cigar late on a Friday! A long time ago they had a brand called “Diablo”, it was short-lived, and now they are using the name on a Punch line extension made at AJ Fernandez. I happen to know that the folks who actually make the cigars don’t really care for the name, generally. Catholicism tends to be heavily practiced in cigar making countries, and the locals can get a bit squirrelly about invoking the antichrist’s name. That’s not my problem, however, it looks like a blend that I’d appreciate.

Punch beckons you to the dark side without fear of losing your soul with the release of its newest collection called Diablo.

Punch Diablo marks the first time that a Punch cigar will be made outside of Honduras, where the brand has been made since the 1960s.

Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Punch said, “When it came time to select the blend for Diablo, we decided that we wanted to make the fullest-bodied Punch to date. AJ Fernandez is a master when it comes to developing full-bodied cigars, so we asked him to create a blend using aged tobaccos, one that has strength and bold flavor to complement the rest of the cigars under the Punch umbrella. We’re confident that the blend he delivered will be a great new option for classic Punch smokers and that Diablo will give all full-bodied smokers another reason to experience Punch.”

The unofficial brand spokesman, aka the snarky Mr. Punch character, chimed in to say, “With Diablo, we wanted a powerful smoke. So if you’re a pansie or a snowflake or whatever PC term they use these days, this is not a smoke for you.”

The devil is in the details, so Master Blender AJ Fernandez has left nothing to chance with this tempting four-country blend. Befitting of its diabolical name, Punch Diablo is made with a blend of four-year-aged Nicaraguan and Honduran Habano leaves and is wrapped in a deep, oscuro Ecuadoran Sumatra wrapper, also aged four years. A bold Connecticut Broadleaf binder that’s been aged for six years seals the deal to deliver a sinfully indulgent smoke that’s spicy, intriguing and destined to leave you spellbound.

Notes of wood, earth and leather abound in this medium-plus to full-bodied smoke.

Handcrafted at Tabacalera AJ Fernandez, Punch Diablo will make its debut in packaging that features the brand’s new look and feel. These three sizes will be available, beginning in late July:

Scamp (6.125 x 50); SRP per cigar $7.19; 25 cigars per box

Diabolus (5.25 x 54); SRP per cigar $7.79; 25 cigars per box

Brute (6.25 x 60); SRP per cigar $8.19; 20 cigars per box

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Tagged as cigar, cigars, Diablo, general cigars, punch

by CigarCraig | April 26, 2017 · 8:27 pm

Punch, CAO, La Gloria, Macanudo Goodies Contest Winner

I smoked a handful of great cigars since we spoke last, but I just enjoyed most of them without giving them much thought. I did pick up a handy new gadget that I heard about on KMA Talk Radio last week, called the Poke and Smoke. it’s a handy tool on a key ring that has two little prongs you can impale your cigar with and smoke it without burning your fingers. It was an impulse buy, and resembles the little handles one pokes into the ends of your corn on the cob to hold it with, and I’ve used it twice now and it works fine. I did notice that it stinks the next day, so I suppose I’ll have to keep tabs on that. Anyway, I bought a couple and the winner of the contest may find one in with the goodies from General Cigar Co. courtesy of your’s truly. Before we get to the winner, here’s a little news from General Cigar Co. about their new Cohiba release:

COHIBA BLUE

The world’s finest tobaccos create the most enduring experiences. Cohiba Blue is indeed the cigar for all who desire to live the good life.

Cohiba has always been synonymous with luxury smoking experiences. The brand’s latest collection, Cohiba Blue, takes this to an entirely different level by introducing the notion of inclusive luxury.

Andres Maturen, brand manager of Cohiba said, “With Cohiba Blue, we present collection that speaks to the ethos of the Cohiba brand. Made with a curated selection of tobaccos, handcrafted by renowned artisans, and created for all those who seek the indulgence of a fine cigar, Cohiba Blue symbolizes a life well lived.”

The Cohiba blending team created a velvety, medium-bodied cigar with a rich, complex taste and enticing aroma. To achieve the desired flavor, they began with a silky, rosado-hued Honduran Olancho San Agustin (OSA) wrapper and took a unique approach by selecting Honduran OSA for the binder as well. The layered wrapper-binder deepens the smoking experience and imparts subtle, earthy notes. The blend consists of Honduran Jamastran, Nicaraguan Ometepe and Dominican Piloto Cubano to provide hints of cocoa and caramel, with a light touch of sweetness. The unique, three-country blend represents the world’s most revered tobacco growing regions and delivers a sophisticated, memorable smoke.

The cigars are protected hand-painted bright blue wooden boxes, each containing 20 flawlessly handcrafted cigars.

Churchill (7.5 X 50); SRP per cigar is $10.99

Robusto (5.5 X 50); SRP per cigar is $9.99

Rothschild (4.5 X 50); SRP per cigar $8.99

Toro (6 X 54); SRP per cigar is $10.49

More on the Cohiba Blue in the coming weeks, but you want to know who won the goodies! The random number generator spit out the number 23, which corresponds with Olie. It turns out Olie is a very long time reader, and a guy I met face to face at a herf in Reno back in 2009, and had “known” for years before that on the old alt.smokers.cigars Usenet group! Congrats Ted, er…Olie, please send your address so I can get this stuff out your way!

That’s all for now, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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Tagged as CAO, cigar, cigars, cohiba, Contest, General Cigar Co., La Gloria Cubana, macanudo, Poke and Smoke, punch

by CigarCraig | April 19, 2017 · 9:14 pm

Toraño, CAO, Punch and Hoyo Cigars and a Contest!

I kind of got stuck in the General Cigar tray of the humidor this week and revisited a few cigars that I may not have really liked the first time around (or subsequent times as it turns out). I started out with the Toraño Exodus on Sunday, not even thinking that it might have been the only cigar in my humidor that was seasonally appropriate. Someone brought this to my attention and I quipped that I had passed it over several times over the past few months since I didn’t really like it the first time I smoked it last summer. Age has benefited this cigar, that was an IPCPR show sample in the 5″ x 54 robusto size. This latest version of the Exodus, the first since General Cigar bought the brand, has a Honduran San Augustin wrapper, Connecticut Broadleaf binder and Dominican, Honduran and Mexican fillers. I didn’t care for this the fist time I smoked it, but this one six months later was pretty darned tasty, it still started off a little sour, but it was greatly improved.

I followed that later in the day with a CAO Consigliere Associate, the robusto in the line that is basically the return of the Sopranos line, without the licensing fees that went along with the original. This is a 5″ x 52 robusto, and the first time I smoked this was in Las Vegas the night before the trade show opened when I ran into Rick Rodriguez and Ed McKenna of CAO at the Circle Bar in the Venetian Hotel. I had not previous experience with the Sopranos line, and I was told that this used the same blend as the original, Brazilian wrapper, Honduran binder and Colombian, Dominican, Nicaraguan fillers. I like sweetness in a cigar, and this cigar doesn’t have much sweetness, but it’s a god smoke if you like cigars on the savory end of the spectrum, which will come up again. Monday I went with one of my favorites from CAO, the Flathead in the v660 Carb size, the one that placed high in Cigar Aficionado’s list a couple of years ago, I really like the Flathead line, although the 770 is a bit unwieldy. I still liked the Consigliere, it was a nice cigar.

Last night I went back to the Punch Signature Pita. I’ve liked a lot of Punch cigars, I should like this one too, but it’s another one that doesn’t hit my palate right, I’m afraid. It’s a classic 6″ x 50 toro, with a Ecuador Corojo wrapper, Connecticut Habano binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers, what’s not to like? I’ve smoked this in this size and the Robusto size, neither of which tripped my trigger unfortunately. It was lacking any sweetness and was very leathery to me. Certainly there are people who like this profile, it doesn’t thrill me. I can’t tell you how many Punch Rothchilds I smoked in the 90s!

Tonight I picked out a year old Hoyo Robusto, the first couple I smoked last year I had draw problems with, I’ve also enjoyed a great many Hoyo de Monterrey cigars over the years, and the newest Hoyo La Amistad General Cigar made with AJ Fernandez last year is a really good smoke. This Hoyo has a Habano shade grown wrapper from Esteli, an Ecuador Sumatra binder, and Esteli, Ometepe and Pennsylvania fillers. I enjoyed this cigar a lot more now that it draws right, although it’s another cigar on the savory side, but it smoked well and I enjoyed it. I think I would still lean toward the La Amistad when making a choice, but the Hoyo exceeded expectations.

Contest!

Since I smoked a bunch of General Cigar products this week, and I have some goodies still hanging around, it’s a great time for me to have another giveaway! This is the last of the goodies I received a few months ago, we have a cool CAO Flathead Steel Horse metal sign, a Punch bobblehead, a Macanudo Colibri cutter (similar to the CAO cutter I used all week which worked great!) and a pair of La Gloria Cubana Cigar Scissors. As sometimes happens around here, I get sloppy when I’m packing the box and cigars fall in, previous winners can attest to this. Usual rules apply, leave a comment on this blog post to enter, I’ll select a winner next Wednesday, April , 26, 2017.