Brand guide
Punch cigars
Punch is two cigar brands with one name: a Cuban Punch made in Cuba and sold by Habanos S.A., and a non-Cuban Punch made for the US market by a Scandinavian Tobacco Group company.
Punch began in 1840s Havana
Punch is one of the oldest Havana cigar names, registered around 1840 and aimed at the British market.
Wikipedia says a German named Stockmann registered it in 1840, naming it after Mr. Punch the puppet. Habanos credits Don Manuel López and dates the brand to the mid-19th century. Both agree on the English target. López bought the brand in 1884, and his name still appears on Cuban bands and boxes. In 1930 the firm Fernández, Palicio y Cía took it over, alongside Hoyo de Monterrey.
Why are there two Punch brands?
The split came after the Cuban revolution, when Cuba nationalized its cigar industry and the prior owner sold his rights abroad.
Fernando Palicio left Cuba for Florida. Per Wikipedia, he sold his brands to Frank Llaneza and Dan Blumenthal of Villazon & Co., who made Punch from Honduran tobacco for American buyers. Cuba kept making its own Punch. Two owners, two products, one name.
General Cigar bought Villazon in 1997. General Cigar is now a subsidiary of Scandinavian Tobacco Group. The current Punch US website carries a copyright line for Forged Cigar Co., another STG company.
Cuban Punch and Habanos S.A.
The Cuban Punch is marketed worldwide by Habanos S.A. and made at the La Corona factory, according to Habanos.
Habanos says the filler and wrapper come from the Vuelta Abajo zone. Every Cuban Punch is handmade with long filler. Habanos describes the brand as medium in strength. A 2019 release, Short de Punch, was the first Punch vitola with a 50 ring. Habanos itself is a joint venture: Cuban state-owned Cubatabaco holds half.
Non-Cuban Punch, made in Honduras
The non-Cuban Punch is made in Honduras, according to Wikipedia, using a mix of Central American, Caribbean and South American leaf.
The US site lists the blends. Clásico and Rare Corojo use Ecuadorian Sumatra wrappers over Connecticut Broadleaf binders. Their filler is Honduran, Nicaraguan and Dominican Piloto Cubano. Gran Puro is all Honduran. The site's tagline counts "180 Years," tying the US brand to the same 1840 founding date.
Punch lines from both owners
Each row names which Punch it is, because the two owners make different cigars under the same name.
| Line | Owner | Wrapper (maker) | Blend or size detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Punch Clásico | US (STG) | Ecuadorian Sumatra | Connecticut Broadleaf binder; Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican Piloto Cubano filler |
| Punch Rare Corojo | US (STG) | Ecuadorian Sumatra | Same binder and filler countries as Clásico |
| Punch Signature | US (STG) | Ecuadorian Corojo | Connecticut Habano binder; Dominican, Nicaraguan filler |
| Punch Gran Puro | US (STG) | Honduran Havana Seed | Honduran binder and filler |
| Punch Double Corona | Cuba (Habanos) | Vuelta Abajo leaf | 7 5/8 x 49 |
| Short de Punch | Cuba (Habanos) | Vuelta Abajo leaf | 120 mm x 50 ring, added 2019 |
Wikipedia lists other Cuban sizes, including the Churchill at 7 x 47, the Punch Punch at 5 5/8 x 46 and the Petit Punch at 4 x 40. On the US side, Knuckle Buster, Diablo, Deluxe and Grand Cru also appear on the product list.
Punch milestones
Punch has passed through at least six owners since 1840.
- 1840: Brand registered in Havana, per Wikipedia.
- 1884: Manuel López buys Punch.
- 1930: Fernández, Palicio y Cía acquires the brand.
- After 1959: Cuba nationalizes the industry; Palicio sells to Villazon.
- 1997: General Cigar acquires Villazon.
- 2019: Cuban Short de Punch released.
What to know before you buy a Punch
The first fact to check on any Punch is which owner made it, because the band name alone does not tell you.
Look for the country of manufacture on the packaging. Cuban Punch sizes listed by Wikipedia run from a 4 3/4 x 26 Margarita to a 7 5/8 x 49 Double Corona. The US Punch site keeps sizes in a separate size chart for each line. Compare any of them with our cigar size explorer.
Cuban vs US Punch questions
Is Punch a Cuban cigar?
Only one of the two is. Habanos sells the version rolled on the island, while the American-market version is blended from Honduran, Nicaraguan, Dominican and Ecuadorian leaf.
Who makes Punch cigars sold in the US?
The American-market Punch belongs to STG. Its website carries a Forged Cigar Co. copyright, and Wikipedia credits General Cigar with Honduran production.
Why is the brand called Punch?
Wikipedia says the name comes from Mr. Punch, the puppet character, and was aimed at British buyers. Habanos links it to the English humor magazine of the same name.
How strong is Cuban Punch?
Habanos describes the Cuban Punch as medium strength. The US Punch website lists tasting notes for each line but no strength scale.
Where the Punch facts come from
- Punch brand, Habanos S.A.
- Punch Rare Corojo, Punch Cigars (Forged Cigar Co.)
- Punch (cigar), Wikipedia
- General Cigar Company, Wikipedia