Punch (Cuban)

Punch (Cuban)

• Strength: 3 /  5
• Size: 6 x 50
• Origin: Cuba
• Price (local): $ ??
• Wrapper: Cuban
• Flavor Text:

Created in the mid-1800s, Punch is one of the oldest brands in Cuba's portfolio. The name stems from a humor magazine that was popular in Britain, which was a booming cigar market at the time, and Manuel hoped the name would appeal to customers there. Along with the name was born Mr. Punch, the brand's popular mascot that's a contented clown who personified the magazine and is still featured in the brand's packaging today. Cuba's Punch brand is known for being distinctly medium bodied.

Every now and then, I get a taste of an authentic Cuban cigar. Working part time hours in a tobacco shop exposes you to all sorts of people, some good and some bad, and this is one smoke I was graced with from a customer who I simply made laugh a couple of times. I guess there are some benefits to being a clown after all. The Punch Cuban I sampled was about a 6 by 50 size, long like a Lancero and just moist enough to the touch to be ready to smoke. With some aging and a little plume, this one could have had it all. Without it, it was still enjoyable. Nothing crazy, though.

The Punch Cuban I experienced was thoroughly medium and fresh as a daisy. It featured some notes of leather, cedar and a touch of cabinet spices, and I wouldn't say that it was anything too hard to hold. The draw, a trademark of Cuban smokes, was effortless and rich. I was able to pull a lot of smoke from this one, which is always a big indicator of a good cigar on my list of traits. This smoke burnt extremely fast, maybe due to how fresh it was, but it was no problem. The calling card of this one was the consistency of the smoke: the consistent flavor, the strong notes and the powerful, thick and creamy smoke all came together to really demonstrate the power of a well-made Cuban cigar.

It's hard to say that I would or would not recommend a Cuban. For anyone who considers themselves an aficionado, you aren't going to turn away from a Cuban. Hell, you might find yourself actively searching for them. They are hard to find to be sure, especially now. This Cuban was not as good as the Upmann Cuban I sampled many weeks ago, but honestly, you aren't going to say no to a Cuban no matter which one it is. Smoke 'em if you got 'em, this one won't do you wrong.

Happy smoking! CB