There are two different Punch cigars: the classic, Cuban brand rolled by the old stalwart Fernandez Palicio & Co. (formerly Manuel Lopez, since 1840) in Havana -- at one time very popular in Britain -- and the post-revolutionary Punch brand produced in Honduras by the General Cigar Corporation (a giant in the world of cigar production, owned by a Swedish parent company).

Today, I enjoyed a Honduran Punch. I say "enjoyed," since the cigar was -- dollar for dollar -- equal to or better than a Cuban Punch that I purchased in Mexico for twice the price: a $15 Punch Monarcas. (Do you hear that, my cigar friend and esteemed travel writer and bar-fly from Canada, james23? The Honduran Punch is better -- on a dollar for dollar basis -- than the Cuban Punch.)


The Honduran Punch
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The cigar I smoked today was a Punch Double Corona -- 6¾" x 48 ring gauge (48/64th's -- or 3/4ths -- of an inch in diameter).

Wrapper: Leaf either from Ecuador or Sumatra - English Market Selection, medium brown color
Binder: Honduras
Filler: Honduras, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic

I am fairly sure that this cigar is rolled by Villazon H.A.T.S.A. in Honduras. The overall construction is -- as I find with all H.A.T.S.A. (H.A.T.S.A. = Honduras-American Tobacco S.A.) produced cigars -- excellent. The barrel was firm, the filler tobaccos were sandwiched and properly packed. The head and foot of the cigar were perfect; the cigar cap was securely glued and fixed.

This is -- all in all -- a well made cigar and a mild-to-medium smoke. Initially, this cigar starts out with some vegetal and woody flavors that temper out, mid smoke, and ease into a leathery finish.

The cigar burned evenly, I had no problems with the draw, and the ash cylinder was white and solid. This cigar compares -- very favorably -- to the Honduran Cohiba, which retails at three times the price. For the money, I would buy the poseur Punch brand cigars before spending a dollar on the poseur Cohiba line.


Price and Availability
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I purchased this cigar at Beverages & More (www.bevmo.com), a liquor/cigar/beverage super retailer in California. I paid $7.50 for a single cigar.

This cigar is available in fairly wide distribution from a number of large cigar retailers. At J.R. Cigars (www.jrcigars.com), they can be purchased for $68 per box of 25 cigars (normal retail = $100). We have a nearly 100% sin tax on cigars in California. Normally, I buy bundles or boxes from J.R. Cigars, but I sometimes will buy single cigars -- like I did here -- before making a commitment for a box purchase.


Recommendations
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A Good cigar from the company that also produces the Macanudo and the (non-Cuban) Partagas brands. At a price of $7.50 per stick, I don't particularly recommend the cigar, but it is very good. If you can buy it at or below $4 per stick, then I this is one cigar that I would highly recommend.

I enjoyed this cigar with a couple of Belgian "Tripel Style" Golden Rose ales from the Hair of the Dog Brewing Company of Portland, Oregon.

Next month, I will be in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, testing out some Cuban cigars. Report(s) to follow....


Recommended: Yes

Cigar Name: Punch Double Corona Natural from Honduras
Cigar Rating: Better than most
Price per cigar ($US): 7.50