The
19th century English puppet Punch (of the Punch and Judy shows), with his sly
ironic smile and ever-present cigar in hand provided Manuel Lopez with the name
for this fine flavoured premium cigar. Created in 1840 for the British market,
the punch cigar was to become so popular in Britain that Winston Churchill
would later visit the Monte y Zulueta factory during his stay in Havana and lend
his name to one of the punch cigar sizes. The
punch cigar brand, which was subsequently sold to Corujo y Cia in 1859
and owned by F. Palicio y Cia until Castro took over Cuba, still delivers its
distinctive aromatic punch among the traditional and illustrious premium Cuban
cigars.
Not a conventional
cigar, the punch cigar is a straightforward cigar aficionado's smoke. Reputed
for its impressive burn with an almost perfect black ring, it leaves its signature
in the Cuban salt and pepper ash and continues to delight it steadfastly loyal
followers more than a century after its creation.
