Originally published at Tiki Bar Online
Size: 4 1/2 x 30/60
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Sumatra
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Honduran, Nicaraguan, and Dominican tobaccos
Price: $6.18 at my local B&M
Since filling my humidor with a few bundles of Dark Sharks and a box of CroMagnon EMHs, I decided I should again venture out to my local B&M and search out a few more unfamiliar cigars to review. The Punch Champion caught my eye not because of the brand recognition (I’ve enjoyed the handful of Punches I have smoked over the years) but because of the bowling pin like shape of the cigar. Depending on my evening schedule, I don’t always have time for a Churchill sized smoke, so the Punch Champion would certainly fit a cigar perfect for time constraints.
No construction issues were found on the cigar. A definite wood aroma was noticeable to this cigar pre-light as well as something akin to cut grass or hay, all of which was pleasant. Cutting the cap and lighting with a wooden match, my first several draws were met with medium to full bodied flavors of mild spice and wood. While the strength of the cigar pushes more towards full bodied than medium bodied, it’s not overpowering on the palette. The potency of the cigar mellowed out after the first quarter of the cigar, bringing it down closer to the medium bodied range. The draw from the cigar was perfect; open with a slight bit of resistance. The ash stayed tight to the cigar, which is always good in my book as I seem to attract falling ash.
Total smoking time for the Punch Champion came in at 1:15, with me taking my time with it. And for a cigar that leaned toward a fuller body, the finish on it was shorter than I expected.
To recap the Punch Champion:
- This is a perfect cigar for those wanting a fuller bodied smoke who doesn’t have a lot of time to smoke.
- The Punch Champion leans towards the full body range but doesn’t get all the way there, so you could share this with friends who occasionally have a cigar.
- Buying this cigar at my local B&M is about a dollar higher than online, most likely thanks to tobacco taxes here in IL. I will be looking to pick up a box of these when I am in need of restocking my humidor with semi-regular smokes.
As always, thank you very much for reading and I look forward to the next time I can share my thoughts with you.
Punch seems to be a brand I always pass by, and for no reason all the ones I have had I very much enjoyed… Thanks for bringing this old brand back on my radar!