Vitola: Toro- 6” x 50 ring gauge
- MSRP $5.49
- Samples provided by General Cigar Company
Background
In March, General Cigar Company started shipping a new blend under the Punch branding. Knuckle Buster is described as “full-time, wallet and palate-pleasing.” It comes in 3 vitolas—Robusto, Toro, and Gordo—and carries a $5 to $6 suggested retail price.
Ed Lahmann, senior brand manager for Punch, says, “Punch is committed to staying true to what the brand has represented for over the last six decades: a consistent, well-made, no-nonsense cigar at a price that’s fair and reasonable.” Knuckle Buster has fillers from Nicaraguan and Honduras, a Nicaraguan Habano binder, and a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper.
This blend is made at General’s HATSA factory in Danli, Honduras, and should be available nationwide soon (some shipping may have been delayed by the national health crisis). This blend is not positioned as a high-end way to fill time amazingly, but more of a “go to blend that cigar smokers can rely on time and time again…the perfect smoke for walking the dog or mowing the lawn or enjoying with cigar smoking friends.”h
Prelight
The boxes for these are a blend-specific version of the boxes that have been used for Punch releases for the last couple years. They are fairly lightweight cardboard, scored and folded into shape. There’s nothing wrong with it, and it actually looks pretty good overall, but speaking from a former retailer standpoint…they take a beating in transit. Very few of them showed up with some kind of malformation in the shape of the cardboard. It never seemed to get actual cigars damaged, but it hurts the presentation sometimes. The band is a new style for Punch, featuring brass knuckles at the top, against a dark blue and silver background. It also says “Habano” in gold lettering near the bottom of the band, making me wonder if they have other releases in mind for this branding.
The wrapper leaf was a medium-brown color with an oily feel to it and an aroma that was strongly earthy and leathery. The foot had more earth, along with a slight sweetness in the aroma and an after-aroma that made me think of espresso beans.
The cold draw had just the right amount of resistance and a flavor that mixed hay, molasses, and earth.
Flavor
The Punch Knuckle Buster opened with a strong cedar component, followed up by some earth and hay, along with touches of sweetness and pepper spice, especially on the finish. The retrohale showed a lot more pepper, along with cedar and roasted nut notes.
As I got into the second third, I had to admit that I wasn’t getting a huge amount of complexity from the Knuckle Buster, although it was good. I still got a heavy cedar influence with lighter notes of earth and a bit of molasses sweetness. Pepper continued along steadily.
The last third was pretty much the same. Lots of cedar, some earth, some sweetness. The pepper spice diminished a bit as I got to the end.
Construction
I had a great draw, perfect burn line, and solid ash.
Value
Good cigar and excellent price, so solid value.
Conclusions
Knuckle Buster ended up being a good cigar, although not as good as I had hoped. I guess that comes with the price point…they aren’t going to put the best tobaccos in something that retails for $5 to $6 and that’s just a fact. The price point is what makes this entry from Punch, though. It is something I enjoyed as long as I didn’t dwell on it too much, so it would be a good “hanging out with other guys shooting the breeze” or “mowing the lawn” cigar…something solidly good without spending too much money.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 3.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
