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PUNCH CIGAR HISTORY
Punch was established in 1840 and their Cuban cigars were intended for the British market - where a comic book featuring a character named "Mr. Punch" was in fashion. Don Manuel López, owner of the J. Valle y Cía, established the Punch cigar brand. The comedian Mr. Punch, who wore an unmistakably sly smile and who always had a Cuban cigar in his hand, still adorns the cigar box decoration of this outstanding Cuban cigar.
The Punch cigars soon became a Habano of indisputable quality on the Cuban cigar market. The tremendous popularity of Punch cigars amongst the British also trapped Sir Winston Churchill who gave into the temptation to visit the Monte y Zulueta cigar factory during his stay in Havana, Cuba. The British statesman ended up giving his name to a size of this Cuban cigar brand.
Punch is the third oldest Cuban cigar trademark in Havana; the other two cigar brands created earlier are Por Larrañaga, founded on 1834, and Ramon Allones, founded on 1837.
In 1930, the Punch cigar trademark was acquired by Ramon Fernandez and Fernando Palicio, who owned it until 1959 when the brand was nationalized. Both of them were also owners of Hoyo de Monterrey, La Escepción and La Belinda.
All trademarks in this Habano company were handmade in the factory located at Monte and Zulueta Streets, Havana. Punch was a great success, mainly in Great Britain, where Winston Churchill himself visited the factory during a trip to Havana. The British politician, who was an inveterate Cuban cigar smoker, was honored with the name of the Punch vitola "Churchill". At present time, Punch appears among the best quality and presentation Habanos.
The Punch cigar trademark is slightly stronger than Hoyo de Monterrey; its vitolas admit any wrapper color, but in the British market they tend to be red (a matter of preferences), that's why these fine Cuban cigars has a very neat reddish brown tone.
The origin of its tobacco is Vuelta Abajo (Pinar del Río) and the trademark is slightly strong. Punch is commercialized mainly in Hong Kong, Argentina, Brazil, the Caribbean, Benelux, Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, Africa, Middle East and Great Britain.