Punch Cuban Cigars is a pre-revolution cigar brand that rapidly found success in Great Britain after its founding in 1840 in Havana by Don Manuel Lopez. The brand, which is the third oldest trademark in Havana, was inspired by the famous English puppet show at that time “Punch and Judy”. Mr Punch, the character that personified the magazine was always seen with a
cuban cigars in hand.
Following the brand's first change of ownership in 1874, it changed hands for the second time in 1884 when Manuel López Fernández purchased it from Luis Corujo; the bands and boxes to this day still bear Fernández's name.
Like most other businesses around the world, the Cuban cigar industry faced financial hardships; in 1930, the firm of Fernández, Palacio y Cía bought up the brand, where it became one of the company's headlining cigar marques, and maintained its popularity with British cigar smokers, and owned it until 1959 when it was nationalized.
Punch's greatest success came in Great Britain, and Winston Churchill, known principally for his leadership as Prime Minister during World War II, once visited the factory located at Monte and Zulueta Streets on a visit to Havana. Churchill, who was a long-standing smoker, was honored with the Churchill vitola being named after him.
With its blend of tobaccos from the premium Vuelta Abajo region, the eponymous Punch, Double Corona, Churchill, and Super Selection No. 2 are especially prized and sought after amongst connoisseurs. Punch, and its different Cuban cigar bands, stands out as one of the best in terms of quality and presentation.
