Punch was one of General Cigar’s brands making a return at the 2024 Premium Cigar Association (PCA) Trade Show for the first time in five years. However, the brand shipped its releases prior to the opening of PCA 2024. This year’s releases for Punch focused on Knuckle Buster, a value-priced series. This year, Punch would introduce its third blend in the Knuckle Buster series, the Knuckle Buster Shade. In addition, Punch added a line extension to the Knuckle Buster Maduro series.
As the name indicates, Knuckle Buster Shade adds a Connecticut Shade-wrapped offering to the series. The rounds out the trifecta of Knuckle Buster as the Shade joins the Habano and Maduro offerings. Produced at the HATSA factory in Honduras, the Knuckle Buster Shade incorporates a six-country blend. The blend features an Ecuadoran-grown Connecticut Shade, Mexican binder, and filler tobaccos from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and USA Broadleaf. The cigar comes in four sizes: Robusto, Toro, Gordo, and Stubby. Knuckle Buster Shade is priced between $5.39 and $6.09 per cigar.
The Knuckle Buster Maduro has added a 4 1/2 x 60 vitola called Stubby. With the recent release of the Punch Knuckle Buster Shade, the Stubby sizes now exist in all three of the Knuckle Buster blends. The Knuckle Buster Maduro Stubby is currently shipping to retailers. The Knuckle Buster Maduro Stubby comes packaged in 20-count boxes and costs $5.49 per cigar. The cigar features the same blend as the other sizes in the Knuckle Buster Maduro line. Produced at HATSA in Honduras, the blend includes a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, an Indonesian binder, and fillers from Nicaragua.
Photo Credit: Scandinavian Tobacco Group
