Punch Knuckle Buster Shade and Maduro Stubby. Mobbed-up names? Characters from an obscure Tarantino movie? Or two new releases from Punch cigars? Maybe all three. Read on and decide for yourself.
Punch Knuckle Buster, the bold collection that debuted earlier in the 2020s, has just added a collection of natural wrapper smokes to its lineup. Called Punch Knuckle Buster Shade, the six-country blend is wrapped in Ecuadoran-grown Connecticut Shade, is made with a Mexican binder and features filler tobaccos from Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and the US of A (Broadleaf). Filling a gap in the Knuckle Buster portfolio in terms of price and profile, “Shade” is an elegant yet rugged smoke that’s a great anytime, anywhere cigar. Toasty notes of earth and nut make Punch Knuckle Buster Shade a great pairing for a Pilsner or a cappuccino (if you’re fancy like that).
The line features these frontmarks: Robusto (5.5 x 50; SRP per cigar $5.39; 25 per box); Toro (6” x 52; SRP per cigar $6.09; 25 per box), Gordo (6” x 60; SRP per cigar $6.59; 20 per box) and a new size called Stubby. The 4.5” x 60 smoke sells for $5.49 per cigar, comes 20 to a box and is the ideal companion for shorter smoking occasions. Handmade at HATSA in Honduras, Punch Knuckle Buster Shade is beginning to appear at retail, following a ship date of March 1.
In other Punch Knuckle Buster news, the Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro line has been beefed up with a short gordo that’s also called Stubby. The little dynamo clocks in at 4.5” x 60, comes 20 in a box and sells for an SRP of $5.49. It’s made with an all-Nicaraguan filler, has an Indonesian binder, and is wrapped in Connecticut-grown broadleaf. If we’re going with the mob analogy above, this cigar packs a punch. Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro Stubby is a medium-bodied smoke but full of what you expect from a maduro: molasses, black cherry and cocoa – ideal with coffee or a stout. Also handcrafted at HATSA in Honduras, Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro Stubby is hitting retail now.
Brand manager John Hakim said, “Punch Knuckle Buster keeps growing by popular demand. With great blends, expert craftsmanship and realistic pricing, the line offers something for every cigar smoker and every occasion. If you haven’t tried one of the Punch Knuckle Buster blends yet, I’d tell you you’re missing out. But I’m sure you’ve already heard that from your cigar smoking buddies.”
