Punch Knuckle Buster Toro (6 x 50)

Video review HERE.

Punch is set to launch a full-time, wallet and palate-pleasing line called “Knuckle Buster.” The three-cigar collection will begin shipping to retailers in March.

Named for a phrase made famous by a university basketball coach who described a rough and tumble physical game as a “Blue Collar Knuckle Buster,” the Punch Knuckle Buster was created to deliver a hardworking blend for hard working people.

The Punch blending team at the HATSA cigar factory selected only Habano-seed tobaccos from Nicaragua and Honduras to deliver when it comes to balancing flavor and strength with complexity. Knuckle Buster has a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, a Nicaraguan Habano binder and its filler tobaccos are from Nicaragua and Honduras.

Available vitolas:

Robusto (4.5” x 52); SRP per cigar $4.99; Available in 25 count boxes

Toro (6” x 50); SRP per cigar $5.49; Available in 25 count boxes REVIEWED TODAY

Gordo (6.25” x 60) : SRP per cigar $5.99; Available in 20 count boxes

Punch cigars are handcrafted at General Cigar’s HATSA factory in Danli, Honduras.

The cigar is quite oily and has an average feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was good. The initial flavors at light up were a tangy cedar, brown sugar, a dab of cinnamon, a touch of caramel, leathery nutmeg, massive amounts of meat, and a light black coffee base. There was black pepper rated at 7. The meat/steak flavor is thick just like a thick steak. Most of the lower level, or dark notes, are the meaty flavor and not the black coffee...at this point.

At the first third (26 minutes) I had the same previously described flavors. I would call the cigar a high grade medium bodied. The finish is some of the tangy cedar, meat, and nutmeg with decent lingering black pepper. The heavy meat notes are somewhat in check by the tangy cedar notes but they still come through loud and clear. I rated the first third 91.

Moving through the second (58 minutes) third things started to change. The heavy meat notes increased. There is now a little cedar, hardly any brown sugar, plenty of nutmeg, plenty of leathery meat notes, and plenty of black coffee. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is heavy meat and nutmeg notes with elevated lingering black pepper. The cigar is getting like a Slim Jim meat stick without the salt. Lovers of very meaty cigars will like this one. I rated the second third at 88.

The cigar lasted 1 hour 17 minutes. If this were a boxing match I'd be the one throwing in the towel. "Stop the fight, stop the fight". In the final third I had a hint (very slight hint) of caramel, a ton of black coffee, and 3/4 ton of leathery, meaty, nutmeg. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. Almost nothing but dark notes. If you like meaty cigars this may be for you. But it's not something for me. I rated the final third at 84. The first third saved this cigar from a worse score that it eventually had.

Overall Score: 87.67