Punch

Punch was first registered in 1840 by a German named Stockmann. He named the brand after Mr. Punch, the European puppet-show character—not the magazine, which appeared a year later. The marque soon found particular success in Great Britain.

Luis Corujo acquired Punch in 1874. Manuel López Fernández purchased it in 1884, and his name remains on its bands and boxes. After retiring in 1924, López transferred ownership to Esperanza Valle Comas, who held it until the financial upheaval surrounding the 1929 stock-market crash.

Fernández, Palicio y Cía bought Punch in 1930. It became one of the firm's principal marques alongside Belinda, La Escepción and Hoyo de Monterrey, while retaining its following among British cigar smokers.

Following the United States embargo against Cuba, Fernando Palicio left for Florida and sold his cigar lines to Frank Llaneza and Dan Blumenthal of Villazon & Co. Punch then followed two paths: Cuba nationalized its tobacco industry and continued producing the marque, while a Honduran version made with Honduran tobacco was established for the American market. Today, the two Punch brands are produced for Habanos SA in Cuba and General Cigar Company in Honduras.