General Cigar Co. is adding a new look and flavor to its Punch Gran Puro line next month when it releases the Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua.

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Despite the name, the cigar isn’t a Nicaraguan puro, using a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper on top of the high priming Nicaraguan tobacco selected for the binder and filler. The company calls it a full-bodied blend marked by notes of pepper, cedar and leather.

It will begin arriving at stores in February in four sizes, 4 7/8 x 48 (MSRP $5.29), 5 1/2 x 54 ($6.39), (6 x 54, $6.49) and 7 1/2 x 54 ($6.99). Each of the sizes come in 20-count boxes that feature a new blue and green color scheme as well as the brand’s Mr. Punch mascot.  The cigar is made at General Cigar’s HATSA factory in Danlí, Honduras.

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“Punch Gran Puro has been a true staple in humidors for over a decade and the brand’s recently-received high ratings have cemented its legacy in the handmade cigar category,” said Ed McKenna, director of marketing strategy for General Cigar. “For the extension of the Gran Puro line, our artisans built a blend that balances Nicaraguan tobaccos with a maduro wrapper to deliver a layered, dimensional flavor not traditionally found in Nicaraguan-based cigars. We are confident that Punch Gran Puro Nicaragua will be a fast favorite among tenured smokers.”

The original Punch Gran Puro line debuted in 2003 and is a Honduran puro.

 

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Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.