The Punch Knuckle Buster is getting a maduro version next month, as General Cigar Co. has announced that the line will begin shipping to retailers on March 1.

It uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan fillers, a decently different blend from the original Punch Knuckle Buster, which uses a Nicaraguan habano wrapper, Nicaraguan binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras. Like the original, the Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro is produced at STG Danlí in Honduras and offered in three sizes:

  • Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro Robusto (5 x 52) — $5.19 (Box of 25, $129.75)
  • Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro Toro (6 x 50) — $5.69 (Box of 25, $142.25)
  • Punch Knuckle Buster Maduro Gordo (6 1/4 x 60) — $6.19 (Box of 25, $154.75)

“We created Punch Knuckle Buster to be a ‘go to’ for smokers who wanted a well-made, no-nonsense blend at an accessible price,” said John Hakim, brand manager for Punch, via a press release. “With Knuckle Buster Maduro, we’re at it again, this time adding a little more ‘punch.’ This is a cigar that delivers on all fronts: strength, complexity, balance and above all, enjoyment.”

The Punch Knuckle Buster line gets its name from a phrase made famous by a university basketball coach who described a rough and tumble physical game as a “Blue Collar Knuckle Buster.” General Cigar Co. says that the Punch Knuckle Buster line was created “to deliver a hardworking cigar for hard working people.”

Images courtesy of General Cigar Co.

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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.