A History of Punch Cigars and various knockoffs

(Cigar History Museum) Punch is one of the world’s longest-lived cigar brands, named after a 17th century British puppet best known for delighting audiences by noisily beating his wife Judy with a stick. On the cigar label and show figures, Punch is depicted in traditional jester’s garb. At least one writer has claimed the brand was named after the British satire magazine Punch, but that is unlikely since the cigars pre-date the magazine, having been registered in 1840 Cuba “by a German named Stockmann,” according to Min Ron Nee, author of An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Post-Revolution Havana Cigars. Nothing is known of the registrant or subsequent owner(s) other than a B. Perera whose name is found on what appears to be an 1860s or 70s label to which new owner, Luis Corujo, appears to have hastily added his name. Continued