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Punch cigars have represented a close connection between Cuba and Great Britain since the 19th century. The iconic figure of Mr. Punch still influences the brand's image today. Historic factories, changing owners, and continuous production make Punch one of the most traditional Habanos brands.
History
The brand was created around 1840, changed owners several times and was particularly shaped by Manuel López Fernández. British investors later ensured its international expansion. Production remained constant despite revolutions and structural changes.
👉 Read now 👉 Punch History Revealed: The British-Influenced Success Story from Cuba
The Punch brand logo with the name of one of the owners, Manuel Lopez and „Juan Valle y Cía.“; what the abbreviation R.E. stands for can only be speculated: Royal Engineers, Kings of Spain, ....
The logo of the brand Punch with the famous Punch (or Jack-in-the-box or Punch and Judy puppet) in the centre, smoking a cigar, in the company of a dog wearing a hat.
An advertisement for the Punch brand in a tobacco magazine from 1910 (Source: Min Ron Nee: “AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF POST-REVOLUTION HAVANA CIGARS”, Hong Kong 2003, ISBN: 978-3980930826)
A firm fixture in the Punch brand's portfolio: the Punch Punch. The very extensive portfolio has been reduced a few times over the past decades.
A Punch Petit Coronations in a tube; a few years ago, the design of the Punch brand was completely revised.
The Punch Triunfos, for example, are also available in very attractive and practical tin boxes.
A relatively new cigar in the Punch brand's portfolio is the Punch Short de Punch, which has been available since 2019.
The Punch brand is one of the oldest Habanos brands still manufactured today. Cigars of this brand have been produced since 1840.
On this narrow street, Calle Gervasio No. 38 in Havana's Centro Habana district, was probably the first factory of the Punch brand. In those days, cigars were mostly produced in very small manufactories.
The Punch factory (from 1884) was located at Calle Rayo No. 28/30 under owner Manuel Lopez and the company „Juan Valle y Cía.“. The building is in today's Barrio Chino in Havana.
From 1931, cigars of the Punch brand were produced in the factory of Hoyo de Monterrey founder Jose Gener at Calle Maximo Gomez No. 51.
In 1924/25, Fernando Palicio first purchased the Punch brand, and in 1931, the Hoyo de Monterrey and La Escepción brands. The La Escepción manufactory was established by Jose Gener, the founder of this brand and the Hoyo de Monterrey brand.
After the revolution, Punch cigars were manufactured in the Iron Palace. That's what the building is called that housed the Corona factory for many years.
The former Corona factory, also known as the Iron Palace, is located at Calle Agramonte No. 10 (the light blue building nestled among the trees), in direct proximity to the Presidential Palace (on the right in the image with the dome) near the Malecón – in a prime location.
The Iron Palace, so named because it was the first steel structure in Cuba, housed the Corona factory from 1904 to 2003, where, after the 1959 revolution, Punch brand cigars were also made.
The current Corona factory (as of 2026) is located on Avenida 20 de Mayo in Havana. It is the parent house, the Casa Matriz, also of the Punch brand.
Since 2003 at the latest, Punch brand cigars have been manufactured at the Corona factory on Avenida 20 de Mayo.
The Corona Factory, officially named „Miguel Fernández Roig“, is the flagship factory for the brands Punch, but also Cuaba, Hoyo de Monterrey, San Cristobal de La Habana, Romeo y Julieta, Por Larrañaga and Diplomáticos.
External website: Search Google for the history of Punch
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