Punch Black Prince

The Punch Black Prince is a vintage name in the Cuban catalog. A Corona Grande — 5.6 inches at a 46 ring gauge — it was officially discontinued in 2002, but its evocative name and classic profile keep it on the radar of collectors hunting aged Havanas.

What it tastes like

This was Punch in full traditional form: an earthy, leathery smoke with cedar, cocoa and roasted coffee, carried by the rich all-Cuban Vuelta Abajo blend. Medium-full in strength, it had real depth and a long, satisfying finish. Well-aged examples — and any you find now will have plenty of age on them — tend to smooth out and grow sweeter, trading some bite for refinement.

Who it's for

Since it's been out of production for over two decades, the Black Prince is really one for the enthusiast and the collector rather than an everyday buy. If you want the same house character in a current, easy-to-find cigar, the flagship Punch Punch is the closest living relative in a similar size.

For background on what makes these Havanas tick, see Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars. Aged and discontinued cigars are worth cataloging carefully — record provenance and tasting notes in the Casa DNC app.