Punch Rare Corojo Champion

The Punch Rare Corojo is one of the most respected lines in the non-Cuban, Honduran-made Punch family, and the Champion is its distinctive short figurado — 4.5 inches at a chunky 60 ring gauge, tapered at the foot. It's a limited release that comes out annually in the spring, built around a reddish-brown Ecuador Sumatra wrapper grown exclusively for the blend.

What it tastes like

Under that Ecuador Sumatra wrapper sits a Connecticut broadleaf binder and a filler blend of Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan leaf. The result is a 92-rated, medium-full smoke that's smoky, peppery and a touch sweet, with leather, mesquite, baking spices and wood. The figurado shape concentrates the smoke early, then opens up as the burn widens — cedar and spice carry through the roughly 45-minute experience.

Who it's for

This is a flavorful, characterful cigar for someone who enjoys a fuller New World smoke and likes the novelty of a figurado. As an annual limited release, it's also a fun one to seek out each year. For a rounder, fuller cousin from the same maker, try the Punch Signature Robusto.

The Ecuador Sumatra wrapper sits between mild and dark — our Maduro vs Connecticut guide maps the wrapper spectrum. A tapered figurado needs a careful clip; see how to cut a cigar. Log this year's release in the Casa DNC app.