Punch (non-Cuban), like so many other cigar manufacturers, have followed in the footsteps of Davidoff by releasing cigars to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year. The past few years Punch releases have followed the theme of Chinese take-out orders: the Egg Roll, Chop Suey, Spring Roll, and Kung Pow!. The exception to that theme was the Fu Manchu. Now comes the Dragon Fire, another departure from the Chinese take-out theme. Though, it does make sense given that 2024 is the Year of the Dragon. The packaging and bands depict a Chinese dragon, and the cardboard box is meant to look like a box of fireworks. The Dragon Fire has a lot to live up to, as some of my favorite Punch releases have been in celebration of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
OVERVIEW
VITOLA:Â Â Short Gordo
SIZE:Â Â 5″ x 60
ORIGIN:Â Â Nicaragua
FACTORY:Â Â STG Esteli
WRAPPER:Â Â Mexico
BINDER:Â Â Nicaraguan Condgea
FILLER:Â Â Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua
STRENGTH:Â Â Medium
SOURCE:Â Â Â
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:Â Â
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:Â Â
September 20
DRINKS:Â Â
Bottled Water
WEATHER:Â Â
Indoors
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:Â Â
5
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Â Limited Edition
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE Â February 2024
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size:Â Â Â Boxes of 20
Production Totals:Â Undisclosed
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o  Short Gordo (4-3/4″ x 52)
BAND DESIGN
The band is sharp looking with it’s red & white color scheme, accented with silver. The Punch mascot and tobacco leaves can be found at the top. The bottom of the band features a Chinese dragon and the year, “2024” in silver with red and white accents. The band mimics the box, which is made to look like a box of fireworks this year, instead of Chinese take boxes. Overall, the packaging provides a bit of fun, while still paying homage to the Chinese zodiac.
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The Dragon Fire sports a flat head. Their press release stated that they landed on the flat head design as a “nod to the wood dragon that will preside over 2024.” I think it’s an interesting design choice, as it makes cutting the cigar a bit of a challenge. I had two wrappers crack on me before I switched to a punch cut. The Mexican wrapper is candy bar chocolate in color and is mottled. It is rough to the touch and is very toothy. The foot is a closed foot.
AROMA
The Mexican wrapper is straight barnyard. It is intoxicating. The close foot gives off the same note, but with the added sweetness of tobacco.
COLD DRAW
Notes of fruit, nuts, and bread are easily discernable on the cold draw. The draw is a bit tight, but it is a closed foot.
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut:Â Punch
Fire: Vector’s ICON IIIÂ
Notes of salted nuts, red pepper, wood, and caramel jump off the initial light. There is a vegetal note that lingers on the palate. A sweet chocolate note rides the undercurrent. Big notes of black pepper rule the retrohale.
SMOKE
The smoke is thick. It is a fairly dry smoke that leaves my palate needing some water.
FIRST THIRD
>> Wood, Umami, Vegetal, Black Pepper
 As the Dragon Fire calms down from the initial light, a floral note jumps out from between notes of wood, nuts, caramel, and green pepper. Baking spices and black pepper on the retrohale. The burn line is less than even but just barely. The ash is white with hints of black streaks and compact. Not a single stray ash to be found. Wood and vegetal notes dominate with red pepper flake lingering my palate. Cocoa powder comes and goes. I am surprised by the nuances I’m picking up. Meaty umami notes give the Dragon Fire depth and complexity. The combination is delicious.
SECOND THIRD
>> Caramel, Cedar, Maple Syrup, White Pepper
The middle third tones things down a bit. Notes of nuts and caramel replace the wood and chocolate notes. A hint of coffee and Cedar are joined by baking spices. White pepper on the retrohale now. It is a much more subdued flavor profile, but it is just as complex as the first third. The burn line is consistent and the ash only flaked when I deposited it into the tray. A nice sweetness joins the chorus of flavors. The coffee note begins to deepen into a bitter espresso note. Charred wood and umami flavors compliment one another nicely. Red pepper flake dances on my tongue. The smoke is still on the dry side. Maple syrup now lingers on the palate. Or is it brown sugar? Regardless, it cuts through the rich earthy notes and adds a nice balance.
FINAL THIRD
>> Honey, Charred Wood, Coffee, Black Pepper
The final third is ushered in by black pepper returning to the retrohale. The sweetness of maple syrup hangs around, followed by notes of charred wood, black coffee, and smoked meat. It is umami meets sweet in the best possible ways. Baking spices and pepper round out the beginning of the final third. Everything is in balance. The ash doesn’t hold on as well as it did in the first two thirds, but is not overly flakey. The burn line continues to be less than even. The smoke is much more creamy in the final third. Honey replaces the maple syrup note and a touch of avocado oil joins the fray. Chocolate returns to the undercurrent, propping up the meaty umami notes.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
I’ll admit that I am shocked at how complex and nuanced the Punch Dragon Fire while still remaining firmly at medium strength. The Dragon Fire is full of flavors that melt together and provide unique experiences in each third. The first third seemed to be the least balanced, with heavy wood and vegetal notes. The chocolate note hiding beneath that initial third just couldn’t break through enough to balance it out. The middle and final thirds had much more sweetness to balance the heavy earth and meaty notes.Â
BURN EXPERIENCE
No cigars smoked for this review required touch-ups or relights. The burn was not razor sharp on any of the Dragon Fire, but it was consistent despite being a bit wonky. The draw was perfect on all of them when I used a punch. The ash only became flakey in the final third.Â
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80Â / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.47Â / 0.50 …Â Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Lighting Process
7.03Â / 7.70 …Â Smoking Experience
0.48Â / 0.50 …Â Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Each third was distinct and well-defined.
- Rich and complex meaty, umami notes balanced with sweetness.
- The burn was never as sharp as it could have been.
IT’S ONE THING TO READ ABOUT DRAGONS, BUT ANOTHER TO MEET THEM.
Punch’s Dragon Fire is another solid addition to Punch’s celebration of the Chinese Zodiac. The Dragon Fire combines rich umami meaty flavors with big notes of wood and coffee, while cutting through it with notes of sweetness. While the initial third is a bit unbalanced, it is not over bitter or off-putting. Instead, it sets the stage for what is about to come: A great cigar experience full of flavor, without being too strong. Big notes of pepper, wood, chocolate, coffee, nuts, and maple syrup await those lucky enough to experience the Dragon Fire.
