Punch Néctares No. 50 Edición Regional Irlanda: A Magnum Return to Irish Cigar Heritage
- Konstantin Denishev
- Sep 23
- 8 min read
The Punch Néctares No. 50 Edición Regional Irlanda is a release that does not just add another chapter to the catalogue of Regional Editions; it writes an entirely new book for Ireland. For the first time in the history of the Habanos Edición Regional programme, Ireland was granted its own exclusive cigar. This makes the Néctares No. 50 more than a limited edition—it is a cultural marker, a statement of heritage, and an object of pride for Irish cigar lovers.
This cigar revives the historic Néctares name, a line once exclusive to James J. Fox in Dublin and London before its discontinuation in the 1980s. Returning now in the Magnum 50 vitola—a commanding 50 ring gauge by 160 mm format—it embodies both modern grandeur and historical continuity. Only 1,400 numbered cabinets of 50 cigars were produced, totalling 70,000 sticks worldwide. Each cabinet, priced at around €3,000, carries with it not only the cigars but the weight of Ireland’s first entry into one of Cuba’s most prestigious programmes.
For those who know the intricacies of the cigar world, the Punch Néctares No. 50 is not simply a release to smoke. It is a release to own, to treasure, and to remember.
The History of Punch
The Punch brand is one of the oldest within the Cuban portfolio, tracing its lineage back to 1840, when it was founded by Don Manuel López of Juan Valle & Co. Its name was chosen with one market in mind: Britain. The brand image was inspired by the character Mr. Punch from the satirical magazine Punch, which was a fixture of Victorian England. From the beginning, Punch was designed to appeal to the tastes and humour of the British smoker.
Over the decades, Punch grew in stature. It became known for medium-strength cigars that delivered consistency, balance, and refinement, without sacrificing the earthiness and flavour that aficionados sought from Cuban tobacco. In a portfolio filled with powerhouses like Bolívar and elegant marques like Hoyo de Monterrey, Punch found a distinctive identity. It spoke of heritage, stability, and quiet assurance.
Today, Punch cigars are produced at the La Corona factory in Havana, one of the great bastions of Cuban cigar making. The factory’s reputation for precision rolling and consistency is evident in the Néctares No. 50. But beyond the factory floor, Punch is also a symbol of longevity. Unlike some brands that have risen and fallen with fashion, Punch has endured through revolutions, globalisation, and shifting consumer trends. It remains a steady presence, and for that reason, it is the perfect brand to carry Ireland’s first Regional Edition.
The Edición Regional Programme
The Edición Regional programme, launched in 2005, is one of the crown jewels of Habanos S.A. Its purpose is simple yet powerful: to give official distributors around the world the opportunity to commission unique cigars for their markets.
The rules are strict. The cigar must belong to a brand eligible for the programme (usually not one of the global flagships like Cohiba, Montecristo, or Romeo y Julieta). The vitola chosen must be a format not already available in that brand’s standard portfolio. The production must be limited, often in the range of 1,000–5,000 boxes, and always carries a secondary “Edición Regional” band marked with the country or region’s name.
The programme has produced some of the most sought-after modern Cuban cigars. Collectors chase the Ramon Allones Phoenicio 30 for the Middle East, the Bolívar Libertador for France, and the Por Larrañaga Robusto de Larranaga for Asia Pacific. Each Regional Edition is a snapshot of place and time, embodying the culture and market it was created for.
Until now, Ireland had been absent from this programme. That absence ended with the Punch Néctares No. 50, which proudly bears the Exclusivo Irlanda band. Its significance cannot be overstated. Ireland, with its long tradition of tobacconists, clubs, and a discerning community of smokers, finally has a release to call its own.
Vitola Details
Factory Name: Magnum 50
Commercial Name: Néctares No. 50
Dimensions: 50 ring gauge × 160 mm (6 3/10 inches)
Format: Magnum / Grand Robusto
Wrapper, Binder, Filler: 100% Cuban tobacco from Vuelta Abajo, Pinar del Río
Strength: Medium (building to medium-full in the final third)
Construction: Totalmente a mano, tripa larga (handmade, long filler)
Packaging: 1,400 numbered cabinets of 50 cigars (70,000 total)
Bands: Standard Punch band with red-silver Exclusivo Irlanda Edición Regional band
Price: Approx. €65.50 per cigar; €3,000 per cabinet
The choice of the Magnum 50 vitola is deliberate. It is a statement format: large, elegant, and commanding, offering a long smoke that allows complexity to develop in layers. The scale of the vitola also links it to other great large-format Cuban releases, such as the Montecristo Edmundo or Partagás Serie E No. 2, while maintaining its own distinct profile.
First Impressions
Opening the cabinet of the Punch Néctares No. 50 is an experience in itself. The smell of cedarwood rises from the box, mingling with the faint sweetness of aged Cuban leaf. Each cigar rests in perfect order, the red-silver secondary bands glinting against the colorado wrapper.
In hand, the cigar feels substantial. The wrapper is a medium-brown with reddish hues, a soft sheen of oil, and fine, even veins. The construction is impeccable: tight seams, clean cap, no soft spots. Aroma from the foot is delicate yet layered—cedar, sweet hay, floral hints, and a touch of cocoa powder.
The cold draw is smooth, offering notes of almond, light citrus peel, and cane sugar sweetness. A faint minerality lingers on the palate, promising depth. Already, before lighting, the Néctares No. 50 suggests a smoke of elegance and subtle complexity.
Flavour Profile
First Third
The cigar opens with grace. Initial draws bring cedar, almond, and cream, supported by a whisper of white pepper on the retrohale. The smoke texture is light yet mouth-filling, coating the palate gently without overwhelming. Subtle sweetness emerges, like honey brushed on toasted bread. The balance between sweet and savoury is classic Punch—measured, harmonious, deliberate.
Mineral notes appear, evoking the terroir of Vuelta Abajo. A floral edge flickers in and out, delicate and refreshing. The first third is not a powerhouse; it is an introduction, setting the stage with refinement. Strength sits firmly at medium.
Second Third
As the burn advances, the cigar grows in body and complexity. The sweetness deepens into honeyed nuts and citrus zest. Cedar evolves into richer oak, while leather begins to appear in the background. Retrohale now shows more pepper and an herbal dimension—dried sage and oregano—that add depth without harshness.
The smoke thickens, becoming velvety and chewy. Flavours of toasted bread, light cocoa, and subtle molasses weave together. The balance is impeccable: never cloying, never thin. The Magnum 50 format allows the blend to expand, to reveal multiple layers without rushing transitions.
Strength edges upward, approaching medium-full, but the cigar remains controlled and elegant.
Final Third
The last third is where the Punch Néctares No. 50 asserts itself fully. Flavours darken and intensify: earth, leather, cocoa nibs, and oak dominate. Pepper becomes more pronounced on retrohale, joined by clove and a faint sweetness reminiscent of dried figs.
Smoke is heavier now, with a warming nicotine presence that builds behind the eyes. The finish lingers with cedar resin, leather, and a touch of floral sweetness, creating a long, savoury aftertaste.
This is a finale worthy of the cigar’s stature—bold yet never brash, complex yet coherent. It leaves the smoker satisfied, contemplative, and aware of having experienced something rare.
Construction and Performance
Construction across samples of the Punch Néctares No. 50 has been consistent. The draw is near-perfect: smooth resistance, effortless smoke production. The burn line is generally clean, with occasional minor wavering that self-corrects. Ash is firm, silver-grey, stacking neatly in two-inch segments before dropping with weight.
The cigar smokes cool throughout, even in the final third. No harshness, no bitterness. Combustion is steady, reflecting the care taken by the torcedores of La Corona. Each detail, from the triple cap to the uniform bunching, speaks to craftsmanship.
The Néctares No. 50 is a cigar you can rely on—an important factor for a format of this length and price.
Ideal Pairings
The Punch Néctares No. 50 demands pairings of equal refinement.
Spirits: Aged Irish single malt whiskey with gentle peat smoke pairs beautifully, as does a 15- to 20-year Cuban rum. An XO Armagnac offers dried fruit sweetness to mirror the cigar’s second third.
Coffee: Strong espresso or Turkish coffee highlights roasted flavours early, while a medium roast with honeyed notes complements the middle section.
Cocktails: A rum Old Fashioned, or a Manhattan with sherry vermouth, resonates with the cigar’s cedar and cocoa notes.
Food: Dark chocolate desserts, almond biscotti, or a platter of mild cheeses elevate the experience. Smoked lamb or pork, served lightly, can echo the final third’s savoury depth.
Collector and Ageing Notes
The Punch Néctares No. 50 is Ireland’s first Edición Regional, making it instantly collectible. With only 1,400 numbered cabinets worldwide, scarcity is guaranteed. Early demand has already outstripped supply, and secondary market values are climbing.
Ageing potential is excellent. The medium-strength profile and layered sweetness suggest this cigar will develop beautifully over five to ten years. Expect honey and citrus to deepen, cocoa to round out, and pepper to mellow. Proper storage will reward patience with a more integrated and luxurious profile.
For collectors, the Néctares No. 50 is both treasure and investment: a cigar that combines historical significance, rarity, and ageing promise.
Cultural Reflection
For Ireland, this release is profound. The country has a rich cigar culture—centred around heritage retailers like James J. Fox—yet until now, it had never been granted a Regional Edition. The Punch Néctares No. 50 corrects that omission.
It acknowledges Ireland’s discerning community of smokers, honours its tobacconists, and celebrates a name—Néctares—that is part of local cigar history. It links past and present, Dublin and Havana, heritage and modernity.
For collectors and smokers alike, it is not simply a cigar. It is a symbol: of recognition, of pride, and of connection between Cuba and Ireland.
Rating for Punch Néctares No. 50 Edición Regional Irlanda
Appearance: 9/10 – Elegant colorado wrapper, fine veins, perfect cap
Aroma: 8/10 – Sweet hay, cedar, floral, cocoa
Flavour: 18/20 – Balanced progression, elegant complexity, satisfying finish
Draw: 10/10 – Smooth, consistent, effortless smoke
Burn: 8/10 – Minor corrections, otherwise clean
Construction: 9/10 – Solid build, uniform across samples
Strength: 8/10 – Medium to medium-full, refined, never harsh
Finish: 9/10 – Long, savoury, cedar and leather with floral echo
Overall Experience: 9/10 – A landmark release that rewards both palate and collector’s pride
Total Score: 88/100
Special Thank You to James J Fox Dublin
A heartfelt thank you to James J. Fox Dublin for their generosity and hospitality during my visit. Few establishments carry such a weight of history and respect within the cigar world. From the moment you walk through their doors on Grafton Street, you are met with an atmosphere that blends heritage with modern refinement.
The story of James J. Fox begins in Dublin in 1881, when James J. Fox took over a tobacconist business and established a reputation for quality and service. The company expanded to London in 1947, opening a shop in St James’s, an area long associated with fine cigar merchants. In 1992, the historic Robert Lewis tobacconist, founded in 1787, was merged into James J. Fox, bringing together two of the most respected names in the trade. Today, the London flagship on St James’s Street still houses a museum dedicated to cigar history, preserving artefacts such as one of the oldest known boxes of Havana cigars, dating back to the Great Exhibition of 1851.
The Dublin store continues this heritage with pride, maintaining the same standards of care and expertise. Their walk-in humidor, their passion for Habanos, and their commitment to creating a welcoming environment all combine to make each visit an experience. To enjoy the Punch Nectares Edición Regional Irlanda in their company was to savour the cigar as it was meant to be enjoyed, in a setting steeped in knowledge and tradition.
My sincere gratitude goes to the team at James J. Fox Dublin, whose dedication ensures that both history and hospitality remain at the heart of the cigar culture in Ireland.
YouTube Review
Watch the full Punch Néctares No. 50 Edición Regional Irlanda experience on KD Leaf Diaries YouTube. From unboxing to the final third, follow the transitions, construction, and pairing insights. Share your impressions and join the discussion.
And my Ireland travel Vlog from the official launch in Dublin Ireland.
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