Smoke Inn Blog
Much Ado About Macanudo
In the pantheon of cigar greats, there are a few iconic, legacy brands which act as standard bearers. For many of us these are the brands which introduce us into the luxuriant world of premium cigars. They hold a special place in our hearts for that reason, and simply because they are chock full of the things that we love most about premium cigars. History, heritage, uncompromising excellence and sensory delight.
It’s impossible to have a serious conversation about the cigar greats and not to mention Macanudo. The name Macanudo is a Spanish term that translates loosely to “extraordinary” or “exceptional”. Few would disagree that the cigars themselves fail to deliver on that promise. Whether you’re new to premium cigars or you’ve been around the block and back, Macanudo Cigars are bound to be on your radar. This edition of the Smoke Inn Blog is dedicated to Macanudo.
The Macanudo Punch Connection
Unlike some of the storied legacy brands born in the 19th century or earlier, Macanudo Cigar as we know it came about in the later half of the 20th century. This post-Cuban revolution brand takes its name from a size of cigar than once came out of Punch Cigars Guatemalan factory. The Guatemalan Macanudo cigars reputation preceded it and it became an item of desire. Ownership of the Macanudo passed from Punch, first to Temple Hall out of Jamaica and finally to General Cigar Company.
However, it was General Cigar who would fully realize the potential of Macanudo. After purchasing Gradiaz Annis, maker of Gold Label Cigars and Temple Hall’s Kingston, Jamaica operation in 1969, General Cigar had the rights to the Macanudo name outside of Cuba. At the time Macanudo was already a small, exclusive label largely dedicated to exports to the UK, where it had a solid reputation. This made it a perfect vehicle for the new era of hand-rolled premium cigars which would begin in earnest in the decades to come.
The New Macanudo Cigar is Born
General’s Edgar Cullman enlisted the talents of one of the premier master blenders of the era, Alfons Mayer, to develop the distinct Macanudo Cigar brand we know today. From the start, the new Macanudo Cigar brand was something of a rebel. Cullman instructed Mayer to develop a cigar with an aged wrapper, which was anything but de rigueur at the time. 1971 would be the year the world was introduced to the new Macanudo. With the Cuban Embargo in place, Macanudo broadened its horizons beyond its British niche audience and set its sights on the U.S. market as well.
Ramón Cifuentes, a veteran of the Cuban Partagás cigar brand orchestrated the launch of the first new Macanudo cigar. Handcrafted in the old Temple Hall factory in Kingston, Jamaica, they began with what came to be known as their rich and mellow Café blend of Dominican, Jamaican and Mexican tobaccos, all embraced by a Connecticut Shade wrapper, aged 3 years. The Café blend which helped establish the new Macanudo brand soon grew to include multiple sizes and varieties and it remains a mainstay to this day.
Macanudo Cigars in the 21st Century
The Macanudo brand was perfectly positioned to take flight when the new renaissance of premium hand-rolled cigars began in the 1990s. Those of us who were lovers of the leaf way back when can remember what an exciting time it was and that Macanudo was leading the charge in many ways. In fact, they were the best-selling premium cigar label in the United States in the early 90s. The name Macanudo became synonymous with the premium cigar and the brand maintained its acclaim as we entered the 21st century.
Below you can peruse some of our favorite Macanudo’s and what we like most about them:
Macanudo Café
Arguably the quintessential Macanudo, the label that launched the modern brand, the Café lineup is a favorite of seasoned aficionados and greenhorns alike. Prized for its smooth and approachable flavors of cedar, barnyard hay, and buttered nuts, the Macanudo Café cigars are a superb place to whet your appetite for the brand for the first time or revisit an old flame.
Today’s Macanudo Café still includes the signature silky-smooth Connecticut Shade wrapper embracing a Mexican San Andrés binder containing Mexico and Dominican Piloto Cubano fillers. There’s no doubt it’s a crowd-pleasing recipe, being considered one of the best-selling cigars of all time. With a smooth and mellow character, the Macanudo Café is a clear choice for beginners, though its nuanced flavor keeps the veterans coming back as well.
Macanudo Inspirado White
The Macanudo Inspirado White is a luxurious rendition featuring a refined yet complex flavor profile at an affordable price. The journey begins with a mixture of Mexican San Andres and select Nicaraguan fillers, aged four years. These are brought together by a robust Indonesian binder and enveloped within a tasty six-year aged golden brown Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. The result is a mellow, spicy-sweet medium bodied smoke that tantalizes the palate with warm earth, sweet cream, cocoa, toasted wood with hints of cabinet spices. If you’ve never had the pleasure, it’s time. We think the Inspirado White might just become your all-time favorite from the portfolio in fact. This is one to add to the cart right now. Do it.
Macanudo Inspirado Orange
Somewhat off the beaten path, the Macanudo Inspirado Orange takes a different angle of approach than the mainstay Macanudo Café. The Inspirado Orange instead, incorporates rarer tobaccos into th recipe in pursuit of a more complex blend. Originally offered as a European exclusive, it soon became a cult favorite. It’s desirability not only led to it being added to the U.S. roster, but also garnered it a highly coveted slot among in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2017. Cloaking in a seamless, oily Honduran wrapper along a 3-country core of aged, longer filler tobaccos, Inspirado Orange displays a smooth medium to full bodied profile producing a rich buttery blend of hazelnut, pepper, caramel, and leather. An evolutionary step for any smoker who favors medium-bodied cigars. Drop some in the cart to explore the bolder side of Macanudo.
Macanudo Gold Label
If you’re a fan of the classic Macanudo Café, then these seasonal golden nuggets of delight from Macanudo are sure to please. The limited edition Macanudo Gold Label derives its name from the unique silky golden Connecticut Shade wrapper, plucked from the first and second primings. This “capa especial” is adorned over proprietary Mexican binder which embraces a masterful combination of Dominican and Mexican long filler. The result, one of the smoothest and most refined cigars you can find. The natural sweetness abounds here and is a treat for the palate. Macanudo fans wait patiently for these once-a-year exclusive exquisitely mellow and smooth cigars to drop and they vanish upon arrival. Get some while you can. Otherwise, you may have to wait until next year’s Macanudo Gold Rush.
Smoke Inn is Your Cigar Shop
We hope you enjoyed digging into our look at the history of Macanudo Cigars and our brief tour of some of our favorites. We’re going to make a point of profiling more of the greats and standard bearers of the premium cigar universe as we go, so if we haven’t covered your favorite brand yet, stay tuned. We also invite you to check out our new Smoke Inn Customer Reviews section as well as our new Cigar of the Month Club section. As always, if you’re local or happen to be visiting South Florida, be sure to reward yourself with a visit to one of the country’s best cigar shops in person. We’d love to see you.
