Macanudo Maduro Gigante
Everybody, wether new or seasoned cigar smoker have heard of Macanudo cigars. Probably many non-smokers have heard of them as well due to the many advertisements in Men’s magazines and so forth. I can remember seeing then in various magazines even before I started enjoying cigars. So, its easily to say that Macanudo Cigars (by General Cigars) have been around for a while.
Keeping up with the new larger 56 and above ring gauges, General has released the new Gigante (6×60) line in the Macanudo cigars; Natural and Maduro. This week I am going to review the maduro and in a few days, Ben will have a review up of the natural in a “dual review” with a fairly new cigar smoker, Joe. So be on the look out for that towards the end of this week.
Size: 6×60
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Cuban Seed Dominican and Mexican
Country: Dominican Rebublic
Cigar Source: General Cigars
Cost: About $8.00 (plus local and state taxes)
First look: Everytime I usually see a 6×60 cigar, I usually turn my head and look over to the next size or line; I just haven’t had great luck with the 60rg cigars. They just doesn’t feal well and I get over it quickly. But, I am always on the look out for new cigars to try, and the Macanudo Maduro Gigante may be one of the few 60rg cigars I’ll put up with.
The dark Broadleaf wrapper is a nice and dark brown shade with a few small veins. The cigar has an overall firm and stiff, but not hard, feal to it. I used a Xikar cutter to cut the cap and highly recommend a good sharp cutter. This cigar is thick and has alot of tobacco; a cheap cutter could easily mangle it, so use a sharp reliable cutter. The draw is nice with a slight thickness to it, but its right on to my likings.
First Half: The first flavors I get is a slightly sweet, but wet hay tones to it. As I progress into the cigar, the hay note turns slightly tangy with an undertone of a slight sweetness to it. Periodic notes of honey show through here and there which is a nice change to have at times. A “Dirty White” ash that holds for about an inch and a half comes out of the slightly wavy burn line. The wavy burn can be an issue on some cigars, but this one never needs any touch-ups, so its not an issue. The draw is still thick, but a good thick; some refer to it as the “Milkshake draw (regualar thickness, not triple thick).
Second Half: Getting into the second half of the cigar, I get dark coco flavors that show up with the wet tangy hay flavors. The retrohale has a slight black pepper note to it. Like I said before, I don’t have much experience with 60rg cigars, but this one is producing a good amount of smoke with a nice room note thats not over powering at all. I really like how the hay taste is replaced by the semi-sweet coco notes with an undertone of caramel. Towards the end of the smoke, the taste to me reminds me of an oatmeal cookie with a few chocolate chips in it. The burn line does get a little off towards the end, but still never needed a touch-up or a relight. The retrohale at the end still has the black pepper notes to it with a mild finish to it.
After thoughts: The full body and flavor craze is as big as the 60rg cigar craze these days. The Macanudo Maduro Gigante is a good change of from that, in the fact of the mild body and a medium powered flavors. This cigar would be good paired with a light beer or maybe a Green Tea. This cigar has great construction to it, no re-lights, no harshness, great draw, and an ash that holds for well over an inch.
I can understand why Macanudo is haled as “America’s Best Selling Brand”. They are advertised in alot of places to a broad array of audiences. Their cigars are not over powering and anyone could like them. New or seasoned smokers, to people who just want “to smoke a fat dark cigar” could like this cigar. Its never over powering, or bitter, or any construction issues throughout.
The size is not my favorite, but seems to be the rage these days, why I haven’t figured that out yet! I can’t wait for the 2012 IPCPR Show and maybe a new corona or lancero craze will happen. Over all, I liked the cigar, not my favorite Macanudo (the 1968 still is), but I can see myself having one of these here and there at times or giving to a friend who wants to smoke with me at times. These should be on the shelves now, if not soon, so be on the look out for them and give one a try.
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Comments
Thanks for the comment. Most stronger maduros I would oair it with a stout or dark beer, but this is a very mild maduro. So I think a strong beer would over power it.
I just picked up two of these – letting the rest a bit before I light them up.
I agree with Stogies On the Rocks – pairing a maduro with a dark beer, or a red wine or port is exceptional.
Now one thing that I was glad to see you note was that this Macanudo maintained its mild-to-medium strength, with more flavors. That means that I can give this to my newer cigar smoking friends and they can still enjoy something new with more flavor that won’t make them ill.
Great review!
Shawn, I noticed you said you think that this would pair well with a light beer or green tea. I’ve always enjoyed pairing maduro cigars with a nice rich dark beer something like an oatmeal or chocolate stout. Something like that with a combination of a 60 rg smoke, hopefully you packed a big lunch or it’ll knock you on your a**. Great review man!