By Tad Gage
Gone are the days when the brand name "Macanudo" was synonymous with "mild." Not that there was or is anything wrong with this best-selling brand, which started in Jamaica in the 1960s but moved most of its production to the Dominican Republic in the 1990s. Among the hallmarks of this General cigar product – spot-on construction, consistency and quality. While the Macanudo line has significantly expanded to include vintage offerings, cigars with varying strengths, new wrappers, and new bands and artwork, quality and consistency continue to be characteristic of the brand.
This classic robusto (5" x 50 ring) has a somewhat cheesy looking silver and blue band, but a first class Colorado Maduro wrapper with plenty of sheen and few veins. I know, I know; the artwork is designed to look a bit more hip, but really comes off looking like a bundled cigar. Anyway, you don’t smoke artwork. The line features four sizes.
The Cru Royale series cigars, introduced in 2010, was created to bridge the gap between the traditional Café series (the classic mild Macanudo) and the more full-bodied 1968 line. Solidly constructed with a very generous cap, it readily accepted a punch cut and lit quickly and evenly.
