An unknown top-class stogie

Every year a wide array of cigars are launched into the market. Some blends make their mark with cigar smokers and notable magazines like Cigar Aficionado while some fail to impress. Different palates prefer different tastes but in general, there are a few blends that win the hearts of a legion of the population. On the contrary, there are some cigars that are the epitome of perfection but don’t receive the notoriety they are worthy of because people are not aware of them. There is a group of underrated cigars which features top-class stogies that are unknown to oodles of cigar enthusiasts. One blend in this underrated group is the Macanudo Inspirado Orange.

About

The Macanudo Inspirado Orange is the newest addition to the Macanudo brand that was initially launched as a European exclusive in 2014. It was introduced to the United States’ market in 2016 and the manufacturer General Cigar originally intended it for sale in brick and mortar shops. They brought this stogie to the market as an attempt to bring something extraordinary and to introduce a new chapter in the story of Macanudo. These cigars are more full-bodied than other stogies launched under the Macanudo line and offer a spicy and complex smoking experience. Since its launch, it has received accolades and rave reviews from notable cigar critics. With a rating of 92, it was featured in the list of ‘Top 25 cigars of 2017’ by Cigar Aficionado.

What makes Inspirado Orange different from other Macanudo blends?

Macanudo Inspirado Orange is entirely different from other Macanudo stogies in terms of flavor profile, body, blend, wrapper, and fillers. Inspirado Orange is meticulously hand-crafted in Honduras and features a wrapper and binder from the Olancho’s San Agustin Valley of Honduras. It is made with hand-selected tobacco leaves and comprises of a rich and exotic blend of Dominican Olor, Nicaraguan Ometepe, and Jamastran long fillers. What sets it apart from other Macanudos is the medium to full bodied smoke offering sweet and spicy flavors that yield a complex smoking experience. Plus, it produces a creamy smoke complemented by leather, mesquite, and hints of almonds and black pepper. 

Take the case of initial additions to the brand- Macanudo Café and Macanudo Gold Label. Macanudo Café is a mild flavored cigar featuring a Connecticut shade wrapper, a Mexican San Andrean binder, and Dominican and Mexican fillers. Similarly, the Gold Label features a golden Connecticut wrapper, a Mexican San Andrean binder, and Dominican and Mexican fillers. Both offer mild flavors while Inspirado Orange offers bold and complex flavors. General Cigar’s goal was to create a bolder blend to make it stand out from the milder blends that were already successful.

Construction

This cigar is hand-crafted to perfection and has a solid and firm build. It has a Honduran wrapper with a reddish-orange band and gold trim. The brand name strikes the eyes as soon as you take the cigar out of the box. The wrapper is a gorgeous deep brown color which appears to be a double cap with a few visible veins and seams.

Flavor Profile

This medium to full bodied stogie offers a complex smoke with a blend of spicy and sweet flavors. The draw and complexity offered by the stogie are simply amazing. It offers rich flavors of cream, pepper, leather, maple, citrus tea, earth, and toffee with a bready finish and tantalizing aromas of green tea topped with floral notes. This is a well-balanced cigar offering excellent combustion. In the pre-light, the aroma of nuts and sweet molasses occupy your palate entirely. On taking a cold draw, you will notice flavors of sweet cedar, hay, and spice dancing on your palate.

Upon lighting the cigar, you can immediately notice flavors of nuts and wood hitting your palate with a spicy surprise. The spicy flavor blended with nuts and wood fuse with a caramel-like note along with hints of pepper. The burn is sharp in the first draw while the ash is light gray in color. In the second third, notes of wood begin to dominate while the sweetness of caramel and spice linger in the background. At the mid-point, nutty notes arise while caramel and spice entice the palate. In the final third, the spices dominate along with the nutty notes. Caramel is felt in the background and yields sweetness on the finish.

History

General Cigar Company, a subsidiary of the Scandinavian Tobacco Group, is the manufacturer of the Macanudo line of cigars. The company has become one of the largest manufacturers of cigars in the world and offers a multitude of some of the world’s most popular cigars. In 1961, General Cigar was acquired by a group of investors including Edgar M. Cullman. Towards the end of the ‘60s, they acquired Gradiaz Annis, the owner of the Macanudo brand name. At the time, Macanudo manufactured limited units of cigars for the UK market. General Cigar Company then made considerable efforts to re-blend Macanudo products to cater to the American market. They emphasized on the use of binders and fillers from Jamaica, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic with Connecticut shade-grown wrappers. Initially, all the cigars manufactured under the brand name were mild bodied. In order to bring change and  evolve the brand, they created a bold and complex cigar, which is the Inspirado Orange. It was launched in the European market in 2014 along with Inspirado Black and then it forayed into the US market in 2016.

Conclusion

Macanudo Inspirado offers many enticing flavors that are unlike any cigars available in the market. It is a medium to full-bodied cigar made for true enthusiasts presented in an attractive orange box. However, it is underrated because only few aficionados know about its magnificence. I would recommend you try it once and I am sure you’ll be back for more.