Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 3 is a dull medium tan with some veins present and some protruding from the binder. The seams are raised in some areas while the caps are very well applied. There are three bands, all applied either off center or tilted a bit. The primary is white and bronze and denotes the brand and that it is French oak barrel aged. The secondary band is metallic blue and white and denotes that it is the third cigar in the series, while the foot band is bronze and white and denotes the year and wine varietal for the barrel that the tobacco was aged in. The aroma from the wrapper is a damp mix of cedar and earth, while the foot brings creamy and slightly sweet wood. The pre-light draw brings a mix of cedar, oak and some stone fruit sweetness along with a mid-level spiciness on my lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with lightly toasted oak, some black pepper and light earth. At a half inch in, a light chalkiness joins the profile. The retrohale is toasted oak and earth. At an inch and a half in, the earth picks up a bit. At an inch and three quarters, the pepper mellows a bit. As the third comes to a close, the lightly toasted oak is up front, with earth just ahead of the middle of the profile, black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and some chalkiness in the background. The strength was slightly below medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the earth increases a bit more. At three quarters of an inch in, the toast level of the oak increases a bit. The retrohale remains toasted oak and earth. At an inch and a half in, the earth is now right behind the toasted oak. As the third comes to a close, the toasted oak is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and light chalkiness in the background. The strength remained slightly below medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the toast level increases a bit more and a light wood bitterness joins the profile. At three quarters of an inch in, the pepper increases a bit. The retrohale remains toasted oak and earth. As the cigar wraps up, the toasted oak is just ahead of the earth, with black pepper a bit further behind and chalkiness and wood bitterness in the background. The strength bumped up to medium.

Burn

The burn was perfect through the first two thirds and then went out once, inexplicably, in the final third, requiring a re-light. The ash held on in inch and a half increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with lightly toasted oak, some black pepper and light earth. A light chalkiness joined in a bit later. The second third saw the earth and toast levels increase a bit. The final third saw the toast level and black pepper increase and a light wood bitterness joined the profile. The Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 3 had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around toasted oak, earth and black pepper. Nothing that really stood out about the cigar. I never smoked the first two cigars in the series, so I don’t have a basis for comparison, but as it sits, this isn’t really a cigar I’d return to.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$3.54

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Macanudo Estate Reserve Flint Knoll No. 3