Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is a very uniform dark brown. There are a couple of raised veins present and the seams are very well hidden in the wrapper color. The head is finished off with a well applied triple cap. The band is silver and black and carries the brand and line name on it. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of sweet raisin and slight barnyard funkiness. The foot gives a mix of light raisin sweetness and hint of ammonia pungency. The pre-light draws just bring a light raisin sweetness.

Pre-light Experience

The Macanudo Inspirado Black Robusto has a thick and hearty maduro wrapper shade. The cigar is a bit lumpy with tight seams and one major protruding vein. The head is finished off with a thick triple cap. I’m not the type to typically comment on the band but the grey and silver look contrasts very well against the dark chocolate brown wrapper. Nosing the wrapper tells barnyard, flowers and cedar. Nosing the foot gives dried plums, cedar and white pepper. Cold draw gives cedar, dried plums and lip tingling white pepper.

First Third

The cigar starts off with wood and light earthiness. At a quarter inch in, a bit of a charcoal note joins the profile, which is interestingly enjoyable. The retrohale is a slightly creamy wood. At an inch in, the profile becomes primarily chalky with some hints of wood in the background. As the third comes to a close, it is a mellow mix of chalkiness and wood while the retrohale is now slightly spicy cedar. The strength in this third is mild-medium.

First Third

First third has a tasty flavor profile with baker’s chocolate, soft and airy cedar and intermittent stewed fruits. Spice appears on the retrohale in the form of raw cedar as well as deeper stewed fruits. The finish is medium in length and consists of bread and soft cedar. Strength and body is at a consistent medium.

Second Third

As the second third begins, the chalkiness fades back some, revealing a slightly creamy wood note. At a quarter inch in, some black pepper shows up to mix with the creamy wood and slight chalkiness. At three quarters of an inch, some earthiness joins in while the chalkiness is now just a very faint note on the finish. The retrohale is primarily an earthy note now. As the third comes to a close, some mustiness joins the mix of creamy wood and earthiness. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

The second third still holds the same core flavors of baker’s chocolate and stewed fruits, but the cedar becomes more distinct. Retrohaling gives the same raw cedar but loses out on the stewed fruits, and picks up baker’s chocolate. The finish continues to be medium length with now mainly a soft cedar note. Strength and body is still medium.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the mustiness is really ramping up to move to the front with the creamy wood and the pepper in the background. As the third progresses, the body increases as the smoke is now very chewy with the musty and creamy wood note. At an inch in, things begin to heat up which enhances the musty note while everything else remains the same. This is how the cigar finishes out. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

Smoking the final third, it’s essentially a replica of the second third. Core notes of baker’s chocolate, stewed fruits and cedar. Retrohaling becomes a tad harsher bringing out some bitter charred wood. The finish is still a soft cedar note. Strength and body finishes medium.

Burn

The burn was very good as it was pretty sharp most of the way with some moments of unevenness. The ash held on for each third, so slightly over an inch and a half.

Burn

Burn performance was very good. Ashes were pretty tight with one inch self tapped ashes. The burn was cool until the middle of the final third where there was a significant heat up.

Draw

The draw was fairly snug the entire way. Not enough to diminish the flavors, but something that was in the front of my mind during the smoking experience.

Overall

The middle third was the star of this cigar as all of the components came together to make a nice flavor profile. I wish it had a better draw, but burn performance was fantastic. The price point on this cigar is nice, so it’s definitely something people should try to see if its a cigar they might want to buy in bulk. It’s a cigar I would have no problem smoking more of, just not something I think I would crave frequently.

Draw

Draw was good. On the tighter end of the spectrum that required harder pulls. This may have contributed to the final third’s heat up.

Overall

Overall, I enjoyed the Macanudo Inspirado Black Robusto. The flavor profile was direct and in a way, as expected of a good tasting broadleaf cigar. In my opinion, General Cigar’s shift in bolder marketing and cigar flavor profile of Macanudo is a win, as this will most likely gain popularity of most American smokers who enjoys fuller body and flavors.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.70

Cost/Point

$1.23

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.42

Cost/Point

$1.09

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Macanudo Inspirado Black Robusto