CA Report: Top New Cigars (September 16, 2024)

The latest cigar releases from Macanudo, PDR, & Rocky Patel—all now available at Famous Smoke Shop!

Just a few shorter days until summer is officially over. You could curl up in the fetal position and cry about it…or use that time to your advantage and get puffin’ on some new cigars. I mean, come on. It’s not like it’s just gonna start snowing on September 22.

The latest releases from Macanudo, Rocky Patel, and PDR have topped a very short list of uber-impressive fresh blends. Instead of keeping them to myself, I thought it best to share. Check out these quick reviews of their tobaccos, flavors, and experience—and ultimately—whether they’re a temporary cure for that acute seasonal affective disorder!

Have you smoked something new and noteworthy? Drop us a hint on our social media channels linked below.

Macanudo Emissary Espana

Wrapper: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf Claro aged 5 years
Binder: Nicaragua Condega aged 6 years
Filler: Dominican Republic Piloto aged 5 years, Colombia aged 5 years, Nicaragua ASP aged six years, & Spain Havana seed aged 10 years.

One of my biggest beefs among cigarmakers is how tight-lipped they typically are about their tobacco recipes. If everything’s proprietary and special, then nothing is…right?

Our friends at Macanudo were all too pleased to shout the specifics of Emissary’s leaves from the rooftops. And with a quick glance, it should be no surprise as to why. Just look at all of that aging! Not to mention tobacco from places you rarely see listed on the box. Spain for instance? That got my attention. If the Mediterranean climate can do such amazing things for grapes, I imagined it had a shot with tobaccy, too. Turns out, I imagined correctly. Macanudo Emissary’s flavors teeter on the edge of full bodied, staying mostly medium plus throughout. In terms of flavor, expect complexity thanks to a medley of tangy spices, earth, nuts, and toast, with a refreshingly floral finish. Why overpay on a trip to Spain’s countryside when it can come to you for a tiny fraction of that cost?

PDR A. Flores Gran Reserva Corojo

Wrapper: Dominican Republic Corojo 2006
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic Corojo & Nicaragua

Originally released in 2013, A. Flores Gran Reserva by PDR has enjoyed a steady diet of grassroots advertising; passed down from one smoker to another like in the days before the internet. To imagine…it all started as short run stick limited to just 500 boxes.

That was more than a decade ago, and word-of-mouth put it in regular production, but not enough to keep paying those kinds of bills. Still, we’re painted impressed by its popularity on the grapevine alone. But knowing what this blend can be with a proper platform, that’s something else entirely. Famous Smoke Shop was content to take the remaining stock, give it that proper platform, and eviscerate the price so low that I can’t even print it. All I can say is, everyone who didn’t know about Grand Reserva is about to find out. You’d be well served to jump on it and enjoy its savory mix of nuts, wood, and citrus before their closeout stash is gone.

Rocky Patel Gold Label

Wrapper: Ecuador Habano
Binder: U.S. Connecticut Broadleaf x2
Filler: Nicaragua Jalapa and Esteli

No, Rocky didn’t take over for Macanudo. And this isn’t the Gold Label your dad orders from Famous every month, either. In fact, the name is where the similarities end. But if you’re going to pony up for a summer’s end bash, this might be your best bet. And that’s because you won’t have to pony up much. Rocky wanted you to strike gold—not pay top dollar for it. With only a meager fee, I lost myself in a cloud of bold coffee flavors laced with caramel, sweet wood, and a bevy of exotic spices.

If this is Rocky’s new A-game, I’m here for it. You should be, too.