My Weekend Cigar Review: Macanudo Gold Golden Fig

A Figurado with the Midas Touch

To mark their 22nd year milestone, Macanudo Gold Label has released its special, limited-edition size for 2024 – the Macanudo Gold Label Golden Fig, a 6” x 49 figurado in a stunning perfecto shape.

First released in 2002, Macanudo Gold Label cigars are named for their golden Connecticut Shade wrapper leaves harvested from the lowest, first and second primings of the tobacco plant. Since these leaves get less sunlight, more of their natural sugars remain. The result is a wrapper that’s much thinner, impressively supple, and has veins so fine it would drive a phlebotomist crazy. After Macanudo’s extensive curing and aging, you get a remarkably smooth and silky wrapper they call “Capa Especial.”

This Capa Especial sits atop a Mexican San Andrés binder and Dominican Piloto Cubano and Mexican fillers, all of which are also taken from the first and second primings. Per the company, Golden Fig offers “the traditional smoothness of a Macanudo and a unique note of sweet earth.”

Cigar Details: Macanudo Gold Label Golden Fig

Factory: General Cigar Dominicana – Santiago, DR
Size: 6x49 Perfecto
Body & Strength: Mellow
Wrapper: Connecticut Golden Shade “Capa Especial” (1st & 2nd Primings)
Binder: Mexican San Andrés (1st & 2nd Primings)
Filler: Mexican, Dominican Piloto Cubano (1st & 2nd Primings)

Presented in boxes of 20

Macanudo Gold Label Golden Fig Cigar Review

The Macanudo Gold Fig cigar is presented in a gold foil covered cedar casket and removed by lifting the casket’s lid. Slipping it out of the cello, the Perfecto displays an evenly-blonde-colored Connecticut Shade wrapper adorned with two gold bands. You can’t help but notice the head of the cigar either. Both of my samples had a pointy, tapered head that reminded me of a Hershey Kiss®, while the foot was textbook Perfecto. Clipping it at base of the point provided an excellent draw with a light woody and nutty flavor.

Upon lighting, the first couple of puffs were smooth with notes of cedar and a hint of earth. After allowing a minute for the burn to take and the tobaccos to caramelize, the smoke was creamier as notes of almond and sweet tobacco joined in. I was also impressed how the cigar got off to an even burn since perfectos can sometimes burn unpredictably. An early retrohale revealed some black pepper spice.

With about an inch or so behind me, the smoke turned creamier, issuing a mellow and well-balanced medley of toasted almonds, sweet cedar, caramel, and earthy accents. Farther down, there were times when the cigar also offered more body than usual.

At its midpoint, and still burning perfectly, Gold Fig was like a virtual milkshake with added flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg swirled-in. Everything proceeded as described until the last two inches, when earthier notes arrived and started to eclipse the sweeter flavors.

Was Macanudo Gold Label Golden Fig Weekend Worthy?

For starters, this review is based more on my second Golden Fig sample than my first, proving once again that you should never judge a cigar based on one session. For whatever reason, the first Perfecto, which also burned perfectly, had a similar flavor profile, but was more bitter and earthy. Based on my past Macanudo Gold experience, it was a rare exception.

Later that night, I smoked the second cigar, which was a complete 180. Warm, sweet, and lusciously creamy, THIS was the Macanudo Gold I’ve come to know. Of course, if you don’t like cigars on the milder side, the Golden Fig is probably a pass. It’s lighter than my usual fare, too, but it made up in flavor and performance. Fortunately, it’s not as pricey as I thought at first, plus I was also glad to see it comes in a box of 20. So, no question about it: the Golden Fig was very weekend worthy, and then some.

Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience and that your mileage may vary.