#nowsmoking: Macanudo Inspirado with Laurel Tilley of Macanudo Cigars

#nowsmoking: Macanudo Inspirado Green Robusto Cigar Review

With Special Guest Laurel Tilley of Macanudo Cigars

“The evolution of Macanudo continues with Macanudo Inspirado. Cigar lovers who now see Macanudo in a new light should be prepared to be wowed yet again.”

– Régis Broersma, President, General Cigar

It all began in 2014, when the release of Macanudo Inspirado in Europe marked a major transition of the brand, ushering in an entirely new dimension in taste for one of the world’s most recognized premium cigar brands. Expanding in popularity across the Middle East and Asia, the success of this new Honduran-centric Inspirado blend, better known today as “Inspirado Orange,” spread to more than 40 countries.

Welcome to America

In 2016, Macanudo Inspirado Orange arrived in the U.S., but it was a retail store sales–only release. Macanudo Inspirado Black, the maduro of the line, was also introduced that year, but issued only for internet and catalog sales.

Macanudo Inspirado Orange (2016)

Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Honduran Olancho San Agustin
Binder: Honduran Jamastran Seco
Filler: Dominican Republic Olor and Piloto Cubano, Honduran Jamastran, Nicaraguan Ometepe Viso

This cigar boasts an attractively oily, tawny hued Honduran OSA wrapper that melds perfectly with the Jamastran Seco binder. The Nicaraguan Viso Ometepe gives strength and spice to the blend, while the Dominican Piloto Cubano gives the cigar a sweet tone throughout. The result: an earthy, aromatic, medium-to-full smoke that really draws out the nuances of the tobaccos.

“The launch of Macanudo Inspirado marks another exciting milestone for this iconic brand,” said Steve Abbot, senior marketing director of Macanudo. “By bringing this global brand extension stateside, we are continuing to evolve Macanudo by expanding the line with fuller-flavored offerings.”

What Happens in Vegas . . .

One year later, Macanudo Inspirado Black and Inspirado White had their official coming out party at the 2017 International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers Association convention in Las Vegas. Moreover, both collections would be available for sale in the online, catalog, and retail channels.

Macanudo Inspirado Black (2016 & 2017)

Strength: Full
Wrapper: Stalk Cut Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuadoran Sumatra
Filler: Nicaraguan Estelí

The stalk cut Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper reveals a new dimension in sweetness, as the Ecuadoran Sumatra binder enhances the strength and flavor of the Broadleaf wrapper. The Nicaraguan Estelí tobaccos are uniquely fermented to produce the utmost in strength and flavor. All told, this cigar offers bold, peppery notes tacked to a subtle undertone of sweet earth.

Macanudo Inspirado White (2017)

Strength: Medium
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Connecticut (aged 6 years)
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Nicaraguan Jalapa (aged 2 years), Nicaraguan Condega and Mexican San Andrés (aged 4 years)

The lustrous Ecuadoran Connecticut wrapper has a beautiful blonde exterior, while the Indonesian binder adds a rich aroma to the mix. The Nicaraguan Condega and Mexican San Andres leaves supply sweet strength, as the Nicaraguan Jalapa filler deepens the experience. The result: a rich, creamy and complex cigar brimming with notes of earth and spice.

The Bride Wore Red

In 2018, Macanudo Cigars celebrated its 50th Anniversary. In honor of the milestone General Cigar launched Macanudo Inspirado Red, the most full-bodied of the four releases, with its “Nicaraguan-forward“ blend that also showcases some of the longest aged tobaccos.

Macanudo Inspirado Red (2018)

Strength: Full
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan Jalapa
Filler: Nicaraguan Ometepe (aged 12 years), 10 Year Old Honduran Jamastran (aged 10 years), Nicaraguan Estelí (aged 5 years)

This boldest blend in the line, a marriage of rich volcanic soil and profound aging techniques starts with an Ecuadoran Habano wrapper. Balance it with a high-priming Jalapa binder, plus long-aged fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras, and enticing notes of pepper and spice reign in a remarkably creamy smoke that never veers out of its lane.

Something Brazilian This Way Comes

Expected to arrive in late Spring/early Summer of 2020 is Macanudo Inspirado Green. This collection stars a four-nation blend built around a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper. It’s also the blend Laurel and I smoked during the making of the video, and we chose the Robusto. So, in an effort to pique your curiosity and whet your whistle, here’s the straight ‘n narrow on this upcoming Inspirado selection.

Macanudo Inspirado Green Robusto

Size: 5×52
Strength: Medium-Full
Wrapper: Brazilian Arapiraca
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Colombia, Dominican Republic

Expertly . I would expect nothing less of any Macanudo cigar. Well-packed throughout, the wrapper was even in milk-chocolate brown and had a very satiny feel. In addition to the seamless rolling, the cap was also flawlessly applied. When cut, the cigar provided just the right amount of drag with a very leathery pre-light flavor.

Very well. My sample started-off a bit bold and peppery, and hung on through the first inch. The smoke itself was dense, very creamy, and well-balanced offering a fair amount of earth, pepper, and cedar. At the one-inch mark, the cigar erupted in a rush of sweet tobacco and spice flavors, which offered the occasional nip of coffee and some nuttiness. Up through the second act, the cigar was medium in strength with a full flavor.

The burn and ash were also impressive, straight down the line with a very firm, and highly granular grey ash.

The final inches maintained a moderate amount of sweetness until the full-bodied switch was flipped, resulting in a still very smooth, but decidedly more earthy, woody, and peppery character, bringing the cigar full circle. As you can see by the photo above, this was a nubber.

Mostly medium to full in body, very creamy, and more complex in the mid to latter stages. The flavors revealed a well-balanced a mix of sweet ‘n spicy notes, along with earth, wood, coffee and pepper on a long, spicy finish

Laurel suggested a Moscow Mule, and for beer lovers, Founders Backwoods Bastard. I thought an aged single malt like The Macallan 12 Year would be a good companion, a mixed rum drink, or straight bourbon whiskey like Woodford Reserve would do nicely.

(Find more cigar and drink pairing combinations here.)

Once it arrives? Definitely! Especially if you’ve already had a taste of the first four Macanudo Inspirado cigars. You just gotta complete the set. The Green Robusto is more on par with the Orange in terms of body and flavor profile. Besides, it’s a no-brainer if you love the flavor of prime Brazilian wrapper.

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