Macanudo Cru Royale

“Surprise surprise! I didn't really know what to expect of this one. Somewhat pinched for time, I picked this smaller stick out of my CI Sizzler sampler, but it had a lot to offer in a little package. Varying flavor notes, and clouds of smoke from front to back. Great middle of the road cigar, and worth keeping around to take advantage of an abnormally warm winter night in New England.”

“This is one tasty mac! It has a smooth, semi sweet dark chocolate and licorice flavor. Great draw, burn and construction.”

“This is a decent cigar, a Macanudo with some flavour to it. Decently even burn and a pleasant aroma. A wee bit costly, but not excessively so.”

“Well I'll be danged ! ! ! Finally a Macanudo with some TASTE to it ! ! ! This Cru Royale (fairly new edition I guess) is just a dandy !! Several up-ticks from the Macanudo Robust and Many up-ticks from the orginal version. This is the first Macanudo I've smoked since probably the late '90's because I was dissatisfied with the super-mild and non-thrilling taste of them. With these Cru Royale ( I had the Toro size ) guys, I've changed my mind !”

“Tight in the hand and nicely rolled. It is a well constructed cigar. Grassy prelight draw and gentle sweet grass upon lighting leading into a mild cedar off the light with subtle hints of cinnamon. A very creamy, almost buttery glaze left on the tongue. Classic leather and pepper in the final chapter of this cigar. I was very satisfied and will be putting a box in the humidor. I will be very interested to try this cigar again after some nappy time.”

“Good/very good flavor. Very strong nuttiness, with strong cocoa and mild pepper. Unfortunately the single I picked up had strong veins running along the bottom. These were hidden by the seam of the cellophane. Seemed to have been done on purpose to hide the veins. These were some of the largest veins I have seen on a premium cigar. I'm partially to blame, as I should have checked the stick a little more carefully prior to purchase. The thick veins caused the cigar to burn very unevenly on the wrapper. Additionally the burn within the cigar was uneven, even putting the canoeing wrapper aside. I felt like I was managing the burn of the cigar more than I was enjoying it. At times I was having to leave it alone for relatively long periods as it burned too hot and fast and then was having to constantly take pulls when it would go through periods of burning very cool and slowly. When it was burning correctly it was an excellent cigar. However, I'm not a big fan of cigars that you have to manage. Smoking a premium cigar should be effortless and with this one I was constantly having to think about how to keep it burning right. I had decided to give macanudos another chance, but this one made me again wary of them. Even if I had noticed this in the store, it just makes me wary of smoking more than the occasional single. A wrapper like this should have never made the cut on a cigar of this supposed level. A shame really, because I can see where a well constructed example would be an excellent smoke. But when buying premium, more than anything else, you're buying consistency and this one fell far short.”

“On a whim I picked one of these up from my local candy store, I Like to call it that cause these beauties are sweet tasting. I got the 6X60 gordo. and was I surprised. It had all the great things a cigar should have, great ash, draw and taste. Now that I see the CI price I will be buying a box. You will not be disappointed.”