Cigar Review - Macanudo Cru Royale

[CoachDread]

Macanudo - Cru Royale

Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Wrapper: Ecuadoran Habano
Binder: La Vega Especial (Dominican Republic)
Filler: Dominican, Brazilian, Nicaraguan
Pairing: San Francisco Bay Fog Lifter Coffee with Licor 43

While walking around St. Augustine last year, my wife and I stopped into a cigar bar (no longer with us, sad to say) to see what they had. As I was heading for the Undercrowns, my lovely wife picked up a Macanudo Cru Royale and exclaimed "Ooh, this one looks nice. Why don't you try it?" So, being the good husband that I am, I bought both. I saved the Undercrown for later and lit the Cru Royale. Since we were going to be walking around the town I figured that it really wouldn't matter if I didn't like it. And I didn't. I loved it. So much so that we found a little cafe with an outdoor area that had no problem with my cigar and I ordered a glass of Crown Royal to accompany it. This review is not about that cigar. It is about its twin, that I bought after I enjoyed the first one so much and that I then locked away for a year before breaking it out this past holiday weekend. Yes, it was several days out of town, and yes, I smoked at least one cigar every single day. It was vacation. And my anniversary. And I like cigars.

Fit and Finish: Just gorgeous. Nice dark, oily wrapper, great band, lightly veined. Smells of tobacco and cedar on the nose. A light cocoa on the cold draw. Anyone noticing that I really like the cocoa in my cigars?

Draw: A little light on the draw after my now-standard v-cut. I prefer a little more resistance than this one gave me. The previous one didn't have this issue, though I was using a punch then and it was almost certainly at a higher rh than this one (I keep my humidors at 65%).

Toast/Light: Toasting went without a hitch and the cigar was quickly lit. I had my Rocky Patel SouthBeach lighter, a dual flame torch, and it works great for a nice even light. The draw was fine, despite my reservations on the cold draw. Plenty of smoke and not too hot on the draw.

First third: Not much on the pepper but very smooth and very flavorful. Toast and nuts dominate. Not sure if the coffee or the Licor 43 influences this, but it's pairing quite well with it. For those that aren't familiar with Licor 43, it is a liquer that tastes like a cross between Amaretto and Nocello (a walnut liquer) with notes of vanilla. It is much lighter than Amaretto and not so sickly sweet. Yeah, I have no idea why nuts are dominating the flavor profile.

Second Third: Cocoa has made an appearance and the nuts and cream persist. Tobacco and/or coffee are beginning to make an appearance as well. Overall, it's a fullness of flavor that is increasing - and it wasn't light on flavor before. I'm not the most experienced reviewer out there, but I'd guess this is the complexity that is mentioned at times for cigars. It almost seems that whatever flavor you are focusing on is coming through. Except pepper. This one is smooth as silk.

Final Third: The flavor continues to build, with stronger notes of tobacco, coffee and cocoa. Some pepper is finally making its way into the game and a decent little nicotine kick is present. The creaminess hasn't left and it is still a very smooth smoke despite the little pepper building.

Final Thoughts: The burn was even throughout, with no relights and no tunneling. The ash was light and tight. The flavors were very enjoyable and robust (note, not spicy or peppery, just very full). This was a great pairing with the coffee and 43. Overall it was a very enjoyable cigar. It wouldn't be my everyday cigar though I couldn't tell you why, really. It has everything I enjoy and it does it all very well. It may be the vitola or because I had it around the time I had the Excalibur again and when I had the Rocky Patel Decade. But when taken on it's own it was a very solid cigar and one I wouldn't pass over. It's definitely one I'll smoke again and I'll probably try to keep a few on hand for when I'm in the mood.

[Zeede]

They get a bad rap, but other than being a bit over priced I see nothing wrong with the Macanudo brand. I just think the 5 Vegas stuff is nearly as good at 1/3rd the price.

[CoachDread]

They get a bad rap, but other than being a bit over priced I see nothing wrong with the Macanudo brand. I just think the 5 Vegas stuff is nearly as good at 1/3rd the price.

I'll have to give the 5 Vegas line a try. I generally do enjoy the Macanudos, but moved to other things fairly quickly. I do really enjoy those Cru Royales though.

[Zeede]

I should specify, I've only had the 5 Vegas Golds. I have the Classic, and the Series A, but haven't smoked them yet. The Golds are a Connecticut-wrapped Mild, the Classics are mediums and the Series A are medium-full maduros.