This week, I received a sampler pack of Macanudos from JR Cigar as part of my (rather dismal) Halloween sampler. Included were robusto-sized equivalents of Macanudo’s Original, Maduro, and Robust lines–a perfect opportunity to decide which Macanudo is the best.

Background:

My brother and I first tried the Original Macanudos in 2005, after our father told us our late grandfather smoked them. We praised them at first, but quickly outgrew them because they are extremely mild and have some rather pronounced drawbacks, particularly the ashy/chary aftertaste.

Next we tried the Maduro line, which features a very dark wrapper, yet is still surprisingly mild. Musty and damp in flavor, we found it to be far inferior to other maduros and have consistently avoided it.

Last we tried the “Robust” line, which, I assume, Macanudo developed to appeal to more sophisticated smokers who prefer a little more kick in their cigars. Although I’ve tried a few, I never paid much attention to this line because it lacks the nostalgia of the Original line.

Results:

Somewhat to my surprise, I found the Robust to be the most enjoyable of the three. It is surprisingly balanced, toasty at first with a long, cool aftertaste and plenty of spice at the end. It doesn’t have the ashy aftertaste of the Original line, yet it retains some of the toasty notes I’ve always liked.

While it’s far from perfect (and it lacks the beautiful gold wrapper of the Original line), if, like me, you’ve overlooked the Robust line, you might consider trying it again. It’s generally the same price as the Original line, but it is superior in many respects. If you’ve never tried a Macanudo, or if you’re new to cigars, I’d stick with the Original line for a while and then try the Robust latter. The Maduro you can pretty much ignore altogether.

Robust
Original
Maduro

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Those of you who read this site regularly already know that I’m a huge fan of CAO. From the everyday Gold line, to the more exotic Sopranos and Italia lines, there’s only one cigar they make that I’m not a fan of (the Criollo). While I may have lost a few points with some readers by saying the Gold Maduro is a fantastic addition to their lineup (a month later, Cigar Aficionado gave it a dismal 82 points), I’m confident most of you agree that CAO is arguably one of the “top three” producers out there (along with Arturo Fuente and Padron).

It’s not every day you get to try a new CAO–though sometimes it seems like every other day. Their newest is the “CAO America.” This is a very complicated cigar. The filler alone comes from four different countries: Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, Italy and USA. The binder comes from a fifth country: Brazil. Then there’s two wrappers, both from the USA–the first is a creamy Connecticut shade; the second is a darker sungrown ligero–wrapped together to form a “barber pole.” Much like the country it’s named after, the CAO America is a true “melting pot.”

But is it any good? Absolutely. In fact, this the best cigar CAO has made to date. The draw is perfect. The burn is good. The taste is powerful–spicy, nutty and woody, with honey and flower notes. Much like its namesake, this cigar is utterly unique. And, much like its namesake, it’s “heavier” than the rest of the world, ranging in size from 5 x 56 to a whopping 6 x 60. It’s more patriotic, too, with obnoxiously over-pronounced stars and stripes (only 45 stars, though–take that Alaska, Hawaii, Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma!). And, like the country, CAO’s America gets better with time–up until the last few puffs, where everything kind of falls apart. (Sorry, no politics.)

I know some of you will disagree with my conclusion that this is the best CAO ever. Fair enough. This is America, after all. The land of free expression, opinion and ideas. America is controversial; so too is this cigar. One thing’s for sure, however: CAO has created something hitherto unknown to the cigar world. I, for one, think they did a great job. Or, as George Bush would say, “Mission Accomplished”.

LT Rating: 9 / 10

Another Take: StogieReview.com
Yet another take: CigarCommand.com

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Last week I purchased the JR Weekly special which included a nice Montecristo humidor at a great price. This will be my third humidor in an ever growing collection. While I began working on the initial preparations for the new humidor, I remembered back to my very first humidor and how I couldn’t find good information on what to do with the thing. I just put a few cigars in the thing and fought major humidity issues for over a year. I’ve since learned that proper humidor preparation is key to successfully storing cigars. Below I’ve outlined the steps I take when preparing a new a humidor or getting an existing humidor ready for winter.

Step 1: Wet the Wood

Any humidor worth putting cigars in is lined with Spanish Cedar which is prized for it’s insect resistance, rot resistance, and it’s ability to absorb and retain moisture. Unfortunately, by the time you get your hands on a new humidor, it’s extremely dried out. To fix this, start by wetting a plain paper towel (or brand new sponge) with distilled water. Wipe every bit of exposed wood to lightly cover the entire surface area. Make sure not to use too much water or you’ll run the risk of water stains or even wood rot.

Step 2: Bowl of Water

Once you’ve got the wood wiped down, the next step is to get a bowl, cup, tuperware, etc filled with distilled water and place it in the humidor. The larger the surface area of exposed water the better. I prefer to use a low profile bowl over a cup. Fill the bowl 3/4 of the way and place it inside the humidor. Close the lid nice and tight.

Step 3: Wait 24 - 48 Hours

This is where the real magic happens. You’re looking to infuse water back into the wood. This will help stabilize the humidor and ensure that you can achieve that perfect 70% humidity. On my first humidor, I skipped this step and the thing never reached 70% humidity. No matter what I did, the wood was so dry that it always absorbed what I threw at it. Try to wait the full 48 hours for maximum results.

Step 4: Test it Out

Once the 24-48 hours has passed, open the humidor and remove the bowl water. It’s likely at this point that the humidor is actually >70% humility. The only way to find out is to put your trusty hygrometer and get a reading. I personally use digital units that you can calibrate. Cigar International sells a great little hygrometer for $23 that is adjustable. My humidor read 77%. If you’re anywhere north of 74%, I recommend that you let the humidor rest with the lid closed. Check the reading a few times a day. When you’re below 74%, you can move on to the final step. Mine took about 12 hours to stabilize to 69%.

Step 5: Add Humidification

At this point, you’re ready to add your on going humidification device. After years of using water pillows, I’ve decided to start using the humidification gel jars. They seemed more convenient. I steer away from the old school sponge and propylene glycol mix. I picked a few up jars from CI. Remember to use distilled water and don’t over fill.

Step 6: Add Your Cigars!

At this point, it’s time to add your cigars and you’re done! Keep an eye on the hygrometer to make sure things don’t get out of control. With the humidification jars, things should stay pretty stable.

A Few Final Tips

If the humidity is to too high, you might be using t o o b i g of a humidification device. Look for something smaller. If the problem persists, try leaving the humidor lid open for a few hours.

If the humidity is too low try more humidification or go through the prep steps again and let the bowl sit longer. Try 72 hours or longer.

Distilled Water is key. Whenever we’re talking about cigars and humidity, forget tap water period. A bottle of distilled water cost $.99 and will keep you’re humidor free of impurities for at least a year. Tap water contains too many minerals and God knows what else to risk ruining your nice humidor or your fine cigars.

I hope these tips help you get the most out of your humidor.  As always, please feel free to leave us some comments if you’ve got some other tips or questions.

-Dicksbain

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