I imagine myself to be the Prince of Hampton Court when I smoke this truly wonderful cigar.


Background
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Macanudo is the world's most popular premium cigar brand (based on sales volume). Part of the marketing hype behind this brand is that this cigar is "always the same -- if you like it today, you'll like it tomorrow." I can attest to that. I first started smoking this brand almost 20 years ago while I was in college. At the time, this cigar was produced in Jamaica by Montego Y Cia. Today, the company is owned by General Cigar and this brand is produced in both Jamaica and the Dominican Republic under the supervision of cigar master, Benjamin Menendez.

Twenty years ago, as a young cigar smoker, I really enjoyed smoking Macanudo cigars because I liked the oily character of the Connecticut shade wrapper that is used on this cigar. It has a unique flavor that I really enjoy. When the cigar boom of the early 1990's started, I simply had to stop smoking this stick... the price just got too expensive for me.

Spring forward to the present day: I haven't smoked a Macanudo for almost seven years. I wondered what it would taste like, now that it was manufactured as a brand owned by the General Cigar Company. The verdict: this cigar tastes exactly like I remembered it... fantastic!


The Cigar
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This cigar is packed in an elegant, cedar-lined aluminum tube. I am a little wary of cigars that are packaged in tubes (tubos), because I like to see what I am buying (i.e., the quality of a cigar's construction) before I hand over my money. Fortunately, the shop I purchased this cigar at had a professionally designed and maintained humidor with a good rotating stock, so I purchased a couple of these cigars to last me for the week until my next mail-order shipment of cigars arrived. The retail cigar industry was decimated here in California since the passage of a 100% "Rob Reiner" tobacco tax of a few years ago, and many tobacconists in the state have gone out of business. Usually, cigar lovers here have to order from out-of-state vendors to avoid this usurious sin tax.

Back to business: When I opened the tube and removed the cigar, I was very pleased with my purchase. The cigar was in perfect condition. This was a beautifully constructed cigar with a smooth, quality wrapper, a firm body, and filler tobaccos packed in the classic sandwich (folded) style. This cigar is made with a Connecticut-shade wrapper that is twice-aged (which further reduces the tobacco's acidity, sugar, tar and nicotine levels; Connecticut leaf tobacco is expensive to produce and can add as much as 50¢ to the price of the cigar). The filler tobacco is hand selected from growers in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. The binder is a dark leaf tobacco from Mexico.

This cigar is fairly narrow (ring gauge of 42 or 43 = about 2/3rds of an inch in diameter), and when smoked this cigar burns evenly and produces a long, firm white-gray ash.

In flavor, I find this cigar to be more medium-bodied than mild. The cigar itself smells of sweet wood and pecan meat, with earth and floral undertones. In the draw, this cigar is quite flavorful, featuring nuances of dried fruit, cedar and leather. I usually hold onto this cigar and boogie the smoke until there is nothing left to hold on to. I'll only drop the butt when it gets too hot to hold. Macanudo (which means "dandy," or "good" in colloquial Spanish) is a fantastic cigar and one that I confidently recommend to others when price is a secondary consideration. The corona size is not my favorite -- I prefer the Prince Philip, a 7-1/2inch x 49 gauge cigar -- but for a first-time smoker of this brand I do highly recommend the Hampton Court.

Although mellow in the smoke, this cigar's flavor will cling to your mouth for a long time. It truly is a wonderful cigar and one that I enjoy pairing with a glass of Cognac or a glass of fine Port.


Purchase and Availability
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I purchased this cigar for $7.50 at local liquor store here in Southern California. Not a bad price, considering we have a 100% tobacco tax in California. The MSRP (Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price) for this cigar is $131.25 per box of 25 tubos.

You can find this cigar online at:

Thompson & Co., Inc., of Tampa, Florida (www.thompsoncigar.com)
$130 for a box of 25

JR Cigars of North Carolina (www.jrcigars.com)
JR Cigars sells a box at a steep discount ($84.95). Cigars can also be purchased individually for $5.25 apiece. JR is my preferred cigar vendor for exceptionally quick and reliable service and the best prices. Check them out!


By The Way...
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Hamptom Court in Surrey, England, is an historic Royal Palace. The most famous resident: Henry VIII. One of the most popular attractions is the Maze in the Palace Gardens.

More info: http://www.hrp.org.uk/hcp/indexhcp.htm

Final Word: a great cigar. If you can find it for under $5, buy it!


Recommended: Yes

Cigar Name: Macanudo Hampton Court
Cigar Rating: Better than most
Price per cigar ($US): 6.00