Blind Cigar Review: Macanudo | Inspirado Orange Toro

Cigar Info

In 2016, Macanudo brought the Inspirado lines to the USA. It started with Insiprado Black and Orange. This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers’ scores with outliers removed.

Macanudo Inspirado was released in Europe in 2014, selling in more than 40 countries worldwide. At first, Macanudo Inspirado Orange was only through brick and mortar cigar shops, while Macanudo Inspirado Black was available through internet and catalog retailers exclusively. Each come in 20 count boxes. Orange is available in the following vitolas and prices: Toro (5.75” x 52); SRP per cigar is $6.59, Gigante (6” x 60); SRP per cigar is $7.19, Churchill (7” x 50); SRP per cigar is $6.99, Robusto (5” x 50); SRP per cigar is $6.19.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 5 3/4″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Honduras
Wrapper: Honduran
Binder: Honduran
Filler: Honduran, Dominican Republic, Nocaraguan
Factory: HATSA
Blender: Jhonys Diaz
Number of reviewers: 4 – Eric (smalls29) Jeff (ExpendableYouth) Matt (Mattehh) Adam B. (Bushboy)
Price: $7.00
Age: 5 Months
Release Date: March 2018
Contributed by: General Cigar

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 93

“This is a solid looking cigar. Nice lines on the wrapper and a solid looking cap.” –Eric (smalls29)

Aroma: 90

“Sweet honeydew melon and hay. Distinctive brown sugar off the foot.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

First Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“The first-third starts with a blast of immediate flavor. Upfront there is a black pepper, mineral, earth, and woodiness. The whole flavor profile works incredibly well together and provides a complex smoking experience. The retrohale was a sweet anise and mineral note to it as well. I am generally not a fan of anise but the retrohale really balances out the rest of the cigar in way that you don’t often see. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

“The cigar started off great. Sweet tobacco with equal amounts of wood and nuts. Slight pepper on the tongue. I also got a baking spice nearing the transition to the second third. Retrohale was easy and had no spice, maybe a little heat. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

Second Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Second third starts sooner than expected. Although the burn is cool and cherry is small, this cigar is progressing quickly. Possibly the tobacco isn’t rolled as tight as other slow burning sticks? Either way, aroma is pleasing and flavors are developing. Chalky, hickory notes with an underlying cotton candy type sweetness. Cherry-raisin bread. ” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

“The second-third has dropped off a bit from the first-third but still has a lot of the same notes as before. There is a woodiness, mineral, and pepper but otherwise the beginning of this third has lost a lot of the earlier punch. The retrohale still has the mineral and pepper as the previous third but the mineral is now the predominate note. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

Final Third

Flavor: 93
Strength: Medium-Strong
Body/Complexity: Medium

“This third started to dry out my palate a little. The sweetness that I had before was still coming through. The baking spice went a little more to the background and the wood note came more forward. The retro was still smooth and no spice. Nearing the end it started to get bitter. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

“This cigar developed into a masterpiece in the final third. Flavors came together, Strength built and lead to a fantastic finish. Aroma was second to none. Retro inhale created flavors of a spice cabinet and fresh bakery. Aroma was light and airy and pleasant to even a non-cigar enthusiast. I sampled this one at an outdoor party, and received no less than 10 compliments on the aroma. Had to twist it to not get burnt as I smoked this one to the nub.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 97

“No problems with the draw.” –Matt (Mattehh)

Burn: 95

“The one plus was a nice burn and a very nice chimney.” –Eric (smalls29)

Construction: 93

“With the draw and burn being close to perfect the construction was on point. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 92

“The start was very promising. There was a nice flavor of semi-sweet chocolates and a hint of cedar. The smell of the smoke was a nice addition with cedar aromas. Unfortunately, the flavors all but disappeared. For most of the second third there were no flavors. I had to really work to detect flavors. As the final third came in, the flavor became very bitter, almost too much to try and continue. In the end I am not impressed.” –Eric (smalls29)

“This was an enjoyable cigar from start to finish. It had enough complexity to keep me interested throughout the cigar but there were no real transitions aside from the retrohale going back and forth. The first-third of this cigar was excellent but I wish that it would have remained a little more consistent to that flavor profile instead of wavering back and forth in strength and body. There wasn’t anything wrong with the later thirds but the first-third was just squarely in my wheelhouse. ” –Jeff (ExpendableYouth)

“This cigar kept me interested by the transitions and flavors. The sweetness was a great flavor. It is not an added sweetness but more of a aged tobacco sweetness. The other flavors were a nice accompaniment. ” –Matt (Mattehh)

“The cigar was quite enjoyable. The initial inspection led me to believe I had a less than quality cigar. The performance and flavors proved otherwise. I would definitely recommend this one to friends If the price is right. Definitely not a super premium, but also not a dud and a good smoke to enjoy and share the evening.” –Adam B. (Bushboy)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 75

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Blind Cigar Review:Macanudo | Inspirado Orange Toro

Overall Score – 93 – Great