The Ultimate Guide to Macanudo Inspirado Black Cigars

There's nothing like sitting back and relaxing with your favorite cigar. It's a way to connect with friends or to finish off a long day.

No matter when or how you enjoy cigar smoking, it's important to know which cigars to smoke. And, with so many cigar options out there, you have an abundance to choose from.

If you want a truly incredible cigar experience, you should definitely check out the Macanudo Inspirado Black cigar. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about this divine cigar.

The History of Macanudo Cigars

Before we jump into the finer details of Macanudo Inspirado Black cigars, let's take a moment to talk about this brand's rich history.

The brand has seen a lot of change from its inception to where it is today. Here's how the story of Macanudo Cigars unfolded.

Early Days

The word Macanudo comes from Argentinian slang and means terrific, great, or cool. The word originates in the villages of the indigenous Mapudungun and Quechua tribes.

When it comes to cigars, however, Macanudo was originally used as the name for Cuban Punch cigars sold in Guatemala. Later, a Jamaican company acquired the name and used it to classify a range of cigars created for the UK market.

Creating the Macanudo Blend

In 1969, the General Cigar Company purchased the Jamaican factory producing Macanudo cigars. This was when the blend really began to develop and become its own brand.

Under its new leadership, the factory reworked the flavor of the Macanudo blend. Through a trial and error test where they worked with flavors and leaves from all over the world, they developed an entirely new cigar.

The main work behind the creation of this blend was done by a man named Alfons Mayer. Mayer had learned how to blend cigars in the island nation of Cuba and had quickly become an unmatched blender.

He wrapped the Macanudo cigars in a wrapper that was aged for three years for taste, a revolutionary action at the time. He combined leaves from Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, and Mexico to create a unique flavor profile.

By 1971, the brand had perfected its new Macanudo cigars and was ready to launch them. The cigars were an instant success in the American market due to their soft and sweet notes.

The Growth of the Brand

New leadership in the General Tobacco Company was what really helped the Macanudo brand of cigars take off. The new managers put a focus on excellent salesmanship and marketing so that they could quickly grow the brand.

It didn't take long for the company to add new sizes to their line of cigars. They also began selling the cigar in restaurants and cafés around the United States, advertising it as the perfect cigar for any cigar smoker.

The cigar didn't develop much over the years - that is, until the factory closed nearly three decades after the cigar's initial launch. At that time, the company moved its operations to the Dominican Republic.

The Introduction of the Inspirado Line

As the brand was forced to move its operations, it also began to consider adding new cigars to its Macanudo brand. One of those cigars was the Inspirado line, which was made originally for European customers only.

The popularity of the cigar quickly gained popularity, calling for sales in other nations. In response, the General Tobacco Company began selling the Inspirado line to the American tobacco market as well.

In addition, the company added several new lines and flavors to their Inspirado line. Today they offer the following cigars in their line:

• Inspirado Black
• Inspirado White
• Inspirado Red
• Inspirado Orange
• Inspirado Green
• Inspirado Palladium

Each of these cigars offers a unique flavor and is a great choice for anyone who enjoys smoking cigars.

The Macanudo Inspirado Black Profile

Now that we've covered the history of the Macanudo Inspirado Black, it's time for us to get into the nitty-gritty details. And, where better to start than with this cigar's flavor profile!

The Inspirado Black has developed over the years, so it's important to remember that the cigar you smoke today is very different than the original Macanudo Inspirado Black. Both cigars offer a rich flavor profile.

What makes this cigar unique is that the wrapper, binder, and filler have all developed over time.

The Wrapper

The wrapper is the crown jewel of the Macanudo Black Inspirado and is made from Connecticut Broadleaf. It was grown under an experimental process that allowed the plant to ripen on the stalk.

The wrapper color of this cigar is considered a Maduro, making it a dark coffee brown with hints of red. It truly fits the name "Inspirado Black" due to its stunning color!

The Binder

The binder used in the Inspirado Black is an Ecuadorian Sumatra. This binder tobacco is grown from Sumatra seeds.

The seeds are cultivated in the South American country of Ecuador, which is considered to be one of the world's top tobacco regions. When the seeds are harvested, they have a rich and dark flavor.

The Filler

The filler for the Macanudo Inspirado Black uses a Nicaraguan leaf. The seeds in this filler are fermented in a proprietary process and are grown in Estelí. The filler is what really packs a punch and gives the cigar its body.

Country of Origin

The General Cigar Company manufactures Macanudo Inspirado Black cigars. And, while they have operations throughout the Dominican Republic, Honduras, and Nicaragua, these cigars are made in their main factory in the Dominican Republic.

One of the ways they stand out from the crowd with their Macanudo Inspirado Black cigars is through their rolling process. 

Available Macanudo Inspirado Black Sizes

There are plenty of cigar sizes for the Macanudo Inspirado Black series. Each box of cigars that you buy comes in a pack of 20.

The three sizes for the Macanudo Inspirado Black are:

• Robusto: 7" x 48
• Toro: 5.5" x 54
• Churchill: 7" x 48

The size you select will depend on how long you plan to enjoy your cigar and how you smoke your chosen cigar.

The Appearance of the Macanudo Inspirado Black

The second most important part of an Inspirado Black, aside from its flavor profile, is its appearance. This cigar certainly looks appealing with its gorgeous dark espresso wrapper.

Despite the darker color of the wrapper, there is a light mottling on the cigar's surface. On top of that, there is a thin layer of oil on top of the wrapper.

Apart from the wrapper itself, the Inspirado Black's band is also noteworthy. This cigar has a black band that's outlined in a beautiful silver trim. The center of the band also sports a large silver stripe.

The text on the band sports the name of the brand, proudly showing off the word "Macanudo" in a large, black font. Situated just below the brand name is the title of the cigar, written in a white script font.

If you flip the cigar over, you'll find the Macanudo logo displayed in gorgeous silver font. There are also a few Macanudo logos stamped in a watermark design on the back of the cigar.

How the Cigar Performs

Now that we've talked about the visual side of the cigar let's get into the nuts and bolts of how the cigar actually performs. After all, there's only one way to really know a cigar. Here's what to expect when sitting down to enjoy one of these cigars.

Pre-Light Experience

From there, you'll be able to start the pre-light draw. The Inspirado Black delivers wood and mocha notes upon its dry draw. The mocha flavor gives the feeling of dark chocolate combined with rich espresso.

Tasting Notes

Once you light up the Macanudo Inspirado Black, you'll enjoy a pop of white pepper. After the initial pepper flavor fades, you'll taste softer notes of wood, berry, espresso, and dark chocolate.

The majority of the flavors settle on the back of the tongue and become less noticeable as you smoke the cigar. The espresso and dark chocolate flavors remain prominent throughout the entire experience.

You'll enjoy the sweetness of the cigar as you smoke it. This is due to the combination of the chocolate and berry notes in the cigar.

By the time you have smoked the majority of the cigar, you'll begin to notice the sweet flavor of the cigar wears off. At that point, the coffee becomes much more noticeable.

As you begin to finish off the cigar, you'll enjoy an earthy flavor that comes to light. This is how you'll enjoy finishing off this delectable cigar.

Burn

You'll notice that the cigar won't require too many touch-ups. It will produce silver-gray ash and maintain a straight burn path throughout the entire smoking experience.

Plus, the temperature of the burn stays fairly even. This allows for a smooth and steady burn rate, not burning too slow or too fast for you to enjoy the cigar.

Draw

When you are smoking a Macanudo Inspirado Black, you'll love the draw. The draw is exactly what cigar aficionados are looking for - a draw with a slight amount of resistance.

The good news about the draw is that while it has resistance, you'll still get some great flavor. You won't have to work hard to find the flavor, making for an enjoyable smoking experience.

Strength

Many people consider the latest release from the Macanudo line, the Macanudo Inspirado Red, to have a bolder flavor than the Inspirado Black. The Inspirado Black is still considered one of the stronger and bolder flavors in the Macanudo lines.

The Macanudo Inspirado Black's benefit is that it provides an even fullness and strength level throughout the entire smoking process of the cigar. That means that you'll enjoy the same profile at the beginning of your smoking experience as you will at the end.

Body

The body of the Macanudo Inspirado Black makes for a delightful smoking experience. Its body is slightly fuller than its strength, giving it a robust and enjoyable feel.

The body of this cigar overall is medium. Toward the end of the cigar, you'll notice that the flavor deepens a little bit. By the time you reach the end of the cigar, it has a full-bodied feel.

Try the Macanudo Inspirado Black Cigar

If you want a truly robust and inspiring cigar, you won't want to miss out on a Macanudo Inspirado Black cigar. There are so many things to love about this tasty, flavorful cigar that it's no wonder it's so popular.