New pricing: Macanudo 1968

This is not a new release, but when you consider what has happened, it might as well be considered a new cigar.

Increased cigar taxes, smoking bans, have hit the cigar industry pretty hard as of late, so some good news would be nice for a change. Luckily, General Cigar has stepped in to save the day with its announcement of new pricing for the Macanudo 1968 line. All cigars in the line are affected by the price decrease, with the changes taking place at brick and mortar shops all over the United States. Yes, you shouldn't expect to see much of a difference while shopping online, but if you have enjoyed the Macanudo 1968 in the past or have planned on it you now have a reason to get up and out of your house.

The Macanudo 1968 Robusto now retails for $6.49 each and $129.80 per box of 20, down from $8.50 and $170. The Toro sells for $7.49 per single and $149.80 per box, as opposed to $9.50 and $190. The 6 x 60 Gigante can be had for $7.99 each or $159.80 per box, down from $11 or $220. Finally, the Churchill sells for $7.69 each or $153.80 per box, instead of $10 each or $200. On average, consumers will save approximately $3.33 per cigar and over $32 per box.

The timing of the price decreases across the Macanudo 1968 line could not be better, and the savings are substantial. General Cigar's Director of Marketing Bill Chilian explained the reasoning behind the pricing changes in the official press release: “Since the debut of Macanudo 1968 in August of 2008, the brand has enjoyed critical acclaim and has received high praise from brick and mortar retailers across the country. We recognize that Macanudo 1968 is a strong product with tremendous potential and decided to revise the pricing structure to make the brand accessible to a broader range of cigar enthusiasts.”

As for the cigar itself, the bold Macanudo 1968 features a filler blend of proprietary tobacco cultivated on Nicaragua's fertile island of Ometepe. The binder is Connecticut Habano, while the wrapper is of the Honduran San Agustin variety. The cigars are aged in tercios and wooden barrels to add flavor, and are said to offer complexity and balance.