Macanudo Robust Portofino: Garbage in a tube.

[ambientboy]

Kicking around a closeby B&M, I was looking for something inexpensive and new, something I'd never even considered trying. I love length, for most of my sticks and the Macnudo Robust Portofino caught my attention. As DBall would say "It's the length of a toddler's arm!"

It's the bloody marketing of a tubo...it jumps out and says "It's cool to have a cigar in a tube...buy me!" Maybe it's the man in me that's intrigued by the mix of the technology of a sealed tube...like a futuristic capsule of goodness.

Tonight I wasn't looking for anything huge, nor anything too complex, so I whipped out the Portofino (something like 7x34) while at a pub down the road. The outside bar was perfect for tonight.

It lit fast, like a cigarette and with virtually no flavor off the bat. As I went down, i got a little burn taste with a mild spice that was so generic I was perturbed. On the draw was the only time I could taste anything and moreso because of the heat giving me a tobacco hint to the smoke. I might as well have been eating smoke from a campfire. No no, that would be unfair to campfires everywhere.

Immediately on exhale, the stale dry taste overwhelmed my mouth and I was glad I was drinking Johnny Black. Never has JB ever tasted so good. Though I could not get rid of the stale empty flavor of burnt ash and leaves. Think about throwing damp oak leaves on a campfire...and there you have it. Though I gave it a good 3.5inches, I simply couldn't finish it.


Obviously, this smoke is not one I plan on repeating, nor being near anyone that does so. Really, they should have paid me for my time and torture.

[icehog3]

Did you just buy the cigar from the B&M today? If so, it might have burned so fast and hot because they are underhumidifing their cigars.

I think Macanudos are like sucking air through a straw anyway, but this one sounds extra crappy.

[horrorview]

Man, I remember the days when I thought Macanudos were the Cadillac of cigars because they were the most expensive ones behind the counter at CVS pharmacy....oh, precious youth...where have you gone?

[Infin1ty]

Wow, that just sounds awful! I don't even think a rest in the Humidor would have helped that sucker!

[RPB67]

And to think when I was 18, this was one of the cigars I used to smoke.

This was the one I smoked all the time way back when. I haven't had one for about 15 years and it looks like I will definately stay away from them as well.

[palm55]

So Richard... What do you REALLY think!? (kidding)

Actually, I couldn't agree more! Macanudos, in general, are about as pleasant and eventful as hugging your mother-in-law.

[RPB67]

Originally Posted by palm55

So Richard... What do you REALLY think!? (kidding)

Actually, I couldn't agree more! Macanudos, in general, are about as pleasant and eventful as hugging your mother-in-law.

Can anything be that bad...........

[Coz77]

I often wonder why Macanudo is the #1 selling cigar in America...I have yet to find one I like

[dj1809]

I too am guilty of falling for the old cigar in a tube trick.
I thought Macs were good as recently as a couple of months ago, but after smoking some quality cigars, I can't bear to put that tube of wet ash back in my mouth.

[tazziedevil]

I'm one of the few gorillas I know who actually likes macanudos...

But they are way too expensive for what you get. There are far, far superior cigars for the price of a macanudo. I do like them, In gifts and bombs though.

[Papichulo]

Like I tell everyone Macanudo is like Absolute vodka. Pure Marketing and crappy quality. I think all Macanudos suck

Thanks for sharing.

[icehog3]

Originally Posted by Papichulo

Like I tell everyone Macanudo is like Absolute vodka. Pure Marketing and crappy quality. I think all Macanudos suck

Thanks for sharing.

Absolutely!! Absolute Vodka Blows!

[zhadum]

I just got my buddy off of Macs and he went kicking and screaming. But it is all good now, we are splitting a box of Oliva G Maduros churchills tomorrow. Plus the box split was his idea so he is learning fast. Now all I have to do is get him hooked on some Pepins

[horrorview]

Originally Posted by icehog3

Absolutely!! Absolute Vodka Blows!

C'mon Tom! Don't hate on Absolut! If it wasn't for Absolute, we'd have never had that magical night together...with Frank...

[yayson]

Sounds like a terribly dry cigar, dried out beyond revivable from the flavors described. Hard to think of anything worse than settling down for a nice cigar and coming up with some experience like that.

Happened to me last night after sampling from the local Albertson's grocery store humidor (recently moved, no local B&M). The dial to the humidification device was set on 70 and if it was correct I can only surmise that the inventory sat in boxes in a hot dry warehouse for months on end before they made it to the humi. I tried 3 of 5 and have thrown the other 2 out.

Poorly kept cigars, esp bone dry cigars piss me off beyond my ability to relate.