M Bourbon by Macanudo

Stir up an Old Fashioned and grab a comfy chair because it's a whole new ballgame now that Macanudo has entered the crowded field of infused cigars with the incredible M Bourbon by Macanudo. After dominating the traditional mild-to-medium market for what seems like forever, Macanudo more recently ran up the score with robust offerings like the 1968 and the Inspirado line, but this Bourbon-steeped smoke proves they haven't neglected their fundamentals. What would be a classically delicious and medium-bodied smoke built from fine Ecuadorian and Dominican longleaf is transformed by the essences of aged Bourbon, cherry, and aromatic bitters info a flavorful and inspired treat. As the well-built vitola is slipped from its cellophane wrapper like a golden dram from a bottle, the pungent aroma of a boozy oak barrel wafts from the flawless Connecticut Shade wrapper. The aged Dominican filler at the M Bourbon by Macanudo's core, skillfully held in place by a thick Ecuadorian binder, is where the taste and smell of cherry can be found ready to be unleashed through the open draw by a steady flame. Charred oak, caramel, and leather greet the palate during the first sips of the cool, voluminous smoke, with the sweet malt, spice, and vanilla of quality whiskey ever-present. The cherry, shifting from maraschino to black and back, is never overwhelming while serving as a sweet counterpoint to the bitters best experienced during the exhale. Certainly well-matched with an evening's after-dinner cocktail, try an M Bourbon by Macanudo with a rich black coffee on a lazy Sunday morning for a delightful contrast in flavors. Then have an M Coffee by Macanudo that night with a snifter of your favorite distilled libation. Now that's how you make the big leagues.