Press Release: Arango Cigar Co. Unveils New Private Label Macanudo Clasico and Punch Clasico

February 1, 2013 (Northbrook, IL) — Arango Cigar Co. has announced its new “Clasico” series of premium cigars, made by General Cigar Company. The four shapes, shared by Macanudo and Punch, are patterned after the top-selling cigar brand sizes from General Cigar Company. The two Clasico lines are proprietary, being distributed only by Arango Cigar Co.

Macanudo Clasico and Punch Clasico have the same wrappers and similar blends as the acclaimed lines offered by General Cigar. The Clasico frontmarks pay tribute to notable aspects of, and names, in the Chicagoland area. The mild-to-medium-bodied Macanudo Clasicos are the 5-1/2 x 40 Mag Mile ($6.40 MSRP), 5-1/2 x 50 Windy City ($6.60), 6 x 54 Bucktown ($7.50) and 6 x 58 Gold Coast ($8.50) . The dimensions of the medium-bodied Punch Clasico cigars, having the same shape names as the Macanudo Clasicos, vary slightly. MSRPs are $2.60, $5.50, $5.60 and $6.20.

The Dominican-made Macanudo Clasico’s Connecticut Shade wrapper and the Honduran-made Punch Clasico’s Ecuadorian wrapper offer a smoke best described as “smooth,” according to Michael Gold, Arango’s president.

“Both Clasico lines,” Gold emphasizes, “are limited to brick-and-mortar tobacconists, and are not available to Internet or mail-order retailers. We are presenting the cigars in 15-count boxes, another novel and price-friendly feature of the line.” Macanudo Clasico and Punch Clasico are currently appearing on tobacco retailers’ shelves nationwide.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury, the G-League's Valley Suns, and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for Major League Baseball, plus I'm a voice over artist. Prior to joining halfwheel, I covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.