Macanudo Emissary España Debuts at PCA 2024, Features Tobacco Grown in Spain

A filler tobacco grown in a rural region of West-Central Spain highlights the first cigar in a new Macanudo brand that has recently arrived at retailers and was among General Cigar Co.’s new releases at the 2024 PCA Convention & Trade Show, which kicked off Saturday at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

It’s called the Macanudo Emissary España, the first in the Emissary line that Steve Abbot, Macanudo’s director of marketing, described as being inspired by the search for a refined smoking experience influenced by European sophistication. “Using Spanish tobacco to create Macanudo Emissary Espana, we are confident that we’ve delivered on this goal,” he added in a press release.

The Spanish tobacco comes from an area near the town of Riolobos, an area known for its rocky soil and Mediterranean climate. The tobacco is grown near olive trees and pepper fields used for paprika, and is characterized by thick, oily leaves that grow during the warm, dry summer days that deliver both intensity and complexity.

As for the rest of the blend, the filler uses a five-year-aged Dominican piloto, six-year-aged Nicaraguan tobacco, and five-year-aged Colombian tobacco. The binder comes from Nicaragua’s Condega region and has been aged for six years, while a Connecticut-grown broadleaf claro wrapper that has been aged for five years finishes off the blend. A press release describes the profile as having prevalent notes of toasted cedar, almonds, and caramel.

The line is produced at STG Danlí in Honduras and offered in four sizes:

• Macanudo Emissary España Robusto (5 x 52) — $14.99 (Box of 16, $239.84)
• Macanudo Emissary España Toro (6 x 52) — $15.99 (Box of 16, $255.84)
• Macanudo Emissary España Churchill (7 x 48) — $16.99 (Box of 16, $271.84)
• Macanudo Emissary España Perfecto (6 x 40/54) — $17.99 (Box of 16, $287.84)

While the company said the line will debut on March 25, several retailers have already listed it for sale.

Images courtesy of General Cigar Co.

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.