General Cigar Co. is turning to a distinctive style of processing tobacco to deliver a unique taste to Palladium, the latest addition to its Macanudo portfolio.

The cigar uses a blend of tobaccos from five countries, thought the company has not yet disclosed what that blend is. What has been disclosed is that at least some of it was aged in tercios, large bulks of tobacco wrapped in Royal Palm bark. A time- and labor-intensive process, it is one rarely used in the cigar production process today despite its roots in the Cuban cigar industry.

As such, only an elite group of people in the factory are able to build the tercios, which result in a tighter seal and thus traps in moisture and helping to better retain the tobacco’s natural flavor characteristics. It also adds to the aroma of a cigar as well as its burn consistency.

The company will be releasing three sizes in the Macanudo Palladium:

  • Macanudo Palladium Lonsdale (6 3/4 x 43) – $8.49
  • Macanudo Palladium Robusto (5 1/2 x 50) – $8.99
  • Macanudo Palladium Churchill (7 1/2 x 49) – $9.49

The company indicated that only 3,000 boxes of cigars will be produced, but has not yet indicated how many cigars will come in each box and how those 3,000 boxes are distributed across the three sizes. Each box is designed to evoke the brushed metallic look of palladium, while the cigars feature intricate double-banding to signify their unique characteristics.

The Macanudo Palladium is scheduled to begin shipping on Aug. 1.

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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 and previously the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, 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.