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.