The new Macanudo 1968 limited edition.

To say that 1968 was a momentous year for General Cigar is something of an understatement: It marked the start of development, under the masterly attention of Ramón Cifuentes, of Macanudo. The cigars' reputation has only grown in the ensuing four decades, becoming one of its bestselling brands -- more than earning it the right of a limited edition, the Macanudo 1968, at this year's International Premium Cigar & Pipe Retailers (IPCPR) Show in Las Vegas.

"The 1968 is an evolution for the Macanudo," says General Cigar president and COO Daniel Núñez, who apprenticed with Cifuentes. "It is also the most complex blend I've made so far." Growing the Honduran San Agustin wrappers started in 2000, with Núñez beginning the actual blend in 2005 -- a laborious process driven by what he describes as his "romancing of the concept."

The final blend also includes a Connecticut Habano binder and, for the filler, exclusive General Cigar tobaccos from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua. Throughout the process, Núñez aimed for an aroma that twined "sweet and strength," while imbuing the traditional Macanudo taste with a fuller body; his other goal was to craft a smoke balanced enough to keep the mouth damp.

In the boardroom of the General Cigar factory in the Dominican Republic, a large photograph of Cifuentes hangs on the wall, making his dapper presence felt. As the 1968 rolls out to tobacconists throughout the autumn, Núñez and the rest of his team can light up their newest creation, meet the portrait's eyes, and feel satisfied in their tribute to the master's work.

macanudo1968.com
Churchill (7" x 49) $10/stick or $200/box of 20
Gigante (6" x 60) $11/stick or $220/box of 20
Toro (6" x 54) $9.50/stick or $190/box of 20
Robusto frontmark (5" x 50) $8.50/stick or $170/box of 20

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