Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Size: 6 x 52 “Torpedo-Box Pressed”
Body: Medium/Full
Price: $6.00
Today we take a look at the Macabi Deluxe by Sosa and Antillian Cigar Corp.
I want to thank the lovely Arby Sosa for sending me samples.
Not a lot of info about this cigar’s history but Arby told me this in an email:
“It’s also made in the same factory as Santa Julia. It’s the first Nicaraguan cigar we made and the only box pressed cigar we make. It’s only sold through our own retail channels.”
And all of the Sosa products are sold online at the Antillian Cigar Corp.
The cigar comes in four sizes: 5 x 50, 6 x 50, 7 x 50, torpedo 6 x 62 and the 8 x 50 Soberano.
Prices range from $5.00-$6.00 with the Soberano coming in at $6.50 per stick by the box.
The Antillian Cigar Corp is the manufacturer for all Sosa, Macabi and Imperio Cubana Cigars. I’ve reviewed the Santa Julia and the Don Cirilo Reserva Familiar Maduro. Both are fantastic cigars.
The Macabi Deluxe is a beautiful cigar. A near perfect square box press. Perfect triple caps. Seams are not tight though and a bit sloppy. Very few small veins but a couple of big honker sized veins run the length of the cigar. The wrapper is a cinnamon rust color with a bit of oil and a tad bit sandy to the touch.
It is raining and dreary, for a change, here in Milwaukee and no sun to be seen. Come on birthday and get here soon. As my dear wife, Brunhilda, has promised to buy me a real camera instead of using this piece of junk I’ve used for years. No sun = lousy photos. I will be 65 in January. Damn. No wonder my scrotum bangs against my knees.
I clip the cap and find aromas of dark rich cocoa, spice, grass, earthiness, and cedar.
Time to light up.
The first puffs are sweet and spicy. The draw is spot on despite the cigar being so jam packed with tobacco.
Chocolate is the next element. In the back of my throat, I can taste the start of some creaminess so I grab a Diet Coke for my NYC egg cream experience. It takes a special blend to get me into this mode. Must have the right balance of chocolate and creaminess.
The ash is almost snow white. And I am Dopey.
The creaminess pulls the rip cord and lands dead center on my palate. Nice landing.
The spiciness has both black and red pepper components. Nice. And they are becoming stronger now with each puff.
The sweetness has other elements in it to make it so. A taste of honey for you Herb Alpert fans, a bit of toffee for you diabetics, and something fruity…raisins for shriveled up old men like me.
Very slow going. I sense I will get more than $6 worth of cigar here. I predict at least a 90 minute smoke.
The char line is dead nuts. Perfect. (A construction term I still use).
The cigar has only burned 1-1/4” and I’ve been on it for 20 minutes.
It has been constant rain and thunderstorms for two days. It is almost 9am here and it looks like sunset. I love summer when the sun is out early and I get my best photos. Fall and winter are such a curse.
The strength is medium body.
The Macabi Deluxe is one more fine example that you don’t need to spend $11 on a good cigar. All of the Sosa line is wallet friendly. And since every last blend is on the Antillian web site, it is one stop shopping. You might want to take a look at all the Sosa blends I’ve reviewed. There are a total of 9 Sosa reviews.
I received these samples from Arby almost two weeks ago. Some of the cigars need a good month before a review can be done. Some only needed a few days. The Macabi Deluxe is good to go in less than two weeks.
Flavor bomb status occurs after 2” of cigar is sacrificed to the Cosmic Muffin.
The strength begins to climb. I’m only a few minutes away from the Macabi Deluxe becoming a medium/full blend.
The second third begins.
Each swig of Diet Coke causes the chocolate flavor to explode. Go back and click on NYC egg cream to get the recipe. It is only chocolate syrup, milk, and seltzer water. My dad used to keep those Three Stooges big bottles of seltzer with the screw on top that allowed you to squirt someone 5 feet away. I’m still cleaning that stuff out of my ears 55 years later.
Coffee makes its debut. Smooth and creamy. Add the huge dose of chocolate and we have a Starbucks drink.
The spiciness has waned.
Here are the flavors: Chocolate, creaminess, coffee, cedar, nuts, raisins, and a bit of leather.
Clearly, this is not a kitchen sink flavor profile. Its focus is on the first three items on my list.
I hit the halfway point. I’ve invested 45 minutes of smoke time.
This is a wonderful cigar. And as I straddle the halfway point, more flavors visit: Toffee, creamy vanilla pudding, and red pepper has returned in force. Ha-cha-cha.
Watched “A Night at the Opera” last night on TCM. The Marx Brothers. My holy grail that taught me how to be funny back in college. Every Friday night, my school CSULB, showed movies in this small room that sat 50 people. And it was there that I saw every Marx Brothers movie made. I was hooked.
I loved how Groucho always had a cigar in his mouth. Just like my grandfather and father. Only without the painted on moustache.
The Macabi Deluxe has reached a new level of flavor bomb status. It is intense and painting a wide spectrum of flavors and little bits of heaven.
Holy crap! Now we’re talking. The Macabi Deluxe has made a massive transition. It went from a nicely flavored stick to something that demands your attention. Bold and the Beautiful.
The toffee changes to caramel. This explains the difference: “Toffee is basically sugar and butter. Caramel is sugar and cream or milk, with butter occasionally in the mix.”
So the caramel latches on to the creaminess. 90% of the time, a caramel flavor exists when there is plenty of creaminess. Toffee is the flavor we taste before the creaminess arrives.
The caramel runs head to head with the chocolate…enhancing the coffee and nuttiness.
This robusto could have easily cost more. Something in the $7-$8 range. Thank goodness that Arby Sosa doesn’t have major PR costs. Word of mouth and excellence have kept him in the forefront. It was only recently that you could buy his blends online on the Antillian web site. Before that, it was strictly B & M’s.
I am so enjoying Macabi Deluxe that I am forgetting to take photos. But based on the dark and foreboding weather, it may be just as well.
If you choose to buy a 5 pack or a box, allow the sticks at least two weeks in your humidor before sparking one up. I lit one up after a few days and I ended up wasting a good cigar.
I have a bunch more Sosa blends to review. Over the next couple of weeks, I will finish the reviews.
The last third begins.
Strength is a hearty medium/full with it seeming to be heading towards full bodied very soon.
Nicotine shows up. And I have nothing in my belly. Uh-oh.
I stop and have a bowl of cereal because I still have 2” left. And I would really like to be conscious during that part of the review.
One of the great things about Arby’s online store is that if you buy a 5 pack or a box, the price per stick remains the same. He doesn’t jack up the price of the 5 pack. Kudos.
This is a very hearty cigar. And I’m good to go for the remaining part.
The cigar sat for a good 5 minutes while I ate and when I picked it up again, there was no need to light it. Stayed lit the entire time. That is a sure sign of good construction.
The cigar becomes very complex. The balance is perfect. And it has a nice long finish.
Giving it that 5 minute rest brings out the flavors even more. Powerful flavor profile.
One last time: Creaminess, caramel, chocolate, coffee, raisins, nuttiness, cedar, leather, and vanilla.
Complex and smooth. I’m not so sure that the strength will make it to full body now. The complexity smooths things out so much that the strength seems to diminish a scoche.
You can’t beat the price point of the Macabi Deluxe. It is a fine cigar.
On top of the great pricing, Arby has allowed my readers 5% off by using the coupon code of Katman5 during checkout.
The cigar finishes out perfectly. Smooth and flavorful.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
nice review katman! this sounds like a delicious stogie especially for the price point im gonna seek them out for sure! some of my best stogies have come at that price point!
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Great Review, Uncle! As Always! Big thanks to Arby for supplying you with enough sticks to permit good reviews, and for treating me like gold in buying cigars from him. His Classic Wavell is my new favorite stick for anytime of the day smoking.
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