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Shopping: Looking for a stellar stocking stuffer or a last minute gift idea for the man who enjoys the finer things in life? If so, look no further than General Cigar Co. (www.cigarworld.com), which produces several industry leading lines of premium, handcrafted cigars: Macanudo, Partagas, Cohiba, Punch, Exalibur, Hoyo de Monterrey and La Gloria Cubana, among others.

A company that holds steadfast to an extremely high quality standard, General Cigar actually grows its own proprietary Connecticut Shade wrapper tobacco, and its natural and candela wrappers. In fact, through one of its subsidiaries, the company grows, cures, ages and processes the majority of the Connecticut Shade tobacco in the world. It’s no wonder that, today, General Cigar Company is the largest manufacturer and marketer of premium, imported, hand-made or hand-rolled cigars – those made with long filler and all natural tobacco leaf.

If your sights are set on a fine cigar this season either for yourself or someone you want to thoroughly please, here is where your money would be well spent:

Macanudo 1968: Cigar Master Daniel Núñez has introduced Macanudo® 1968, a limited-edition collection made solely of proprietary tobaccos and created in celebration of the iconic brand’s 40 year legacy. From the first draw to the last, deeply complex yet balanced flavor envelops the palate with a freshness that celebrates inherent natural sweetness from the soils that bore each tobacco. Each of the brand’s frontmarks is housed in 20-count boxes. Macanudo 1968 is available in four frontmarks with prices beginning at $8.50 per cigar to $170 per box.

Excalibur Legend: Hoyo de Monterrey Excalibur® is regarded as one of the most exemplary brands to hail from Honduras. The latest incarnation of the revered brand pays homage to the brand’s pedigree with a decidedly regal name and full flavor that commands as much attention. Each of Excalibur Legend’s three frontmarks is housed in boxes of 20 cigars at an accessible price point ranging from $6.75 to $7.50 per cigar and $135 to $150 per box.

Cohiba® Gift Pack: Contains one cigar from each of the three current Cohiba collections (Cohiba, Cohiba Black and Cohiba XV), all packaged in a limited edition, Cohiba-branded Andre Garcia leather cigar case. Featuring three 5″ x 54 size cigars, the handsome gift pack will make its mark at retail in early November, and will command a suggested retail price of $59.99 per pack.

Partagas® Decadas 1998 Gift Pack: Three Partagas Decadas 1998 No. II (5 ½” x 50) cigars will be elegantly presented alongside a cylinder of branded wooden matches in a gorgeous collectible tin. Further protected in a gift box, the Partagas Decadas gift pack will become available at fine tobacco retailers in November and will be offered at a special price of $49.95 per pack.

Four Tastes of Macanudo: Samplers each contain the top selling, tubed frontmark Hampton Court (5 ½” x 42), in Café, Robust, Maduro and Gold Label varieties. The Four Tastes of Macanudo sampler will retail for $17.90 per pack – the price of just three Macanudo Hampton Court frontmarks. Visit www.CigarWorld.com for more information on these and other General Cigar Company cigar brands.

***Some or all of the accommodations(s), experience(s), item(s) and/or service(s) detailed above may have been provided at no cost and/or arranged to accommodate this review, but all opinions expressed are entirely those of Merilee Kern and have not been influenced in any way as per the disclosure policy on our “Legal” page***