Let me start off by saying that I went into smoking this stick with great anticipation as the Anejo is one of my absolute favorite smokes and has been since I first enjoyed one back somewhere in time in the earlier part of this decade. Anyway, on to the review…
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Review – Arturo Fuente Reserva Anejo Shark #77:
- Acquired: Purchased @ B&M
- Store: Soho Cigar – South Tampa
- Price: $11.50
- Brand: Arturo Fuente
- Series: Anejo
- Shape: Pyramid
- Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
- Filler: ?
- Binder: ?
- Length: 5.875″
- Ring Gauge: 54
David purchased this stick on 1/19/10 and kept it in his humidor until he gave it to me to smoke a month or so afterwards. I had to wait a few very anxious days after he gave it to me until I had some time on the weekend that I could finally set aside to enjoy this fine stogie. When the time finally came I couldn’t wait to get out to my back patio and get started.
On my pre-light inspection I have to say that the general overall appearance was very and it appeared to have a very nice, firm construction to it. It had a big vein that ran from head to foot. The pre-light aroma was also nice.
I toasted it first and then went in for the full light. After a few puffs, I noticed that the draw was a bit difficult and the smoke volume wasn’t what I was expecting for such a premium cigar but that didn’t keep me from moving on…. I’m glad I kept going because this stick just kept getting better and better with each puff.
The burn throughout this cigar was very very even and the ash was a light gray with very few black bands and appeared to be very solid – like I could have waved it around in a hurricane and it would have stayed on. This nice tight ash was common for the entire duration of the smoke.
About 1/4 of the way in, the smoke volume increased and the flavors started kicking in. From the beginning of the smoke there was a smoothness and almost creaminess (sorry Dave lol) that remained throughout that was just awesome. The flavors of this cigar had me stumped for a while as it started out with what seemed a little leathery and something else that I couldn’t figure out. About 1/3 of the way through the flavors started changing to a peppery and earthy tone but still had something that I couldn’t quite get until, bam, it hit me, it must have been the cognac!
This cigar burned clean all the way through, didn’t seem to have a lot of built up impurities and never seemed to burn “hot”. It did, however, have a cracking issue but wasn’t obnoxious. I would say that the cigar buzz factor was there but not too much and after an hour after smoking I didn’t get any bad aftertaste.
All in all, this is one fine smoke that I would look forward to smoking again and again.
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Thanks Alex! I look forward to giving this one a try as well.
The Anejo is a great cigar. It’s one of my favorite Fuentes. The binder is a Dominican leaf and the filler is a blend of Opus X, Don Carlos and Hemingway leaves. The wrapper is cured in cognac barrels after it has been aged.