Anejo #55

[Shooter]

Also a fan of the #55's! What i usually do with my Opus and Anjeo's is take the cedar off immediately to prevent any mold under the cedar or sap leaking out cuz they are so wet.

ditto

 

[Ludwig]

So after work I went to a B&M that I visit on occasion to grab a smoke for the ride home. He still had Anejo's and allowed me to pick up two #55's. I've had one #77 and this is my first #55. I say that to suggest that I am an Anejo newb.

As with most sticks, it started bitter, but mellowed after the first inch. Typically this is the spot where I begin to experience what a cigar is all about. Well, this cigar started to show signs of being a great smoke, but it never came to fruition. The first third was average. The second third was slightly better. The final third, normally the point where cigars send me off with a beautiful parting present of the full flavor of the stick, was about as good as the middle third.

Now, before everyone tells me to "send any sticks that I don't want", I'm wondering if anyone else has had this experience with an Anejo #55.

I didn't experience the typical cocoa/chocolately flavors that I normally get with a maduro wrapped cigar either. I've had 3-4 WOAMs and feel that they have provided a far superior experience over this #55. The wealth of flavor that the WOAM provides is markedly more fulfilling.

I noted a little surface mold under the cedar wrap on the #55, which I brushed off. I can't believe that this affected the quality of the smoke.

Am I by myself here? I have 3-4 #55's in the humi that are sleeping. Perhaps they just need a little down time. That would seem odd as well, after all the fact that they are "anejo" should mean something, no?

Anejo's in Maryland??? Where at?

The B&M in your backyard. :whistling:

I will run there after work!

 

[KayakinBoy]

I didn't like Anejos early on, I've grown to like them more, and usually only smoke them during holiday season. Throw some in your humi and give it time.

 

[nfulton]

I don't believe the Anejo's are actually "Maduro". I have never had chocolatey flavors from one(but all tastes differ). I believe the barrel aging just imparts the sweetness that I crave so much from these cigars. If you are looking for those flavors I would pick up a Padron '26 #9 Maduro. As for the mold, I believe that is because they are packed so wet under the cedar. Most I have had mold or mold stains under the cedar.

The anejos use a maduro wrapper that has been aged in cognac barrels. As you suggest, barrel aging changes the flavor characteristics of wrapper. As many of you have suggested, I believe this #55 just needed time to dry out a little.

I'll be damned, you are right. They are maduro. You may also want to try "dryboxing" them for a day before you smoke them. I do this with about half my cigars.

 

[fenian'98]

I think they are a great smoke, well worth MSRP. I wouldn't pay a gouger's price for them though. They definitely have a taste that I've never experienced anywhere else.

 

[Mr Peat]

I've smoked a few #55 and have been very disappointed in them. The taste seems bland and burn ok. Just nothing that has rocked my world. I usually just trade and or sell them off when I get any Anejo except the #48's which is my favorite Anejo. The rest just seem to be duds to me. Which allows everyone else I know to have a big smile on their faces. :thumbs:

 

[vortex]

Well, I hate to disagree with all you fine gentlemen, but I have a box of Sharks which I purchased within minutes of their arrival at my B&M and they're smoking just fine.

Doc.

No disagreement at all. They TEND to be hydrophilic. That doesn't mean every stick you buy will be wet. It depends on the RH in which they were stored and for how long. Maybe even the batch.

Plus there are no absolutes in such a subjective activity as cigar smoking. Someone may actually prefer them wet - there's no accounting for taste. They do tend to burn poorly when wet, though.