CRQuarto
Brrraaaiiinnnsss.....
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,850
Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 55 2009
Size: 6 x 55 rg Torpedo
Wrapper: Connecticut Maduro (barrel aged)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium
The last out of the box split Shant and I participated in a couple years back, and I am a wee bit bummed about that. Aging these things is a lot harder than I thought. Out of all the Anejo line, the 55 is still my favorite, at least when it comes to "regular" release Anejos. If counting the Shark, I'd say that I actually enjoy them on an equal footing. Shortly after going outside to smoke, I was joined by Deanna, who promptly sat down with a Short Story and glass of my Apfelwein. Heh.
Pre-Light
Arturo Fuente has some of the most well constructed cigars I have come across, and this one was no exception. The foot showed great bunching with no obvious tunnels or stems, and the torpedo shaped head was finished to a fine point that when cut revealed further evidence of even bunching. Once the cedar wrap was removed, the typical rough, toothy, and slightly oily wrapper that I am accustomed to seeing on Anejo's was laid bare with no hidden mold being exposed (a common problem for Anejo's, from what I have read, but never experienced). A squeeze test revealed a good springy feel to the cigar along it's length, with no obvious hard or soft spots signaling a potential for trouble.
Draw & Burn
With a relatively short cut off of the tip, the cigar was opened up to a perfect draw with just the right amount of resistance. While I did experience a few moments where a touch up with the Blazer was needed, none were so bad as to be a major issue. Aside from that, the burn was fairly consistent, leaving behind a tight, medium gray ash with nice banding that let loose nicely when desired.
Flavor Profile
The cold draw hinted at a slightly sweet richness to the cigar, that when lit, was immediately apparent. With all the familiar flavors of an Anejo came a slightly more refined balance to it that I cannot definitively attribute to the age, but I'd like to think had something to do with it. Perhaps it was simply a trick of the mind, however I have learned to stop caring about 'why', and simply just enjoy. There were abundant tastes of sweet tobacco that were accentuated by a touch of nuttiness and wood. Throughout the length of the smoke, I enjoyed the complexity that I find delightful from this particular vitola in the Anejo line.
Overall Impression
An outstanding cigar that paired well with Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale poured into a Bruery tulip glass. I love Anejo's, I love Fuente's, simply put. Oh, and Deanna enjoyed her Short Story as well.
Size: 6 x 55 rg Torpedo
Wrapper: Connecticut Maduro (barrel aged)
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Strength: Medium
The last out of the box split Shant and I participated in a couple years back, and I am a wee bit bummed about that. Aging these things is a lot harder than I thought. Out of all the Anejo line, the 55 is still my favorite, at least when it comes to "regular" release Anejos. If counting the Shark, I'd say that I actually enjoy them on an equal footing. Shortly after going outside to smoke, I was joined by Deanna, who promptly sat down with a Short Story and glass of my Apfelwein. Heh.
Pre-Light
Arturo Fuente has some of the most well constructed cigars I have come across, and this one was no exception. The foot showed great bunching with no obvious tunnels or stems, and the torpedo shaped head was finished to a fine point that when cut revealed further evidence of even bunching. Once the cedar wrap was removed, the typical rough, toothy, and slightly oily wrapper that I am accustomed to seeing on Anejo's was laid bare with no hidden mold being exposed (a common problem for Anejo's, from what I have read, but never experienced). A squeeze test revealed a good springy feel to the cigar along it's length, with no obvious hard or soft spots signaling a potential for trouble.
Draw & Burn
With a relatively short cut off of the tip, the cigar was opened up to a perfect draw with just the right amount of resistance. While I did experience a few moments where a touch up with the Blazer was needed, none were so bad as to be a major issue. Aside from that, the burn was fairly consistent, leaving behind a tight, medium gray ash with nice banding that let loose nicely when desired.
Flavor Profile
The cold draw hinted at a slightly sweet richness to the cigar, that when lit, was immediately apparent. With all the familiar flavors of an Anejo came a slightly more refined balance to it that I cannot definitively attribute to the age, but I'd like to think had something to do with it. Perhaps it was simply a trick of the mind, however I have learned to stop caring about 'why', and simply just enjoy. There were abundant tastes of sweet tobacco that were accentuated by a touch of nuttiness and wood. Throughout the length of the smoke, I enjoyed the complexity that I find delightful from this particular vitola in the Anejo line.
Overall Impression
An outstanding cigar that paired well with Sierra Nevada's Southern Hemisphere Fresh Hop Ale poured into a Bruery tulip glass. I love Anejo's, I love Fuente's, simply put. Oh, and Deanna enjoyed her Short Story as well.
