For fans of Arturo Fuente Christmas is the most wonderful time of year as the company begins sending out their limited release Anejo cigars. The Anejo features a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper that ages inside Cognac barrels and for me when I first started smoking it was one of the cigars that I highly coveted. With 20 years of cigar smoking experience under my belt, does the cigar still warrant that? We review the Robusto size No. 50 and answer that question.
Cigar: Arturo Funte Anejo
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Length: 5.25″
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: No. 50 (Robusto)
The Look: The Arturo Fuente Anejo comes packed in 25 count boxes that is visually stunning when opening the box. Featuring a cedar wrap and red foot band the cigars pop with a wonderful contrast of the dark Broadleaf wrapper showing just above the band. Once the cedar sleeve is removed, a beautifully gritty wrapper just begs to be smoked. The cigars are well rolled with no voids of tobacco and a spongy foot with a heft weight.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Anejo by Arturo Fuente is earthy with hints of cinnamon while the nose off the foot serves up some incredibly sweet molasses. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there is an initial sweet molasses that is joined by some subtle cinnamon.
As we progress into the first third of the Anejo notes of brown sugar become the dominant flavor profile with nuances of oak, cinnamon and a subtle pepper on the retrohale and moderate finish.
The second third sees the brown sugar remain, as hints of molasses begin to grow in intensity with some cinnamon lingering in the backaground. The cigar is wonderfully sweet, but it also has an element of earth that prevents it from getting too sweet. As the cigar progresses past the half way point some notes of cocoa make it on to the finish but molasses and brown sugar serve as the focal point with some licorice on the retrohale.
The last third of the Anejo sees the earthy components become the dominant profile as the sweetness slides into the background lingering ever so slightly on the finish. The retrohale enhances the earthiness and the prolonged finish is enjoyable.
The Finish: Arturo Fuente Anejo cigars are an investment in time. While they are very enjoyable when they first come in, they become incredible with age. After a year the cigar climbs to a new level, and 2 years it climbs even more. I’m one of those people who can’t save a cigar if my life depended on it as I will smoke it if I got it. My suggestion is to grab two boxes, one to smoke now and another to set it and forget it.
Score: 94
Price: $10.99 / $242.99
Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 50
Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 50 Foot
Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 50 Burn
