Arturo Fuente Anejo #46
Appearance 11/15 This has extremely dark wrapper, so its tough from the get go for it to be good looking. However, you can tell by looking at the foot that it is well constructed and the feel of it is firm. But as I like to do, if you took the band off and sat it down in a line up, it wouldnt be the first one youd pick up. It was not toothy.
Ash 6/10 I was quite surprised by this ash. I fully expected it to hang on for a good 2 inches minimum, however, it unexpectedly fell off on its own after less than an inch. The ash was very, very loose. Coloring white and gray layers.
Draw 10/10 I used a punch again and after looking at it, it looked like the punch didnt make it all the way through the cap. I took a pre-light draw anyhow just to see and discovered that the draw was perfect.
Burn 10/10 This one lit easily with 6 matches. It burned evenly all the way to the nub. No runs or even the hint of a run, and I smoked this in the car with the window cracked.
Smoke 10/10 Beautiful smoke coming from the perfect draw. The second hand smoke was beautiful blue and the exhaled smoke was the familiar creamy grey.
Flavor 20/20
1/3 I didnt notice anything particularly amazing in the first third. Most of that is due to the fact that I was still in the smoke shop looking around and then I got in my truck and started driving, so I wasnt totally devoted to the cigar at that point. I did notice immediately that it was hitting me in the chest, but was still somehow smooth.
2/3 This is where I started to be able to focus on the cigar, and boy am I glad I did. The first thing I noticed was a slight sweetness on my lips. Nothing like a Swisher Sweet, but a gentle sweetness that was pleasing. I even noticed myself smacking my lips to be sure I was really tasting it. I then immediately started noticing a cocoa or mocha flavor, it took me a few puffs to figure it out, but I finally did. If you ever had the Nescafe cappuccinos you know how crazy milky, creamy they are thats what this flavor reminded me of. Extremely creamy and chocolatey. Many advise that you should take one puff every minute. I couldnt do that with this cigar. The flavor was so pleasantly intense that I was puffing every 15 seconds or so. I was enjoying that taste so much! The traditional leather flavor was there, but it was way in the back of the flavor profile. There was also some spice. Not your typical spice, but a smoky spice, something like cumin. I say cumin because I use it in just about everything, so its a flavor I know well and its the closest thing I could come to a smoky spice. It may have been borderline smoked woody flavor, but I really had to reach to taste it.
3/3 This is where this cigar started blowing my mind. I gave it a quick purge and then I started detecting hints of coffee, while still experiencing the mocha. Every time I exhaled the flavors would change in a sequence that went from coffee, to chocolate, to chocolate milk, to creamy mocha in that order. It was amazing. Each flavor was so definite. First I tasted coffee and then I would take a breath and taste again and it tasted like chocolate, then Id breathe again and it would taste like chocolate milk, then Id breath again and it would taste like a mocha. Amazing! Have I said that yet?! All this while still burning perfectly and emitting the beautiful smell on the nose of a great cigar.
Uniqueness 10/10 Ive only recently started detecting various flavors, as Ive never taken the time to try, Ive always just enjoyed smoking good cigars and being able to tell the difference between good and bad. But none the less, I cant imagine that kind of flavor coming from all cigars. That combination of flavors in that order just has to be unique. It HAS to be.
Finish 15/15 To me, the flavor and finish categories are kind of the same thing because I dont taste the flavors until the finish, that is to say, the after taste in my mouth after I exhale. Regardless, the finish on this cigar diminished in no way until I put it down. It was creamy, delicious and smooth all the way.
Total Score 92 and worth every penny at $15.95
I dont know how well these will age since the flavors may tend to mellow and blend and become less distinct. I liked being able to taste all of them separately and distinctly. Maybe Ill have the few I have and wish I had done more.
On a sour note, I lit this one up in the store because it was my first one and I wanted to see how well I liked it. If I liked it I was going to buy more, if I didnt, I was going to buy some Opus X. I bought the Opus X. I wasnt overly impressed by the first ½ inch. The owner told me I hadnt tasted anything yet, he said just wait, its going to get much better. I didnt believe him. I wish I had.
Appearance 11/15 This has extremely dark wrapper, so its tough from the get go for it to be good looking. However, you can tell by looking at the foot that it is well constructed and the feel of it is firm. But as I like to do, if you took the band off and sat it down in a line up, it wouldnt be the first one youd pick up. It was not toothy.
Ash 6/10 I was quite surprised by this ash. I fully expected it to hang on for a good 2 inches minimum, however, it unexpectedly fell off on its own after less than an inch. The ash was very, very loose. Coloring white and gray layers.
Draw 10/10 I used a punch again and after looking at it, it looked like the punch didnt make it all the way through the cap. I took a pre-light draw anyhow just to see and discovered that the draw was perfect.
Burn 10/10 This one lit easily with 6 matches. It burned evenly all the way to the nub. No runs or even the hint of a run, and I smoked this in the car with the window cracked.
Smoke 10/10 Beautiful smoke coming from the perfect draw. The second hand smoke was beautiful blue and the exhaled smoke was the familiar creamy grey.
Flavor 20/20
1/3 I didnt notice anything particularly amazing in the first third. Most of that is due to the fact that I was still in the smoke shop looking around and then I got in my truck and started driving, so I wasnt totally devoted to the cigar at that point. I did notice immediately that it was hitting me in the chest, but was still somehow smooth.
2/3 This is where I started to be able to focus on the cigar, and boy am I glad I did. The first thing I noticed was a slight sweetness on my lips. Nothing like a Swisher Sweet, but a gentle sweetness that was pleasing. I even noticed myself smacking my lips to be sure I was really tasting it. I then immediately started noticing a cocoa or mocha flavor, it took me a few puffs to figure it out, but I finally did. If you ever had the Nescafe cappuccinos you know how crazy milky, creamy they are thats what this flavor reminded me of. Extremely creamy and chocolatey. Many advise that you should take one puff every minute. I couldnt do that with this cigar. The flavor was so pleasantly intense that I was puffing every 15 seconds or so. I was enjoying that taste so much! The traditional leather flavor was there, but it was way in the back of the flavor profile. There was also some spice. Not your typical spice, but a smoky spice, something like cumin. I say cumin because I use it in just about everything, so its a flavor I know well and its the closest thing I could come to a smoky spice. It may have been borderline smoked woody flavor, but I really had to reach to taste it.
3/3 This is where this cigar started blowing my mind. I gave it a quick purge and then I started detecting hints of coffee, while still experiencing the mocha. Every time I exhaled the flavors would change in a sequence that went from coffee, to chocolate, to chocolate milk, to creamy mocha in that order. It was amazing. Each flavor was so definite. First I tasted coffee and then I would take a breath and taste again and it tasted like chocolate, then Id breathe again and it would taste like chocolate milk, then Id breath again and it would taste like a mocha. Amazing! Have I said that yet?! All this while still burning perfectly and emitting the beautiful smell on the nose of a great cigar.
Uniqueness 10/10 Ive only recently started detecting various flavors, as Ive never taken the time to try, Ive always just enjoyed smoking good cigars and being able to tell the difference between good and bad. But none the less, I cant imagine that kind of flavor coming from all cigars. That combination of flavors in that order just has to be unique. It HAS to be.
Finish 15/15 To me, the flavor and finish categories are kind of the same thing because I dont taste the flavors until the finish, that is to say, the after taste in my mouth after I exhale. Regardless, the finish on this cigar diminished in no way until I put it down. It was creamy, delicious and smooth all the way.
Total Score 92 and worth every penny at $15.95
I dont know how well these will age since the flavors may tend to mellow and blend and become less distinct. I liked being able to taste all of them separately and distinctly. Maybe Ill have the few I have and wish I had done more.
On a sour note, I lit this one up in the store because it was my first one and I wanted to see how well I liked it. If I liked it I was going to buy more, if I didnt, I was going to buy some Opus X. I bought the Opus X. I wasnt overly impressed by the first ½ inch. The owner told me I hadnt tasted anything yet, he said just wait, its going to get much better. I didnt believe him. I wish I had.
