Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 8-8-8 Review

Anejo No. 8-8-8
Made by: Arturo Fuente
Country: Dominican Republic
Vitola: 6 5/8 by 44

My last Fuente review went all right, but left me wanting more from the company. This is a special release labeled Xtra Viejo. It’s a very unique size, coming in at 6 and 5/8 by 44. Not thin enough to be considered a lancero, but too long to be a Lonsdale. I am looking forward to this, hopefully it smokes as great as it looks. Let’s see what it has to offer with an Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 8-8-8 Review.

Prelight

Very dark wrapper, small veins, and like the Don Carlos this also has an excess of rollers glue present on the wrapper. Visible seams especially due to the rollers glue. Consistent and firm pack, with an interesting cap that is slightly open. Lots of tooth on the wrapper so I am expecting tons of thick smoke from this cigar. Hopefully it holds up to that. The foot is giving off cocoa and some leather notes with an almost syrupy sweetness. The cut was very clean, very little loose tobacco. The prelight draw shows more cocoa and sweetness. This seems much more developed and carefully blended versus the Don Carlos Belicoso.

1/3

Thick creamy chewy smoke, great start tons of smoke production sweet dark chocolate with a fruity undertone. Cedar is at the base of the profile. It feels like I am eating dark chocolate, great smoke thickness. Medium to full body and medium strength. This cigar is showing that it doesn’t need to warm up, it is well developed at the get go. As I get into the first third the cigar is picking up a meaty taste, similar to peppered beef jerky with a hint of sweetness. Of course there are a lot of sub-notes making this flavor up, but they are blending nicely. High complexity, the main notes are dark chocolate, fruity sweetness, cedar, and light white pepper. I don’t know if the blended flavors are going to separate but I hope they don’t. This chewy flavor bomb is delicious right now.

2/3

The burn line hasn’t been perfect but the flavors have been exceptional. The cedar has come up in the profile in the second third and the dark chocolate has dropped as has a lot of the fruity sweetness. Leather and white pepper are up on the finish and the thick smoke still has a great mouth feel. Medium to full body and still medium strength. It does seem to be building slowly in those categories though.

3/3

As I am getting into the last third it seems like the excessive rollers glue was hiding a small wrapper flaw but it’s not causing issues. All right burn line, the body has reached a full and strength has come up to a medium to full. But it’s manageable and enjoyable at those levels. This has been a great heavier smoke. It would make a great dessert cigar after a large dinner. The last flavor update, dark chocolate and leather are back on the front. The woodsy notes have developed and oak and cedar are blended alongside the fruity sweetness that was present in the first third. And a black pepper has come in with the white pepper on the finish but all that is saying is that the cigar is coming to an end. The front and center of the profile are dominate and the finish is shorter so the pepper is downplayed.

Smoke Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes

Conclusion: 94

I liked this cigar a lot more than the last offering from Fuente. The quality increase exceeded expectations. This cigar performs above price point, if you find them buy them and enjoy them. The flavors are well developed and there is good complexity to the cigar. This is a well-blended cigar.

Click on the picture to find this cigar at anthonyscigars.com