Arturo Fuente Anejo 888 2022 (SMFRW#2)

[Brewhoser44]

If I had to pick my favorite island of tobacco growers, it's definitely Cuba. On the other hand, the Dominican Republic does a damn good job in the tobacco game as well. Twice a year Arturo Fuente does a limited release of their Anejo line, and I was lucky to grab a few 888s from the local shop.

 

Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 888 (2022) - 6 5/8" x 44

Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper with just the right amount of sheen. Dominican binder and filler.

 

First third:  The draw is fairly open with a little resistance. Just how I like it. The smoke is thick and has a good amount of toasty sweetness. There's a distinct cherry liqueur thing going on that's real nice (maybe due to the wrapper being aged in cognac barrels). Retrohale is creamy smooth with the strength at medium. So far, so good.

 

Second Third:  The sweetness fades to the background, and wood and earth flavors start taking over. Strength picks up to a medium-full and a savory meat note even makes a brief appearance (gotta love that). Retrohale is still nice and smooth, just with the heat cranked up a little bit.

 

Final Third:  Not a whole lot of transition here. The sweetness picks back up a tick to get a good balance of earthiness with the cherry liqueur that has lingered throughout the entire smoke. Still holding at medium-full with some strong coffee added to the mix, and I would call that a nice finish to a classy cigar.

I got it down to a nub before the first signs of harshness showed up, which is pretty impressive for a non-Cuban. I'm confident that a couple more years in the humidor and this baby would be roach-worthy.

Smoke time was 1 hour 45 mins

SCORE:   92

 

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

Excellent review my friend.  Savory meat you say…  Just picked one up today as a matter of fact.

 

My favorite of the Añejo line for sure.

[Bigkahuna]

With anejos, purging is helpful. 

[Rotten]

I love em.  Just got a box.  Now i can savor them the entire year.

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

4 hours ago, Rotten said:

I love em.  Just got a box.  Now i can savor them the entire year.

I have to ask, where did you find a box?

[Bigkahuna]

1 hour ago, Dr vonPuffenberg said:

I have to ask, where did you find a box?

A lot of secondary Facebook groups offer them up. 

[Dr vonPuffenberg]

Gotcha, thanks 

[Islandboy]

Great review! I do have a cautionary tale with aging these however. A box of 888’s was one of my first box purchases back in 2015, and for the first couple years, they tasted pretty much as you described, full of enticing flavors. But as time went on, there was a marked diminishing of flavors - not what I expected at all. I actually still have a handful remaining, and the last few times I lit one up, there was really nothing there except wet cardboard. Hopefully my box is an anomaly (although a box of Anejo 48’s from around the same time has exhibited a similar pattern), but if I knew then what I know now, I would have enjoyed them all in the first couple of years.

[Hoepssa]

Great read. 

I thought Anejo series is in 'hibernation' this year, 22" release nowhere to be found 😶.

[Brewhoser44]

On 12/20/2022 at 8:47 PM, Hoepssa said:

Great read. 

I thought Anejo series is in 'hibernation' this year, 22" release nowhere to be found 😶.

I'll be honest, I never checked the box date at the shop. I was too eager to just grab a stash. But they put out such a limited supply, I can't imagine they would hold onto last years supply for this long.

I just assumed 2022, but i might be wrong.