Once a year around Christmas time, Arturo Fuente releases his Anejo line of cigars in a very small batch. These cigars are extra rare and extra special because of the limited supply of the tobacco used and for the duration they are aged.
Starting with the binder and filler, the finest tobacco’s from Chateau de la Fuente are used for the guts of this cigar. Opus X fans will be pleased to know, the same filler and binder used in the OpusX line, is used in the Anejo cigars.
Then a cognac barrel aged Connecticut Broadleaf is used to wrap all the goodies into one fine smoke! All together, the tobacco harmonize to create a well balanced, positively intoxicating smoking experience.
It’s an interesting point to note that the relationship between the OpusX and the Anejo goes deeper than simply the guts of each cigar. The Anejo actually rose from the ashes of a disaster that almost wiped out Fuente’s farm in the Dominican Republic.
Here is the official story directly from Arturo Fuente’s site:
“In September 1998, Hurricane Georges tore through the Caribbean Sea, causing widespread destruction throughout the region, including the Chateau de la Fuente farm in the Dominican Republic, where the wrapper leaf for the acclaimed Fuente Fuente OpusX cigar is grown and harvested.
Two years later, the storms destruction resulted in a shortage of Fuente Fuente OpusX wrapper tobacco. Rather than halting production, Carlos Fuente Jr. ordered the use of a different wrapper, an aged Connecticut Broadleaf. Once again, the Fuente family forged triumph from tragedy, and the Arturo Fuente Anejo cigar was born.
One of the world’s most rare cigars, the Anejo cigar is rolled with the very best Dominican binder and filler from Chateau de la Fuente, then adds a 5 year old Connecticut maduro wrapper aged in cognac barrels. This blend yields a rich, spicy, slightly sweet smoke and unique aging process leaves a distinct finish.” (source)
A photo posted by Houston Cigar Life (@houstoncigarlife) on Jan 12, 2015 at 11:58am PST
Considering they are so rare, how did I go about getting my hands on the full line of the Anejo line this year? I recently became a member at Cigar Towne in Houston’s Energy Corridor. One of the perks of being a member is having access to the limited release cigars that aren’t widely sold in the humidor.
As members we get first dibs, then what’s left over is put out for general purchase. I signed up just in time, because these cigars have been nothing but a joy to smoke!