The Shark's flavor is as impressive as its appearance and burn. The first third is characterized by some sweetness, while the second third becomes bolder with spicy pepper. The pepper finally transitions to a rich chocolate flavor. A bit of Cognac and earth finish things off. This is one cigar that you never want to end.

Arturo Fuente is no stranger to making great cigars, and the Anejo No. 77 Shark is just one more example of the brand's dedication to quality. The rare shape of the Shark is perfected, and the solid burn and myriad of flavors make for a very enjoyable smoking experience. The Shark seems like the perfect treat for after dinner when you want to wind down and relax. The only problem with the cigar is its limited availability and price. It comes in boxes of 20 and packs of five, with prices for a single ranging from between $10 to $30, depending on where you shop. Availability is usually limited to Father's Day and Christmas. With that being said, it may not be suitable as a frequent smoke due to price, but if you can get your hands on one, do so and save it for a special occasion.

The Arturo Fuente Anejo No. 77 Shark receives an outstanding rating of 3.75 out of four stars.

Illusione MK Teaching Machine

Dion Giolito of Illusione loves to create cigars with cryptic names, and he explains the meaning behind each of their names on Illusione's website. His MK, also known as the Teaching Machine, is a reference to the old government experiment dubbed Project MKULTRA. The project was sometimes referred to as the teaching machine because it used soldiers to perform experiments with LSD and subconscious suggestion. According to Giolito, the MK's classic Corona size is the teaching machine vitola, and that is how the cigar's name came about.

The Illusione MK measures 5 1/8 x 42. It is just one cigar in the original Illusione series. Other cigars in the line include the 888, 42G, 68, F9, 88, 23, CG4, MJ12, 2, 1, and HL. Like the MK, the other cigars in the original Illusione line have special meanings behind their very short monikers. The MK is a Nicaraguan puro, meaning its filler, binder, and wrapper all consist of Nicaraguan tobacco. The wrapper is of the Cafe Colorado variety. Each MK is handmade at the Raices Cubanas factory in Honduras. Strength-wise, the MK is said to be medium to full-bodied.