Arturo Fuente Añejo Shark No. 77 review

[smokemifyagotem]

I personally can't imagine smoking cigars w/o exhaling out my nose. Otherwise all cigars taste reletively the same to me. Out the nose really brings out the nuances in each cigar for me. Funny thing is it seems not everyone has the ablility to exhale out the nose (w/o actually inhaling the smoke into the lungs). My father is one of these people. I've always thought this ability is similar to being able to "curl your tongue" or "flare your nostrils". Not everyone seems to be able to do it for some reason..

[Sean9689]

Originally Posted by smokemifyagotem

I personally can't imagine smoking cigars w/o exhaling out my nose. Otherwise all cigars taste reletively the same to me. Out the nose really brings out the nuances in each cigar for me. Funny thing is it seems not everyone has the ablility to exhale out the nose (w/o actually inhaling the smoke into the lungs). My father is one of these people. I've always thought this ability is similar to being able to "curl your tongue" or "flare your nostrils". Not everyone seems to be able to do it for some reason..

Yes, you're right, not everyone can do it. It's sure a big handicap when it comes to enjoy cigars.

[tnip23]

Originally Posted by Sean9689

Yes, you're right, not everyone can do it. It's sure a big handicap when it comes to enjoy cigars.

i can do it, just never liked how it felt. maybe it's something that gets easier the more you do it. I've been smoking cigars for over 10 yrs. but there is always room for improvement. i enjoy the different flavors i get that way. It seems fruit flavors, cherry especially, are more noticable exhaling through the nose, while chocolate, leather, coffee, and earthy flavors come either way. could be why some people have a hard time describing and reviewing cigars with much more than a pleasant or unpleasant description.

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by tnip23

i can do it, just never liked how it felt. maybe it's something that gets easier the more you do it. I've been smoking cigars for over 10 yrs. but there is always room for improvement. i enjoy the different flavors i get that way. It seems fruit flavors, cherry especially, are more noticable exhaling through the nose, while chocolate, leather, coffee, and earthy flavors come either way. could be why some people have a hard time describing and reviewing cigars with much more than a pleasant or unpleasant description.

I hear ya brother. I had smoked cigars for over 25 years before learning the technique from friends here and finding cigars that were appropriate for the technique. Really quite eye opening.

[moki]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Burned perfectly. Smoked it to and from mall chicken. Smoking thought was .. these are pretty darn good but... The but being the crux of the old argument which I am still on the other side of. That being, the very best NC cigars are worthy and can stand up well in comparison to Cuban cigars. They are just way more expensive and given my smoking style of nose exhales they do not have the depth of flavors i experience in Cuban cigars using this smoking method. If you just use a mouth only draw and exhale these beat the pants off of any Cuban I can think of. Such a wonderful and unique aftertaste relative to any cigars.

Pretty interesting.

Dave, after we're done with the Fredster blind taste test... we simply have to do one with you. Pretty please?

As for the nose exhale, that's appropriate for cigars that have more age on them, and thus have mellowed and blended a bit. It's simply too harsh to do with most fresh cigars... and I think it matters not whether the cigars are Cuban or not... they are just cigars.

They key is, do you have any non-Cuban cigars laying around that have 10-15 years of age on them? If your professed penchant is for Cuban cigars, the odds are that you don't. We'll have to rectify that situation!

Some cigars like the original VSG "Rounds", original release Opus, etc. have that 10-15 year age on them now... and are smoking fantastic.

[mustang1]

Love the No.77, my favorite of the Anejo line.

Yep, those be Sharks. The #55 has a cedar sleeve on it.

They look so pretty all lined up in that box. Kind of like sardines but not as stinky.

[smokemifyagotem]

Originally Posted by moki

Dave, after we're done with the Fredster blind taste test... we simply have to do one with you. Pretty please?

As for the nose exhale, that's appropriate for cigars that have more age on them, and thus have mellowed and blended a bit. It's simply too harsh to do with most fresh cigars... and I think it matters not whether the cigars are Cuban or not... they are just cigars.

They key is, do you have any non-Cuban cigars laying around that have 10-15 years of age on them? If your professed penchant is for Cuban cigars, the odds are that you don't. We'll have to rectify that situation!

Some cigars like the original VSG "Rounds", original release Opus, etc. have that 10-15 year age on them now... and are smoking fantastic.

I had one of those vsg "rounds" a couple years ago. My Lord it was good.. and still very strong.

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by moki

Dave, after we're done with the Fredster blind taste test... we simply have to do one with you. Pretty please?

As for the nose exhale, that's appropriate for cigars that have more age on them, and thus have mellowed and blended a bit. It's simply too harsh to do with most fresh cigars... and I think it matters not whether the cigars are Cuban or not... they are just cigars.

They key is, do you have any non-Cuban cigars laying around that have 10-15 years of age on them? If your professed penchant is for Cuban cigars, the odds are that you don't. We'll have to rectify that situation!

Some cigars like the original VSG "Rounds", original release Opus, etc. have that 10-15 year age on them now... and are smoking fantastic.

Here in lies our fundamental difference of view. I nose exhale all Cuban cigars. There are only a very select few fresh Cuban cigars I have found that I need to modulate volume on.. Punch SS#2's and RS#12's are examples just too strong and harsh on the nose.. like virtually all NC's or any age I have smoked. Don't understand the physics of it just speak from personal experience.

Strangely, it is the vintage smokes more than fresh that flavor strength becomes an issue with requiring modulation on nose flow. They can be just too flavor intense. A recent experience with an H Upmann corona from the 70's is a perfect example.

Wimpey me smoking a flavor strong one

Epic flavor strength. You notice it to an extent on mouth only. It blows your senses out on the nose. But it's not harshness. A different issue than harsh or monchomatically strong that I find most NC cigars to be. (Notice the most).

Have smoked many older NC including Fuentes and Opus X. Some of them have been very very good. I just think they are rolled and appeal to those who exclusively mouth vs nose smoke. The flavors definitely evolve. I have just experienced that they evolve in fewer flavor octaves.. again from my limited personal experience. Would love to have more options on cigars I enjoy to smoke though. Have not had access to "super special" NC cigars as I have Cuban cigars. Would be interesting to try "the best of the best". My guess is that they would be epic.

If Fredster goes under 7 right you're on.

Whole issue reminds me of a quote:

Our differences are policies; our agreements, principles.
William McKinley

[DonJefe]

Originally Posted by moki

Dave, after we're done with the Fredster blind taste test... we simply have to do one with you. Pretty please?

As for the nose exhale, that's appropriate for cigars that have more age on them, and thus have mellowed and blended a bit. It's simply too harsh to do with most fresh cigars... and I think it matters not whether the cigars are Cuban or not... they are just cigars.

They key is, do you have any non-Cuban cigars laying around that have 10-15 years of age on them? If your professed penchant is for Cuban cigars, the odds are that you don't. We'll have to rectify that situation!

Some cigars like the original VSG "Rounds", original release Opus, etc. have that 10-15 year age on them now... and are smoking fantastic.

These are definitely in the top 10 best cigars that I've ever smoked.

[moki]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Have smoked many older NC including Fuentes and Opus X. Some of them have been very very good. I just think they are rolled and appeal to those who exclusively mouth vs nose smoke. The flavors definitely evolve. I have just experienced that they evolve in fewer flavor octaves.. again from my limited personal experience. Would love to have more options on cigars I enjoy to smoke though. Have not had access to "super special" NC cigars as I have Cuban cigars. Would be interesting to try "the best of the best". My guess is that they would be epic.

If Fredster goes under 7 right you're on.

Whole issue reminds me of a quote:

Our differences are policies; our agreements, principles.
William McKinley

I think we should do it regardless of the outcome of the test with Fredster... I'd seriously be interested in how you reviewed certain cigars blind. Not from the point of view of getting 'em right in terms of Cuban vs. non-Cuban, but just to see what your raw, unadulterated opinion is.

I suspect that certain profiles you won't enjoy, simply because of the taste in cigars that you're used to... but I'd be really interested in finding out!

I think we should do straight up blind reviews, no guesses at whether the cigar is Cuban or not, just tasting notes, and a rating. What do you say?

[massphatness]

I have exactly ONE of these sticks, and I keep drooling at that the thought of smoking it. Stoopid winter: 8-10 more inches of snow expected tonight. That's 8-10 more inches of delay.

[Da Klugs]

Originally Posted by moki

I think we should do it regardless of the outcome of the test with Fredster... I'd seriously be interested in how you reviewed certain cigars blind. Not from the point of view of getting 'em right in terms of Cuban vs. non-Cuban, but just to see what your raw, unadulterated opinion is.

I suspect that certain profiles you won't enjoy, simply because of the taste in cigars that you're used to... but I'd be really interested in finding out!

I think we should do straight up blind reviews, no guesses at whether the cigar is Cuban or not, just tasting notes, and a rating. What do you say?

Only If I can reciprocate with you doing the blind reviews as well. One way streets are no fun. No need to guess country of origin on mine either as they will be from just one.

[havana_lover]

^^ stayed tuned folks, this could get interesting^^

[moki]

Originally Posted by Da Klugs

Only If I can reciprocate with you doing the blind reviews as well. One way streets are no fun. No need to guess country of origin on mine either as they will be from just one.

Absolutely sir, I'm in!!!

[Ashcan Bill]

Hot Damn!