Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 858 Review

[punch]

Date Tested: Various. This review based on 12/11/06 testing.

Storage: In original cedar chest stored in cooler at 66 Deg F and 71% RH

Conditions Tested: Various. Scoring based on 12/11/06 testing at 70 Deg F and 65% RH

This cigar is a Grand Corona measuring 6 X 47. This Dominican made cigar uses a filler of Dominican tobacco wrapped with a Dominican binder. The wrapper is a light Cameroon.

When I first converted to premium cigars from the machine made sticks that I was smoking in 2004, the Flor Fina 858 was THE cigar recommended to me by all the people that I knew who were "in the know". Unfortunately, this was the stick that turned me against Fuente products and put me solidly into the Punch / Montecristo fold. I purchased the first batch of ten of these from Thompsons in October, 2004. Of the 10, only 2 were smokeable. In December of that year, I purchased a batch of 5 from one local B&M, and another batch of 5 from a second local B &M. I had a hard time keeping the wrappers on these sticks and half of them either drew so light that they burned hot, or they were plugged. However, the one or two that did smoke well were a joy.

It was November, 2005 before I tried this line again. My notes tell me that a locally purchased stick tasted like soap and disassembled itself while smoking. The second stick I purchased on that date was smoked a month later and rated a 93.2 on my scale. Fortunately, I had purchased a box of the Maduro versions of this cigar while on vacation in July of 2005, and the performance of that batch was good. I still have one of these left (most were sent to Afghanistan, but I don’t think they made it). On a whim, I decided to give this cigar another chance. I purchased a box of these earlier this month at Nickleby’s Smoke Ring in Omaha, and so far these sticks have performed quite well.

The wrapper on this last batch of 858’s is a rather light colored Cameroon. This batch has held together quite well, perhaps due to the unseasonable warmness this winter. Fill and smoke are excellent, but the burn is rather angular, which I find typical with Fuente products. Flavor quality is quite good, and I have found the four sticks of this batch that I have smoked so far to be quite enjoyable.

Scoring was as follows:

Wrapper = 9.0
Cap = 8.0 (Came completely off when cut)
Fill = 9.0
Smoke = 10.0
Burn = 8.0 (angular requiring several corrections)
Ash = 10.0
Harshness = 9.5 (very mellow)
Flavor Quality = 9.0
Flavor Intensity = 9.0
Satisfaction = 9.0

Total Points = 90.5 Grade A-

All in all, I have found this batch of Flor Fina 858’s to be everything that I was originally told they were. If this keeps up, they will be in my regular rotation.

[tnip23]

Have always enjoyed the 858's. Haven't had one in a while. thanks for the review, another smoke to add to the list of future purchases. just what i needed

[fireman43]

Nice review! The 858 is one of my favorite smokes, and is a good buy for the money. It was my first Fuente, and it's been downhill from there. Thanks for the review!!

[KyLongbeard]

Originally Posted by fireman43

Nice review! The 858 is one of my favorite smokes, and is a good buy for the money. It was my first Fuente, and it's been downhill from there. Thanks for the review!!

Exactly what happened to me. I am forever hooked on the 8-5-8. Thanks for a great review!

[Charles]

I have always enjoyed the 8-5-8s. I haven't experienced any of the problems that you have described, so maybe I'm lucky or else my B&M takes better care of their sticks.

Very nice review. Thank you.

[TU09]

Originally Posted by Charles

I have always enjoyed the 8-5-8s. I haven't experienced any of the problems that you have described, so maybe I'm lucky or else my B&M takes better care of their sticks.

Very nice review. Thank you.

Seems like you had a pretty extensive run of bad luck with what is recognized to be a typically well made stick.

[dunng]

Good to hear, I was just gifted one of these...

[mhillsing23]

I haven't had a bad 8-5-8 yet. I have only tried the maduro, and I haven't been disappointed. They are priced decently around here, and it is something that I gravitate to when picking up a couple singles. I haven't made a box purchase yet though. I would love to try the SG, but apparently they are invisible!

[PUFFNMO]

Good review. I too really like the 858's in maduro. This past summer I was smoking one out on Starbuck's patio and several people asked me what I was smoking, saying they loved the aroma...
Sorry about your initial bad luck - I have never experienced any problems with these. Larry.

[jxpfeer]

great review! i have one of these in my humi right now, can't wait to try it. saving it for a good day though

[punch]

Originally Posted by Charles

I have always enjoyed the 8-5-8s. I haven't experienced any of the problems that you have described, so maybe I'm lucky or else my B&M takes better care of their sticks.

Very nice review. Thank you.

I believe that a lot of the problem was the conditions that I smoked the cigars. This is the first year that I have decent climate control in my smoking room (garage), and all of the Fuentes that I have had so far have performed very well. The last couple of winters were pretty cold around here, and I would be bundled up smoking a cigar in temperatures of 10 - 20 Deg F with RH less than 15%. If I was taking a walk, I could be in temperatures below zero. The Fuente's wrappers would just not hold up, unlike the Punch (which is made like a Russian tank!). Even the Cameroon wrapped Montecristo Afriques would hold up better. However, now that I am smoking in a minimum temperature environment of around 40 - 50 Deg F and humidity levels in the 30 - 50% range, I have had no problems with Fuente poducts. In fact, I am in the process of re-visting a lot of the old "Green Label" frontmarks that I abandoned a couple of years ago.

[PUFFNMO]

Originally Posted by punch

I believe that a lot of the problem was the conditions that I smoked the cigars. This is the first year that I have decent climate control in my smoking room (garage), and all of the Fuentes that I have had so far have performed very well. The last couple of winters were pretty cold around here, and I would be bundled up smoking a cigar in temperatures of 10 - 20 Deg F with RH less than 15%. If I was taking a walk, I could be in temperatures below zero. The Fuente's wrappers would just not hold up, unlike the Punch (which is made like a Russian tank!). Even the Cameroon wrapped Montecristo Afriques would hold up better. However, now that I am smoking in a minimum temperature environment of around 40 - 50 Deg F and humidity levels in the 30 - 50% range, I have had no problems with Fuente poducts. In fact, I am in the process of re-visting a lot of the old "Green Label" frontmarks that I abandoned a couple of years ago.

I think you nailed the problem. We had a really dry week recently in L.A. and I had a couple of cigars come apart in my hand. Most wrappers cannot take the stress of shrinking in the dry air while the filler stays as is...

[Diesel Kinevel]

8-5-8s are one of my all time favs. Always have a couple on hand for "emergencys"

[Boston_Dude05]

Is the Sungrown version of these the best of the 858s? Having been hearing good things about those. Also is the 858 similar in taste profile to the Chateau line?

[Puffin Fresh]

Thanks for the review! I've had one resting for a month or two, will break it out this Christmas season probably.