JC Newman

November 06, 2011

Arturo Fuente Don Arturo Gran AniverXario Sungrown

Arturo Fuente Don Arturo Gran AniverXario Sungrown
(6 1/4 x 44)




These cigars are made with the legendary wrapper leaves from Chateau de la Fuente, the birthplace of a dream.

Carlito Fuente made Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars in 2001 to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company, which was founded by his grandfather in 1912. He planned to release Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars every year, starting in 2002, to celebrate the 100th Anniversary. However, these cigars were never released.

Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars have been aging in the Fuente aging room since 2001. These 7-year-old cigars are finally being released in the Limited Edition Fuente Story Humidors produced by Prometheus.
2008 is the 96th Anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company, and each Fuente Story Humidor comes with 96 Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars.
Cigar name: Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars
aka: "AniverXario's", "DAGA cigars", "AF13s"
Vitola: 6 1/4 x 44
Wrapper: Chateau de Fuente sungrown (AF13)
Binder: ?? unknown
Filler: AF 13 blend
Released: December, 2008
These cigars are normally sold in the 2008 "Fuente Story" humidor.
Quantity: 96 humidors of 96 cigars (48 natural, 48 sun grown) per humidor
MSRP: $7,500.00 for the humidor, 96 cigars (48 natural, 48 sun grown)

Average retail for this single cigar: $50-$60.


Both the natural and sungrown version of the Don Arturo Gran AniverXario are available at Cigars Direct. Today I am reviewing the sungrown.

The black band around the foot designates this as the sungrown. It is cedar wrapped.

The band is beautiful.




Video review HERE.


The cigar is well constructed. It is slightly square pressed.



The initial test draw after cutting the cap was a bit firm. At light up the flavors were leather, cinnamon, and almonds.



About 1/2 inch in the cigar was one of cinnamon and raw almond with a lot of sweetness. The wrapper is quite thick. The ash is almost snow white.



Just a bit further along the cigar had hints of cherry. The cigar has richness. The finish was rather short with raw almonds and hints of vanilla. The burn is almost perfect. The almonds are now lightly roasted. It is close to a 50-50 split between the cinnamon and lightly roasted almonds. The pepper is very nice but not overpowering. It is just the right amount.



At the midpoint the cinnamon notes are rich. The lightly roasted almonds and cherry notes are still there. I had hints of coffee at this point. The pepper is still nice and can be felt lingering on the palate.  The finish is now one of sweet raw almonds.





At the band the cigar has developed more and more richness. At the end of the cigar it remained quite rich and sweet. The cinnamon notes remained throughout with the lightly roasted almonds and cherry notes. The pepper was very good. The finish was one of sweet raw almonds and some vanilla notes came into play at the end. The cigar was medium bodied. This was a very good cigar that would make a great celebratory cigar.

Score: 93

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