Fuente Porn...the likes of which you've NEVER SEEN BEFORE! (part 1)

L

lenguamor

Gorila Cabrón
So, you guys know I was out looking for Fuentes this week...añejos, hemmi maddys and opus.

Well, during the week I've managed to score a box of #49's, a box of WOA maddys and about 10 assorted añejos and opus (4 sharks).

But it was Friday when I went downtown to some shops I don't frequent normally; and at one in particular, while rooting around in their walk-in that I ran across this buried in back of one of the top shelves: (TOP shelf - I was on a stepladder!)
tabacos16dec200601120pcmu4.jpg


Holy crap, a box of añejos...gotta hide my excitement. I had sized up the guy running the shop when I walked in, and he was no cigar guy; maybe if I play it cool...

The box is marked $22.99ea...I ask how much, the guy says, "well, they've been here awhile..." I look inside, and...
tabacos16dec200601425pcza0.jpg


Oh...
tabacos16dec200601925pclk6.jpg


my...
tabacos16dec200601840pcvg4.jpg


GOD!!!

AGED AÑEJOS!!!!!

AÑEJO AÑEJOS!!!!!!!!!!

Now I know I'm going to start to stammer any minute, I gotta close this deal fast.

The guy wanted the full price, there were 13 cigars in the box; it would have been about $300. Long story short, I got him down to $180 for the box and 13 sticks, about $14 per. For aged añejos!

I asked the guy how long he had had those as he rang me up; he said that they were there when he bought the shop 7 years ago from the old guy who started the company. He said that he thought they might be actual 1992's...I'm not buying that, but...it's nice to admit the possibility.

But the story doesn't end there!

As he's handing me my purchase, I jokingly ask him if he has any more "old stock" I can take off his hands...

And this is where the next thread starts...:D
 
Last edited:
Dang, that is some good looking humidor eye candy there. Better let me check for authentisity....lol. Nice find. Enjoy!!
 
By God man! You've found the Holy Grail! That has to rank up there with the best grabs ever! Enjoy the Fuente goodness my brother!
 
Don't mean to bring you down, but the Anejo's were not released until 2000. There weren't any Anejo's in the 90's except for a bunch of singles that got handed out in 1999 at CFC. Also, the 2000 OR did not have any cedar wrap so these cannot be any older than 2001 if that.

I hate to tell you this, but they are probably from a recent release (maybe 2005) considering the popularity of these cigars, but most likely not very old or "aged" like you were thinking. The guy at the store doesn't sound too knowledgeable and I would be VERY careful about buying any more of his "old stock".

Also, they look like they are mold ridden from your photos. I would double check on that and take them back if this is so.
 
Last edited:
six string said:
Don't mean to bring you down, but the Anejo's were not released until 2000. There weren't any Anejo's in the 90's. Also, the 2000 OR did not have any cedar wrap so these cannot be any older than 5 yrs if that.

I hate to tell you this, but they are probably from a recent release (maybe 2005) considering the popularity of these cigars, but most likely not very old or "aged" like you were thinking. The guy at the store doesn't sound too knowledgeable and I would be VERY careful about buying any more of his "old stock".

Also, they look like they are mold ridden from your photos. I would double check on that and take them back if this is so.
Click to expand...

Dude, you're bumming me out.


Congrats on the Anejos lenguamor....good price even if they are '05s. And if there is mold, it generally wipes off and has no negative ramifications. Looks like some good smoking in your future. :D
 
icehog3 said:
Dude, you're bumming me out.


Congrats on the Anejos lenguamor....good price even if they are '05s. And if there is mold, it generally wipes off and has no negative ramifications. Looks like some good smoking in your future. :D
Click to expand...

That's plume, not bloom. ;) And like you said, no biggie even if it's mold.

Wouldn't be the first time I smoked a fungus.

It would be interesting, though, if someone had '05's or older and would post some pics here. It'd be cool to compare.

I do know one thing...that walk-in was perfect, if a bit over-humidified at 71% for my taste.

Those añejos plume more than other cigars because of the richness of their wrappers; the sugar that they develop in those cognac casks, along with the normal tobacco essential oil ooze is what you're seeing crystallized on the inside of those cellos.

The Opus that I got (other thread) were easily as old if not older, and they're fine, the cellos are just almost brown from the usual essential-oil seepage.

And if they're 90's...oh, well. That's good enough for me.
 
lenguamor said:
That's plume, not bloom. ;) And like you said, no biggie even if it's mold.

Wouldn't be the first time I smoked a fungus.

It would be interesting, though, if someone had '05's or older and would post some pics here. It'd be cool to compare.

I do know one thing...that walk-in was perfect, if a bit over-humidified at 71% for my taste.

Those añejos plume more than other cigars because of the richness of their wrappers; the sugar that they develop in those cognac casks, along with the normal tobacco essential oil ooze is what you're seeing crystallized on the inside of those cellos.

The Opus that I got (other thread) were easily as old if not older, and they're fine, the cellos are just almost brown from the usual essential-oil seepage.

And if they're 90's...oh, well. That's good enough for me.
Click to expand...

Bloom=plume ;)
 
icehog3 said:
Dude, you're bumming me out.


Sorry, don't mean to bum anyone out. Just trying to help.

Truth hurts sometimes, but I'd rather know the truth than spend $180 on cigars that might be ruined with mold.

Just trying to look out for a fellow BOTL.
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
six string said:
Don't mean to bring you down, but the Anejo's were not released until 2000. There weren't any Anejo's in the 90's except for a bunch of singles that got handed out in 1999 at CFC. Also, the 2000 OR did not have any cedar wrap so these cannot be any older than 2001 if that.

I hate to tell you this, but they are probably from a recent release (maybe 2005) considering the popularity of these cigars, but most likely not very old or "aged" like you were thinking. The guy at the store doesn't sound too knowledgeable and I would be VERY careful about buying any more of his "old stock".

Also, they look like they are mold ridden from your photos. I would double check on that and take them back if this is so.
Click to expand...

Everything that Six String said is exactly right. Please read this Añejo info & MSRP page for details.

What you have there are some Añejos that have sustained water damage (I can tell this by the discoloration of the bands), and have subsequently developed a rather nasty mold infiltration. The gold leafing used on most cigars will turn a blackish color if it comes in direct contact with water; if you see gold leafing that appears blackish, be very wary.

My guess is that they were stored too close to the humidification unity in the shop for an extended period of time, or they sustained some type of water damage, and they were put up on the top shelf to dry out (humidity settles down).

His story about them being in the shop when he bought it 7 years ago is absolutely untrue. Añejos were not released 7 years ago, and the first release was not packaged in that manner. They are at best from 2001, but probably later than that, and they are mold-ridden.

You will also notice that someone (maybe you?) took one of the cigars out of the cello, and then stuffed it back in (the red ribbon that should be on the foot is halfway up the cigar).

I would return them if I were you, and ask for my money back... but that's just me.
 
lenguamor said:
I asked the guy how long he had had those as he rang me up; he said that they were there when he bought the shop 7 years ago from the old guy who started the company. He said that he thought they might be actual 1992's...I'm not buying that, but...it's nice to admit the possibility.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear... the first public release of Añejos was in 2000, and the packaging is different from what is in your pictures (no cedar wrap, no gold writing on the cellophane).

As for Opus, it says "1992" on every Opus box, because that's when the first seeds were planted. However they were not publicly released until late 1995 (and in very small quantities that year).

There is no Opus X cigar from 1992, and there certainly is no Añejo from 1992.
 
lenguamor said:
Those añejos plume more than other cigars because of the richness of their wrappers; the sugar that they develop in those cognac casks, along with the normal tobacco essential oil ooze is what you're seeing crystallized on the inside of those cellos.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect. The "richness" (as you are using it here) has nothing to do with plume and young Anejo's are actually more likely to develop mold than plume due to the nature of their wrappers. Plume is the result of the naturally occurring oils in the leaf making their eventual migration to the surface in the form of little white crystals. This takes a long time to happen and not all cigars develop plume. Also, the cognac does not add anymore sugars to the wrapper, just a pleasant aroma.

Just so everyone knows, if you run across some Anejo's (or all young cigars for that matter) that look like this, you will be looking at mold. 5-10 yrs from now, the white stuff on those Anejo's might not be mold and we'll be talking a different story, but given the length of time since their OR, it's just not possible for the Anejo's to be pluming to a large degree yet. Well, possible, but not probable. Maybe the OR's or 01's could be seeing some plume if they were untouched and stored under ideal conditions the entire time, but I have not seen this yet and it would probably only be a little plume. If anyone has pictures to show otherwise, please post them. It would be nice to see. :)

Sorry Lenguamor, don't mean to sound like I am criticizing you or raining on your parade, I just want to clarify this for all the newbies or anyone that might not know.
 
lenguamor said:
Those añejos plume more than other cigars because of the richness of their wrappers; the sugar that they develop in those cognac casks, along with the normal tobacco essential oil ooze is what you're seeing crystallized on the inside of those cellos.
Click to expand...

As six string has so aptly pointed out, this is incorrect. I don't see how sitting in cognac casks could cause them to develop sugar, it doesn't really make any sense. This is what the casks look like, FYI.

They just cure the tobacco in these casks, the actual aging and fermenting takes place in tightly packed bales.

lenguamor said:
The Opus that I got (other thread) were easily as old if not older, and they're fine, the cellos are just almost brown from the usual essential-oil seepage.
Click to expand...

There are a number of things that can cause cellophane to yellow, essential oil seepage is just one of them. Exposure to light also hurries this yellowing process along nicely...

Those Opus do look to be in nice shape, though, congratulations! I stand by what I said about these Añejos in my previous posts, though. Water damage + mold.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top