Of Mattresses And Maduros

Since I usually own a truck, I'm always first on the list to help when my friends move or need to haul furniture, appliances, or dead bodies.

Okay, I made up the dead bodies part. But just last night my good buddy Todd from the Cigar Club needed me to help him move a new king size mattress and box springs. This, of course, was just after we moved his old set about three weeks ago from his condo to his house. He got married last fall -- to our boss Patricia, but that's another entry on our blog.

Anyway, he asked me if I wanted anything from his humidor when we were about finished. I said sure, then eagerly glanced over his stash as he opened the drawers. As he opened the first one, I saw a Padilla 8&11 (one of my favorite smokes) before he pushed it back in. Then a couple of Cuban Parejos, a discontinued classic, when he opened and closed the next one. For a moment I wondered if he was actually going to break out the good stuff.

Then he opened the third drawer, which was completely filled with elusive Fuente Anejos. Alright, I thought, this is my kinda party! They were even my favorite size, the 77 or "Shark" as it is called among cigar enthusiasts. The Shark features a torpedo shape that is box-pressed at the end. Rumor has it all the Sharks are made by a single roller.

The Fuente Anejo is a little-seen but delectable smoke. Introduced in 2000, legend has it that when Hurricane Georges wiped out some of Fuente's Opus X crop they came up with a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper to pair with the Opus X binder and filler. Fuente still releases some Anejos once a year, usually in December. They go fast.

To me, the Anejo is one of the best maduro cigars around. The wrapper has a sweetish taste (allegedly aged in Cognac barrels) that balances out the stout Opus innards. As good as the Opus is, I think the Anejo is a better cigar.

At the shop, we have some Anejos for sale. They are put up in the Cigar Club's version of Area 51 (our secret humidified chamber for storing "the family jewels") but if you ask we'll be glad to sell you a couple. Buying one beats the alternative -- waiting on Todd to ask you help move some more of his crap and hoping he'll give you a Fuente Anejo.