Cheap Smoke: Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

Overall Score

1 review for Cheap Smoke: Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

  1. j************

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    Arturo FuenteOrigin : Dominican Republic
    Format : Double Robusto
    Size : 6.25 x 47
    Wrapper : African Cameroon
    Binder : Dominican Republic
    Filler : Dominican Republic
    Hand-Made
    Price : $3.80 each

    This review is submitted by jesseboston81 and is participating in our “Share your cheap smoke!” contest. To get a chance to win a box of cigars, you can submit yours here.

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 has always been one of my favorite go-to cheap smokes, primarily because it tastes like a cigar at least twice its price! The cigar I smoked for this review was no exception, and hopefully this review communicates everything I love about this smoke.

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    Pre-light: I enjoyed my most recent 8-5-8 in my backyard on a partly cloudy to overcast day with temperatures around 80F, humidity around 50%, and little to no wind. I paired this cigar with the classiest of all drink pairings–tap water. A pre-light inspection of the cigar reveals a smooth and slightly velvety wrapper with no tears or major veins, although the wrapper is dappled with sunspots as seen in the picture. The stick feels generally firm overall with only one slightly spongy part. The wrapper smells only of tobacco, with some additional floral and cedar notes at the foot. The foot itself appears to be somewhat loosely rolled, but it is no great cause for concern. I generally punch cheaper cigars in order to avoid draw issues due to loosely rolled filler, and this cigar is no exception. In fact, even with a punch the draw is just a tad too lose. The cold draw tastes of a light tobacco flavor with a touch of sweetness.

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    First third: Enough with the analysis; on to the smoke! I toasted the foot briefly and then lit her up. She jumped right to life, and the initial taste was rich, classic tobacco with some cedar and a creamy finish with a lingering honey sweetness. A retrohale reveals the Cameroon profile that I know and love: cream with a citrusy sweetness over a background of baking spice. The affects of the loose roll observed initially at the foot are now evident, and I’m forced to smoke slowly to avoid overheating. As the first third progresses the honey sweetness increases slightly, matching the other tastes perfectly as everything marries into the creamy, spicy, citrusy Cameroon profile draped on top of the core of tobacco and sweet cedar. The burn is generally straight with just a slight wave. The ash is slightly flaky and looks unstable, and it falls on its own at just a hair less than an inch.

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8
    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    Second third: As seen in the pictures above, the cigar began to experience burn problems not long after ashing itself. I corrected the uneven burn by purging, but that wreaked havoc on the ash. The flavors from the first third maintain until about halfway through the second third, at which point the cream, citrus, and baking spice begin to diminish while the cedar intensifies and is joined by some earth; the slight sweetness remains constant. The finish is wet or juicy with that same sweetness, and I swear I even catch a stray note of cocoa in the finish at one point! The ash is as flaky as a bad skin condition and it falls on its own again.

    Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8

    Final third: Moving into the final third, a touch of leather appears in the flavor profile with the cedar and earth. The sweetness remains constant and the overall feel increases noticeably in creaminess; this almost tastes like a different cigar than the one I started with, and both beginning and end have been so pleasant that it was like smoking two quality cigars! A faint bitterness appears so I begin purging after each puff. By the end, the profile is all creamy, sweet cedar and earth with a touch of leather and a hint of the citrus taste. The harshness and bitterness keeps increasing, so I let this one die with about an inch remaining.

    Conclusion: The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 remains one of my favorite cheap smokes. The taste is delicious and complex, providing a welcome change from beginning to end. The construction may not be 100%, but an uneven burn and a slightly loose draw are a small price to pay for a fine-tasting cheap smoke such as this!

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    Helpful?
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    • L***

      My go-to stick also, for many moons. If I’m at the B&M and can’t make up my mind, the 8-5-8 FF usually comes home with me. Like picking up the same girl at the bar again and again. Not going steady, but….

    • n***

      Hi, loved the review and will like to receive the newstetter from you guys. Great job, thanks.

    • H*******

      A great every-day stick!
      Tried one for the first time yesterday and loved it! Excellent construction (had no burn issues like the review), mild-medium body, great complex flavorous that change throughout the cigar. No strength “kick” or nothing, just an enjoyable 1.20 hour smoke!

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Cigar Region Dominican Republic
Filler Dominican
Wrapper African Cameroon
Binder Dominican Republic
Length 6 1/4
Ring Gauge 47
Vitola Double Robusto
Construction Hand Made
Price Paid $3.80