Arturo Fuente 8-5-8 Claro - BOX OF 25

A genuine throwback within the 8-5-8 family, one that carries the same tribute name honoring founder Arturo Fuente Sr., but wrapped in a leaf most modern smokers rarely encounter anymore. This Claro, also called Candela, once dominated the American cigar market before darker wrappers became the norm, its distinctive light green color the result of a partial curing and smoke-curing process that seals chlorophyll into the leaf rather than letting it fully oxidize.

At 6 x 47, this is the same Corona shape found across every 8-5-8 variant, wrapping the family's aged Dominican long-filler and binder in that iconic green leaf. It's genuinely mild, and reviewers consistently describe a fragrant, floral aroma alongside notes of green tea, blonde roast coffee, nuts, and buttered toast softly layering the palate through a sequence of silky draws, easily approachable enough to smoke with morning coffee. As the smoke develops, a grassy character builds with a touch of pepper, resonating on a moist finish with hints of fresh dew, herbal tea, and hazelnuts. Coriander and honey show up in some tastings, and the overall consistency across multiple cigars in a box is something several longtime buyers specifically praise.

It's worth being direct that reception to construction on this specific variant has grown more mixed in recent years. Longtime fans who've smoked Claro 858s for decades describe them as a genuine everyday favorite, but a meaningful number of more recent reviews report real quality control issues, uneven burns, cigars that won't stay lit, and, in one detailed account, roughly three-quarters of a box falling short of the construction standards Fuente is known for. Most experiences still land on the positive side, an approachable, historically significant mild cigar well suited to golf, a relaxed tailgate, or a first cigar for someone new to the hobby, but buying a smaller quantity first is a reasonable approach if construction consistency matters most to you.

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Flavor progression:

1. Opening: green tea, blonde roast coffee, nuts, and buttered toast layer softly through silky early draws, a grassy aroma filling the air in the first fifteen minutes
2. Mid-smoke: the grassy character builds with a touch of pepper, tasting fresh and invigorating especially on the retrohale
3. Close: a moist finish resonates with hints of fresh dew, herbal tea, and hazelnuts, coriander and honey rounding things out on some sticks

Key Features:

1. Brand: Arturo Fuente
2. Line: Flor Fina 8-5-8
3. Named for: Founder Arturo Fuente Sr., who passed away at age 85
4. Founded: 1912, by Don Arturo Fuente
5. Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente, Santiago, Dominican Republic
6. Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
7. Wrapper: Connecticut Candela (Claro)
8. Binder: Dominican Republic
9. Filler: Dominican Republic
10. Construction: Handmade
11. Vitola: Corona
12. Size: 6 inches x 47 ring gauge
13. Strength: Mild
14. Flavor Profile: Green tea, coffee, nuts, buttered toast, grass, pepper, honey, coriander
15. Smoke Time: Approximately 1 hour
16. Box Count: 25 cigars
17. Price per Cigar: approximately $5.40