Cigar: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos
Size: Double Robusto
Smoke time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Appearance & Aroma
The toothy African Cameroon wrapper and the iconic Fuente band make this cigar really stand out in the humidor. The reddish-brown wrapper has notes of leather, raisins and a hint of brown sugar. The foot is similar but instead of leather and brown sugar, you’re getting raisins, hay and cedar.
Light-Up & Draw
After straight-cutting this cigar, you can tell the draw is going to be perfect. The draw doesn’t feel restricted or too loose. On the cold draw you’re tasting oatmeal, brown sugar and nuts. The initial light presents a lot of cedar and pepper. Smoke production is high, and the burn is straight.
Early Profile
Cream, toasted bread and a subtle note of cocoa go well with the initial notes of cedar and pepper. The retrohale has notes of aged wood and pepper. The strength is medium, but the flavor is full.
Middle Profile & Burn
Halfway through the Don Carlos the pepper has slowly been replaced by spice and cinnamon. Cream, spice and cedar are the dominant notes, with cinnamon, toasted bread and a natural sweetness in the background. The burn has been consistent and the ash firm. The construction of this cigar has been flawless, requiring no touch-ups, and it has an ash that doesn’t fall in your lap!
Late Profile
The final third stays consistent with cedar, spice and cinnamon as the dominant notes. The natural sweetness has been replaced by nuts, cocoa and vintage tobacco. I smoked the cigar all the way to the nub and it didn’t get bitter and the ash continued to hold.
Overall Impression
The Don Carlos is a perfect example showing that a full-flavored cigar doesn’t have to be a strong cigar. The burn, draw, construction and flavor profile make it easy to recommend to any cigar smoker. I love several boutique brands and other big brands, but in the 10 years that I have been smoking cigars, Arturo Fuente is the one brand that really pulled me into this industry. Carlito says, “It’s not about the cigars, it’s about the people.” That’s something that really stuck with me and it’s one of the many reasons why I love this industry.
– Review by Cody Lutes of Anstead’s Tobacco Company in Fayetteville, North Carolina
This story first appeared in PCA The Magazine, Volume 2, 2023. To receive a copy of this magazine you must be a current member of PCA. Join or renew today at premiumcigars.org/membership.