Cigar Insider
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June 25, 2013
2
TASTING REPORT
95-100
: Classic
n
90-94
: Outstanding
n
80-89
: Very good to excellent
n
70-79
: Average to good commercial quality
Below
70
: Don’t waste your money
n
N/A: Not Available
Note: Prices are manufacturers’ suggested retail, before taxes.
ARTURO FUENTE DON CARLOS
VERTICAL BRAND TASTING
Country:
Dominican Republic
Maker:
Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.
Distributor:
Fuente & Newman Premium Cigars Ltd.
Filler:
Dom. Rep.
Binder:
Dom. Rep.
Wrapper:
Cameroon
Purchase Date:
June
2013
NO. 2
92 POINTS
n
6
"
x 55
n
$12.60
n
Humidor Selection
This reddish-colored torpedo burns and draws superbly,
balancing nut and cocoa flavor with a touch of red pep-
per spice and sweet cedar.
Body:
Medium
NO. 3
92 POINTS
n
5 1/2
"
x 44
n
$8.85
n
Humidor Selection
Earthy and cedary, this extremely well-made corona has
a solid core of complex cocoa flavor that only improves
as it smokes.
Body:
Medium
NO. 4
92 POINTS
n
5 1/8
"
x 43
n
$8.10
n
Humidor Selection
A well-balanced combination of sweet coffee, leather
and baker’s chocolate becomes zestier and more rich
as the cigar progresses.
Body:
Medium
BELICOSO
91 POINTS
n
5 3/8
"
x 52
n
$10.60
n
Humidor Selection
A well-constructed torpedo with a reddish-brown wrap-
per. Notes of coffee, cedar and earth come through
before a toasty finish. Balanced and flavorful.
Body:
Medium to Full
ROBUSTO
89 POINTS
n
5 1/4
"
x 50
n
$9.60
The draw of this cigar is even and full, imparting an ini-
tially chalky smoke that takes on slight spice notes as
well as caramel and nougat flavors.
Body:
Medium
DOUBLE ROBUSTO
87 POINTS
n
5 3/4
"
x 52
n
$10.35
Dry cedar and notes of pepper dissipate, resulting in
slightly metallic flavors. It burns well, but a short finish
leaves the palate dry.
Body:
Medium
PRESIDENTE
87 POINTS
n
6 1/2
"
x 50
n
$11.10
This cigar performs well, and is well constructed with
an even burn, but notes of wood become gummy and
slightly harsh, leading to an herbal finish.
Body:
Medium
BRAND SUMMARY:
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos brand is
one of the best known in the premium cigar industry. Named for
Fuente family patriarch Carlos Fuente Sr., the cigars have been
sold since 1976. They were originally made in Nicaragua when
the Fuentes made cigars in Central America. Today, as with every
other cigar rolled by Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia., they are rolled
in Santiago, Dominican Republic.
Don Carlos cigars are made with some of Fuente’s oldest
reserves of tobacco—and the Fuentes have among the largest
inventories of fine cigar tobacco on the planet. “We age tobacco
in bales six, seven, eight years,” Fuente Sr. said nonchalantly during
a 2006 interview with
Cigar Aficionado
conducted in the
Dominican Republic. “I have wrapper from the 1980s. Our profit
goes into tobacco— I’d rather have product in inventory than
money in the bank.”
Cigar Insider
rated the entire core line of Don Carlos, although
there are other special sizes in existence, such as the Lancero and
the Shark, which are made in tiny quantities and are seldom
available, and an Anniversary edition made for God of Fire cigars.
Though the line had a significantly wide range of scores, The
best performers were the numbered vitolas; the No. 2, No. 3 and
No. 4 each received 92 points, while the Belicoso scored a still-
impressive 91.
Average Rating:
90.0
points
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