Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5.75 x 52 Double Robusto
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: 30.00
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
My cigars received 7 months of naked humidor time.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Despite this being a very popular cigar, in the over 20 years the cigar has been on the market, there are only a couple of written reviews.
I use my Humidimeter to test the cigar’s worthiness and it reads 63%. This is perfect. I use the device as often as possible as I can no longer depend on the forbearance of reptiles to get the best from my cigar. In the past, I could just tell by its feel. But now, as cigars are so bloody expensive, I don’t dare waste a good cigar because I wasn’t focused on catching an over-humidified cigar at the dreaded 72%. It’s only a few points over the 67% humidity in my humidor, but it swings a big bat and can make the cigar experience miserable with constant relighting, lousy draw, sponginess, too much smoke, uneven burn, and an unpleasant odor. Dry boxing is good, but you must keep an eye on your cigars to make sure that they don’t under humidify.
This cigar is a heavy hitter with serious weight. It feels great in the hand. Aromas from the wrapper are spicy with ripe leather, sweet raisins, cedar, a strong nutty presence, and sourdough bread.
The large cap is screaming for the middle punch (11mm) of the PerfecPunch to attack. The blades are so slick, sharp, and tight that there is no utterance of sound during surgery. I’m referring the sound of tobacco not the sound of me making guttural sounds as I try to focus.
The open draw is on point. The cold draw telegraphs its aromas with notes of spicy sassafras, baking spices, golden raisins, peat, black pepper, and toasted walnuts.
The blend begins with a smooth offering of sweet nuts (ask your auntie about that reference), milk chocolate, a mix of spiciness that is black, red, and chili peppers, sourdough, and black tea. It has all the qualities I look for in a cigar, an early semblance of balance and refinement. This cigar shows off with an opulently dense group of flavors.
I’m encapsulated by large plumes of smoke. The cigar sweetens its approach by leveraging its high regard for making the cigar worth its price tag.
Charlie Schink is ending his trip to Europe and Morocco. Cigar after cigar was reported to be in the $50-$100 range. It puts a whole different spin on casual decadence that we take for granted in this country.
Milk chocolate nougat moves to the front of the pack. Strength is an easy going medium. Construction is top notch with a near perfect char line. The first inch (20 minutes) won me over.
A sweet cherry fruitiness enters for the first time relegating the very present raisin note into nonexistence. The spicy chile pepper influence disappears and is replaced by solid black pepper that is barely spicy and very smooth. The blend begins to solidify towards its goal as a special experience.
I’ve not reviewed Casa Fuente in the past because my experiences were less than great and I thought it was me. I can’t explain as to the how and why of it that I never finished a stick from either boredom or disappointment. This is my second Casa Fuente from the same purchase. It seems like night and day from years of trying. It is becoming a righteous cigar. I thought I may have just had dumb luck with the first one. Now, there is a pattern.
While billed as a mildly strong cigar (oxymoron), the blend is so smooth that it fluctuates between a great morning smoke and a satisfying after dinner cigar. I’ve only taken two sips of water since I began 40 minutes ago. Nothing shows ruin in a cigar if I’m constantly sipping a libation to make the medicine go down.
It seems that the Stulac/Katman cigars are running late but should be on SBC’s shelves by the end of the first week of October. Shipping from Nicaragua is never reliable.
I’m having a great time. This cigar is gold. The blend becomes a more versatile persona that its first third. Progression is everything for a cigar smoker. Dead in the water hails for no one.
The first half ends with thoughts that this blend reminds me of Kelner. It reminds me of Perez-Carrillo Endure Toro which uses a Meerapfel Cameroon. It reminds me of the Aviator Series from Principle Cigars. A wide spectrum of blends. This bodes well for any cigar design.
Earthiness had a laid-back approach earlier. Now, it excels. It brings a stronger flavor profile to the foreground: Chocolate, malt, nougat, sourdough, raisins return, stronger black pepper, sweet tea, leather, and a floral cedar aroma.
Strength is now a potent medium/full with plenty of nicotine. My brain feels the newly acquired muscle as it tries to convey messages to my fingers and typing becomes laborious. But the smoothness of the blend remains intact.
The last third comes to an end after two hours. This was a fun cigar. A special occasion cigar. And worth the dough.
You can purchase Arturo Fuente cigars from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.
RATING: 95
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
Your cigar may be in the last production of Fuente Cameroons sourced from the Meerapfel family. Cigar Aficionado reports, “After doing business for decades, the Meerapfel and Fuente families are parting ways. M. Meerapfel Söhn has been Arturo Fuente Cigar Co.’s primary source for Cameroon tobacco, a rare wrapper leaf Fuente uses for some of its brands, most notably the vaunted Don Carlos. Meerapfel has been providing this Central African Cameroon to Fuente for more than 30 years. Rumors of a complete separation between the two companies started to circulate last month after Fuente sent out a memo to retailers abroad announcing that it was ending its international distribution agreement with the Meerapfels. A representative from Arturo Fuente confirmed that the two companies are no longer doing business, but would not comment any further. “
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Your mention of over humidified cigars jogged a 20 year old memory of me with a humi with 50 or so decent to very good cigars that I killed . I decided that if 65% was good , 75% would be better. Well we had a heat wave & this box in my cellar heated up & got WAY over humidified. It only took a week, but Every cigar was riddled with holes from some tobacco bug larvae that hatched & ate thru my stash. Lesson learned DO NOT GET YOUR CIGARS TO WET OR WARM> Disaster lurks
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