Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Size: 5.25 x 50 Robusto
Strength: Medium
Price: $14.00
Date Released: 2004
Quantity Released: Regular Production
Factory: Arturo Fuente, Dominican Republic
My cigars received 4 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
From Cigar Page:
“Born in the legendary Arturo Fuente factory, Angelenos is essentially a love letter to the high life, minus the soul-crushing Los Angeles traffic. It’s a sophisticated mild-to-medium-bodied blend that proves you can have refinement in a mellow smoke. Draped in a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and packed with the kind of premium Dominican long-fillers, it hits the palate with a surprising amount of complexity. Expect a smooth profile defined by rich cedar, toasted nuts, and a hint of spice. It’s the cigar equivalent of a linen suit: classy, breathable, and guaranteed to make you look like you know exactly what you’re doing.”
Angelenos comes in the following sizes:
Robusto 5.25 x 50 $14.00
Robusto Gordo 5.5 x 54 $25.90
Double Robusto 5.7 x 52 $15.40
Cigar Aficionado rated the cigar 90.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
Despite being around forever, this is not a well-known cigar.
The leaf stats scream ‘ordinary.’ Ecuadorian Connecticut over Dominican guts has a utilitarian feel. But it’s a Fuente and the elephant in the room…it’s not cheap.
Aromas are very subtle notes of hay, creamy milk chocolate, cinnamon, barnyard, and floral.
Dr. Rod is unhappy that I don’t exacerbate you enough by promoting the Perfec Cigar Solutions catalog. I disagreed. To compromise, I told the aging dentist that for every $100 purchase by my readers, they will receive a Trump bible…signed by Don Jr (I know his wife).
The cold draw is meaty with caramel syrup. Odd, but true. It’s creamy as expected with these leaf stats. And the always appreciated candied lemon peel. Also, milk chocolate, hay, cedar, and honeysuckle.
As this is merely a promo for the Krazy Bargain Basement cigar of the week, I will only hit the highlights.
I’m already 415 words in, and I’ve said nothing.
Lots of smoke. The first puffs are what I expect: Creamy, some hay, mild citrus, lavender petals, a touch of honey, mild black pepper, and a nice chunk of savory to balance the sweetness.
The immediate differential of this blend compared to cheaper cigars with the same ingredients, is that this cigar begins with a healthy dose of complexity. It’s only an intro, but I can taste the seriousness that the blender intended. Or as I’ve flogged a million times: the blender’s intent. A small percent of cigars on the market display this attribute. It’s a treat to get into the head of the guy or gal that invented the blend. It’s so cool. I wish it happened more often.
The cigar feels light in the hand, yet the stalwart ash hangs on like your 27-year-old kid(s) that can’t make it on his own. Fortunately, the cigar is not Gen Z. There was something about Boomers that made us jet the moment we could, and no matter how difficult life became, we made it on our own. It’s probably due to the economic times we grew up in…because there were never any shortages of jobs. All you had to do was show up, fill out an application, and you got hired at $2.75 an hour to serve popcorn at the local drive in theater.
Nice cigar. A wonderful morning smoke. It pairs with coffee beautifully. The strength is an easy going medium. It is stress free, unlike us. There’s depth and style, like us. And there is the level of sophistication I expect from a $14 stick.
Creamy is the keyword. This blend is much better than most cigars of this ilk. But it’s not a great cigar upon receipt. I smoked a couple because I’m an impatient man. They were just OK. With 2-4 months of rest, the blend opens like a peacock’s feathers. And I’m only an inch in. I better hurry up.
The cigar plumped nicely and the char line is regimental with a perfect gig line. In the early afternoon, I waffle about how strong I want my cigars to be. Often, a medium/full blend is too much. But a mild/medium is too little. I smoked one Angeleno in that time period a week ago and my mind didn’t wander needlessly from nicotine, and it was every bit the complete experience I wanted.
As the second half gets close, the sweet lemony crème thing happens. I love this cigar. This is what I want for my morning smoke.
I remove the secondary band and discover it is thick paper. Not the usual crap you see on lesser priced cigars where you must call on your fingernails to remove them. It’s kind of classy.
Transitions are very subtle. I don’t think I’d notice them if not for chronicling this cigar. It adds to the query of either I like it or I don’t.
Cigar Aficionado gave the cigar a rating of 90. They got it right. I score higher than most because I’m correct in doing so. The blend reminds me of the Casdagli Daughters of the Wind.
I’m often asked what the difference between a fretted bass and a fretless bass. I asked AI and it was summed up perfectly: “Continuous pitch variation enables techniques such as glissandos, microtonal expression, and precise vibrato…However, they require accurate finger placement and a good ear for intonation Fretless basses produce a smooth, upright-bass-like sound, often preferred in jazz, fusion, and session work.”
The second half doesn’t change. There is no harshness or bitterness that often follows a cigar into the last third. Its depth hunkers down nicely. This is one of the smoothest cigars I’ve smoked. I constantly fight the urge to continually huff and puff because that’s what we subconsciously do with a good smoke.
This is a good Fuente blend. Since I get first look of the Friday deal, I bought plenty to put away. Since I know that they blossom with a couple months or more of humidor time, I will be patient. And while the Angelenos began as just shy of medium, by the second half it hits the ten ring of a solid medium strength smoke.
Cigar Page has a weeklong sale, that changes every Friday, as part of the Krazy Katman’s Bargain Basement. The sale is for the Double Robusto (5.75 x 52) which retails at $15.40 each…or $77.00 for a five pack.
Instead of the high retail prices you pay everywhere else, you can buy fivers for $48.99. That’s 36% off at $9.80 per cigar.
RATING: 95
In case you missed yesterday’s post, with only a few months left before I retire, I am offering you a once in a lifetime offer to smoke a cigar with me via Zoom. Go to One on One with the Katman on how to do this. No charge. A freebie of enormous proportions.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
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