Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Robusto - Box of 25

There's a real story behind this name. Don Carlos honors Fuente family patriarch Don Carlos Fuente Sr., and the blend itself dates back to 1976, before disappearing from the market entirely when the Fuentes lost everything to the Sandinistas in Nicaragua. It re-emerged in 1986 for the European market, built around a philosophy the family has never compromised on since: every filler leaf that goes into a Don Carlos is aged for a full ten years before it's ever rolled. That patience paid off with genuine, sustained critical recognition, Top 25 honors and a 94-point rating in 2015, and the #1 Cigar of the Year for 2017.

The blend wraps that decade-aged Dominican binder and filler in a select African Cameroon leaf, and Cigar Aficionado's own account of what earned it the top spot in 2017 is worth repeating: the wrapper-to-filler ratio produced a perfect combination of the Cameroon leaf's sweet-and-sour character alongside the Dominican core, resulting in a zesty, nutty profile full of shaved almonds and candied orange peel. In the Robusto specifically, that translates into lavish notes of earth and cedar with nuances of oak, espresso beans, and chestnuts, a subtly sweet finish, and a room note so distinctive that reviewers consistently describe it as intoxicating even for people not smoking the cigar themselves.

Construction is exactly what a decade of aging and generations of family oversight would suggest, a beautiful wrapper with no visible seams or significant veins, an even draw, a cool burn, and thick, creamy smoke throughout. The first third opens with dark chocolate mixing into evolving layers of cedar and barnyard character alongside a caramel-like sweetness, before the second third brings a subtle shift toward orange peel, and the final third deepens further into nutmeg, sweet spice, and a touch of pepper. It's worth noting the sweetness level can vary slightly from stick to stick, the one inconsistency longtime smokers have noticed over the years, though the quality, appearance, and overall flavor remain remarkably steady. This is a medium to medium-full cigar built for total relaxation, exactly the kind of smoke Fuente devotees reach for when the occasion actually calls for it.

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Flavor progression:

1. Opening: dark chocolate, cinnamon, and nutmeg burst from the pre-light aroma, cedar and roasted coffee bean settling in once lit alongside a touch of leather
2. Mid-smoke: earthy, barnyard character mixes with caramel-like sweetness, a subtle shift toward orange peel developing as the second third arrives
3. Close: nutmeg, sweet spice, and a touch of pepper round out the finish, chestnuts and espresso notes lingering alongside an intoxicating aroma

Key Features:

1. Brand: Arturo Fuente
2. Line: Don Carlos
3. Named for: Don Carlos Fuente Sr., Fuente family patriarch
4. Blender: Carlito Fuente
5. Recognition: Top 25 Cigars of 2015 (#4 overall, 94 points); #1 Cigar of the Year, 2017
6. Founded: 1912, by Don Arturo Fuente
7. Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente, Santiago, Dominican Republic
8. Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
9. Wrapper: African Cameroon
10. Binder: Dominican Republic
11. Filler: Dominican Republic (aged 10 years)
12. Construction: Handmade
13. Vitola: Robusto
14. Size: 5 inches x 50 ring gauge
15. Strength: Medium to Medium-Full
16. Flavor Profile: Earth, cedar, oak, espresso, chestnut, dark chocolate, orange peel, nutmeg
17. Smoke Time: Approximately 1 hour
18. Box Count: 25 cigars
19. Price per Cigar: approximately $12.00