Cigar Review - Arturo Fuente Reserva Don Carlos 

Cigar Review Arturo Fuente Reserva Don Carlos
When Smoked: February 2024
Obtained from: loosie purchased from Cigar Page
Size: Robusto (5 inches x 50 see video for comments on this)
Approximate cost: US$11
See ratings below
I’ve not given Arturo Fuente cigars as much attention as they probably deserve, but today I’m reviewing the Arturo Fuente Reserva Don Carlos. I don’t usually have guests on my videos, but in this video I talk with Carlito Fuente (Carlos Fuente Jr.) who appears in the form of a bobblehead.
In the video, I talk about remembering the place where you smoked certain cigars. My example on this Reserva Don Carlos, I was leaving Santa Fe, New Mexico after a business meeting and stopped at a little cigar lounge - and I smoked a Reserva Don Carlos cigar.
By the way, don’t take this as an endorsement of Santa Fe, New Mexico. I think it’s quite overrated, but I’m not into artist’s retreat-type and cutesy café sort of stuff. If you’re an Oppenheimer fan, a lot of the goings on in that film were near Santa Fe in Los Alamos.
On the other hand, I love Albuquerque, New Mexico - if you’re ever there head for The Frontier restaurant on the UNM campus. Order the Green Chili Stew. If you’re a Breaking Bad fan, there are tours of the places it was filmed. Be sure to lock your car in ABQ, and don’t leave anything that looks remotely valuable where thieves can see it.
Wow, I am getting off track here. The Reserva Don Carlos has been out since about 2014 - it was #4 in Cigar Aficionado’s top 25 in 2015 and #1 in 2017.
The specs on this cigar are a Cameroon wrapper surrounding Dominican-grown binder and filler. The Dominican tobacco is aged at least 10 years - that makes this cigar incredibly smooth.
One of the great qualities of this cigar is its broad appeal. If you are tasked with bringing cigars for your golf buddies, or bachelor party, etc. this is the perfect cigar. The medium body and smooth taste won’t offend anyone, from new smokers to seasoned ones. It’s classy but won’t break the bank like some Padrons or the Opus X.
Burn, draw, and construction all first rate. I mention in the video, this is very well the most perfect burn and construction that I’ve experienced in a year.
All said, the overall smoking enjoyment is a 9.5/10 - this is one excellent cigar. One of the classics.
Some cigars don’t make the video cut. I have a growing catalog of written-only reviews that you can find at cigarscigarscigars.com