Cigar Geeks - Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Chuck (Cfickter)

94
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique. This one has been generously sponsored by our member Vroomp (Brad). The cigar provided for this round is the http://www.cigargeeks.com/cigardb/default.asp?action=showcig&cigar_id=7368">Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2. Carlos Fuente Jr. blended the Don Carlos cigar line to honor his father, Fuente patriarch Carlos Fuente Sr., for whom the cigar is named. The cigar has long been prized for its flavor and consistency. Unlike the company's spicy Fuente Fuente OpusX brand, Don Carlos cigars are nuanced. The cigars are wrapped in toothy Cameroon harvested from Western Africa. The filler and binder leaves include some of the oldest tobaccos in Fuente's extensive and massive tobacco inventory. The No. 2, which first hit the market in 1997, is a considerably fat pyramid, with a portly 55 ring gauge. As with most Don Carlos cigars, the smoke is a slow starter.

Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2

Brand:: Arturo Fuente
Name:: Don Carlos No. 2
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 55
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Binder:: Dominican Republic
Wrapper:: Cameroon
Color:: Colorado Maduro
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Torpedo
Average Member Purchase Price:: $14.34
Average Member Rating:: (7 Review(s))

This cigar was enjoyed with None

Pre-Light: 9 Points of 10 Possible

A rich chocolatey looking wrapper, light oil sheen, and fairly well veined. Beautiful box press, solid feel. Perfect cut (guillotine), no fraying. Pre-light draw was very light, had a slight toasted taste along with some minor earth tones.

Lighting and Burn: 14 Points of 15 Possible

Quick to light, initial burn started out a little wobbly, but that could have been me. Quickly caught up and burned near prefect the rest of the smoke. Ash was a white to very light gray, tightly layered, and held very well with the ask extending beyond 2" at times. Smoke started out light but picked up a little later in the smoke. No relights or touch ups. Cigar would stay lit after extended sits.

Construction: 29 Points of 30 Possible

Opening draw was loose and easy, slightly tightened up later in the smoke but nothing that affected the enjoyment. Cap was prefect, no issues with unwrapping during the smoke, never got soft or out of shape. Two very minor blemishes in the wrapper, but otherwise a beautiful wrapper that did not present any issues.

Flavor and Aroma: 42 Points of 45 Possible

First Third: Very smooth right off the bat, creamy, but on the light side. Has the toasted notes from the cold draw, along with some light earthy tones. Mild to medium to kick it off.

Second Third: Early it is still light but mid third it picks up a little pepper and nuttiness. You can fell a little burn on the tip of the tongue from the pepper. Now much more a medium strength and much more like the cigar I expected.

Final Third: Pretty much a carryover from the second third. Not a lot of change, smoking a little hotter as it winds down. Keeping in the medium range, pepper and nuttiness though out the final third.

Summary

Something can be said for the consistency. This cigar doesn't jump around or have a large amount of complexity, but when you find a flavor you like, why change? The cigar lived up to everything you would expect from a Don Carlos. In fact, it would be a difficult choice between the Don Carlos and its perhaps more famous brother the Opus X.