Stogies, Vino, & Java: What Pairs Best with Cigars

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There’s nothing better than a fine cigar. After a long day at work, a cigar is perfect to wind down and relax.

If you’re out with family or friends, lighting a cigar is a great social pairing. Many situations call for a cigar, but did you think which beverage also pairs well with cigars?

But don’t choose just any drink. Certain drinks pair so naturally with a cigar – it’s like peanut butter and jelly. Having this knowledge requires some basic facts about tobacco flavors and hidden notes.

Here’s what to drink with cigars.

Wine

Wine is one of the best cigar pairings. Any event calls for a glass of wine and a cigar; whether it’s family dinner, a formal event, or a night on the town. But the cigar and wine pairing are complex.

And it all depends on the type of cigar you’re smoking.

For mild-to-medium cigars, choose an equally modest wine. Any fruity wines are the perfect option; the sweetness blends perfectly with the cigar’s spice and sugary flavor. Choose Pinot Noir with a mild or medium-bodied cigar.

For medium-to-full bodied cigars, choose a classic red wine such as Merlot. Since you’re getting stronger with your cigars, you’ll want to increase your wine bitterness. But a Merlot is a happy medium for your earthy yet flavorful cigars.

For full-bodied cigars, go for a dry red wine such as Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied cigars are stronger, thus pair well with a bitter and full-bodied wine.

Spirits

Is wine too fancy? If you go hard with cigars, go hard with alcohol. Fortunately, cigars pair well with many types of spirits.

“Spirits” describes a wide variety of liquor. Which one do you choose? A nice bourbon, whiskey, and brandy pairs amazingly with cigars. Cigars have a robust flavor. The spirit should match with the cigar, which is why dark spirits work best.

Which spirits should you avoid? The cigar will overpower any white spirits. Avoid vodka and gin when smoking a cigar.

Coffee

Are you not into alcohol? You have other options besides wine. Coffee is a perfect cigar pairing. But don’t reach for the Frappe just yet – certain types of coffee pair better with cigars.

You should first reach for the dark roast. This coffee is full-bodied and has a variety of complex flavors, just like cigars. If you prefer mild cigars, you can reach for a milder coffee blend such as a medium roast.

We have some very interesting Coffee here in Downtown Hollywood. Koffee Kult.

Now You Know What to Drink With Cigars

While enjoying a cigar, why don’t you enjoy a drink with it? But before picking up any beverage, you need to know what to drink with cigars.

Wine, dark-colored spirits, and coffee are favorites for so many cigar aficionados. These beverages are full-bodied and complex, just like the cigar you’re smoking. What are you waiting for? Pick up a cigar and a glass!

Are you ready to relax with a cigar and your favorite beverage? Order cigars and cigar accessories from us.

 

What’s in a Cigar: Determining the Body, Flavor, and Strength of a Cigar

What's in a Cigar: Determining the Body, Flavor, and Strength of a Cigar
What’s in a Cigar: Determining the Body, Flavor, and Strength of a Cigar

Talk to a connoisseur of anything and they will hit you with some familiar terms used in surprising ways. The jargon of any aesthetic or job can feel like a smoke screen for the content.

Cigars provide a rich history and culture to some otherwise simple words. Describing the qualities of a cigar often comes down to strength, flavor, and body.

But what’s in a cigar that provides these distinctions?

We’ll go over the simple ingredients and how they affect these terms.

What’s in a Cigar?

A cigar, primarily, comprises a wrapper around tobacco leaves. The leaves, though, that is where so much of the magic happens. 

You may have heard stories or jokes about wrapping and its importance. There is an art to wrapping a cigar to keep the leaves packed well enough to not fall apart. This, while still being spaced enough to breathe and smolder. 

Tobacco plants are harvested in a process called priming. Harvesters start at the base of the plant and go through in primings. The leaves at the top become more soaked with nutrients and flavor as the plant feeds them more and longer.

This means that even in a single plant a variety of factors can change in a finished cigar.

Let’s take a look at the scope of each metric.

Strength

Nicotine concentration reflects only one part of the strength of a cigar. The other component is oil. Oils in the leaves carry more flavors and hit harder.

A strong cigar will carry more flavors and those flavors will linger longer (depending on the body). Nicotine concentration affects the euphoric or heady feeling of smoking a cigar. 

Remember that nicotine is a stimulant. You have one amount and it brings you up, you have too much and it sends you crashing. Plan accordingly and savor a full strength cigar slowly.

Flavor 

Talking about flavor makes some people edgy. It is easy to talk a bigger game than you really understand. to avoid trying too hard we have a guide for enjoying flavors over here.

Flavors exist across a spectrum influenced by taste buds and smell. Still, we’ve noted which are stronger and more subtle and cataloged them in sweet, bitter, sour, and salty. A cigar flavor chart like this can help you understand taste descriptions.

Flavor ranges from light to full. The higher up the scale, the more complex and deep the flavors will be. 

Body

Unless you suffer from anosmia, you should notice flavors in the mouth and the nose. Take color blindness as an example. Everyone has some part of the spectrum they don’t see. Anosmia works the same way, some people don’t detect some smells.

Like strength, the higher up the scale in terms of light through full-bodied a cigar is, the more you will pick up. When describing body types you can think of them in the same way as the coating or lasting on the palette of any food. 

Flavors that linger represent a fuller body. Flavors that hit and run tend to be light bodied.

Savor the Day

The individual tobacco leaves inside make up what’s in a cigar.

What you experience is dictated by the combination of strength, flavor, and body characteristic.

Consider picking up a sampler and explore how these interplay for yourself!

6 Important Things Cigar Smokers Should Know

7 Important Things Every Cigar Aficionado Should Know

6 Important Things Cigar Smokers Should Know
6 Important Things Cigar Smokers Should Know

Read on to learn everything you need in 6 simple tips. We’ll help you learn everything you need to smoke like a pro.

Are you a cigar newbie looking to learn everything you need? Cigar smokers are an elite breed but don’t let the pomp and sophistication discourage you from joining their ranks.

Take it Slow

One of the biggest mistakes made when smoking a cigar is smoking too much. Puffing too often can cause an irreversible bitterness in the cigar.

This happens because frequent puffing can overheat the cigar. Take it slow and let the cigar reveal itself to you. There are plenty more great cigars to be had. 

Putting pressure on the smoke comes usually from Cigarette smokers. With their animosity to get their quick fix, they tend to overreact when smoking a Premium Cigars. Think of the act of smoking a cigar like something more philosophically meant. Take it slow and let your imagination to beginning to rise.   It is not about the nicotine fix anymore, Now we are focusing more on the flavor and the aroma! 

Don’t Inhale

While this may seem like a given, inhaling cigar smoke isn’t the point. Further, inhaling can cause stomach and digestive troubles or headaches.

You should suck in the smoke, enjoy its rich flavors and release the smoke. Don’t worry about trying to pull it into your lungs.

Relax and enjoy, just don’t inhale.

The beauty of smoking cigars is basically this. There is no need to bring smoke inside our body. Only to savor the flavor in our mouth give us the complete satisfaction we need. 

Get a Humidor

Buying a humidor can be a big investment. However, if you’re purchasing high-end cigars, you’ll want to make sure you have a chance to enjoy them to the fullest. 

Not properly storing your cigars means not caring for your investment. Get something small if you’re looking to get started. You’ll upgrade soon enough.

True Cigar Smokers Know The Lingo

The cigar itself consists of three major parts. The wrapper, the binder, and the filler.

The filler is the tobacco that you’ll be smoking. It’s said that most cigars touch 200 hundred hands before they make their way to yours. 

When preparing to smoke a cigar, you’ll need a lighter and a cutter. When cutting your cigar, be sure that you don’t cut off too much. This can cause your prized cigar to begin to unravel.

We have written numerous times about the Best Cigar Cutter and the Best way to cut your cigars, but keep in mind everything is relative. You need to find what satisfies you. In the end, Cigar Smoking experience is all about you. What you like and how you like it! So, read and then do it yourself. The final decision is all yours.

Strength vs. Boldness

While these terms may seem synonymous, they’re quite different. Strength refers to the amount of nicotine the cigar has. Boldness speaks to the amount of flavor you can expect.

If you’re a cigarette smoker, you may be better equipped to handle a stronger cigar with a higher level of nicotine. If you’re not, you could be setting yourself up for some undesirable side effects. 

We wrote some recommendations about the Best Cigars for beginners. Some newbie cigar smokers like to start with flavors cigars like the Acid, but some like to go straight to pure tobacco flavor. Whatever your decision we recommend to try a few until your find your special cigar.   

A Matter of Taste

While not all cigars are created equal, beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. Cigar flavor profiles can be as varied as the palettes they’re designed to appeal to.

While it’s hard to agree on just what the best cigar may be, it’s important to recognize the similarities in profile when you select your favorites. This can be an important insight into your own palette and help you discern which cigars might fit your preferences when selecting something new. 

Some cigar smokers favor Dominican Cigars while others like Nicaraguan Tobaccos. The saying is that Nicaraguan tend to be stronger while Dominican usually have more flavor and aroma. The truth is that you are the only one who will smoke your cigar so, It is up to you! So we recommend to try it all before making a final decision! 

Do Your Research

Want to grow your cigar knowledge? Visit more of our blog and learn from our experts.

We’re here to offer our years of expertise and help you grow your knowledge of cigars. Soon you’ll join the ranks of distinguished, experienced cigar smokers. 

Until then, we’re here to help you find your footing.

4 Fine Cigars You Should Be Smoking Right Now

4 Good Cigars to Smoke Right Now

Let’s say you’re a meat eater. There’s nothing wrong with a big ol’ greasy McDonalds Double Quarter Pounder once in a while. But would you go for that or a luxurious slab of perfectly cooked prime rib? Probably the prime rib, right?

The same analogy applies to cigars. While most all cigars will do the trick if you want a good smoke, some cigars are simply finer and higher caliber than others.

Let’s go over 4 good cigars to smoke when you really want to step it up a notch and get the most pleasure out of your smoke.

Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Maestro Torpedo

If you’re a cigar lover looking for something unique and delicious, the Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua Sonata Maestro Torpedo is the perfect choice. This exquisite blend features a velvety Nicaraguan wrapper that adds a beautiful complexity to an already brilliantly balanced smoke. A box-pressed, medium-strength torpedo, it has an ideal length of 6 x 52 and is hand-rolled using only long filler tobaccos from Rafael Nodal and AJ Fernandez of Tabacalera Fernandez in Nicaragua. From the first draw to the last, you’ll enjoy nuances of earthy cedar flavors, notes of sweet cream, and spicy black pepper, with a satisfying butterscotch finish. Pick up this unforgettable experience today – don’t miss out on this cigar line classic!

Leaf by Oscar and Island Jim

Wordpress Post 4 Fine Cigars You Should Be Smoking Island Jim.jpg

Leaf by Oscar and Island Jim Cigars are an innovative duo that brings a unique smoking experience. Their San Andrés # Two cigar offers something special that you won’t find anywhere else: a Mexican wrapper and Honduran tobacco blended for maximum flavor. Developed at the Oscar Valladares Tobacco & Co. factory in Honduras, it’s no surprise this cigar packs a punch.

This medium-bodied smoke will treat your taste buds to huge amounts of pure tobacco flavor – no fancy notes or aftertastes here – just straight-up tobacco goodness. With its thin profile and bold flavor, the Leaf by Oscar and Island Jim Cigars San Andrés # Two is perfect for anyone who loves rich tobacco as much as they love terrific-looking cigars. So come see what all the fuss is about with these engaging smokes!

Flor de las Antilla Belicoso

Wordpress Post 4 Fine Cigars You Should Be Smoking Flor de las Antilla Belicoso

The Flor de las Antilla Belicoso is far from just any cigar. It’s a timeless, classic smoke crafted lovingly to honor the masterpieces you’d find in Cuba. My Father Cigars has created a one-of-a-kind experience with rich, Cuban seed tobacco and all Cuban fillers and binders that combine to create an incredibly smooth and full-bodied smoke. You’ll get the subtle taste of nutmeg, white pepper, and deep, complex tobacco flavors that make this an unforgettable experience. Go ahead: indulge your senses in all the 95-rating gloriousness this Belicoso brings! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced smoker, make it your new favorite stick with the Flor de las Antilla Belicoso from My Father Cigars.

Illusione Fume D’Amour Clementes

Wordpress Post 4 Fine Cigars You Should Be Smoking Illusione Fume D'Amour Clementes

Illusione Fume D’Amour Clementes cigars are designed to wow the aficionado who isn’t afraid to get a little savory. The medium-full body smoke comes from a blend of Nicaraguan tobacco and a Corojo wrapper, which create aromas of woodiness, earthiness, and coffee for an indulgent experience. With each puff, your palate will be engulfed in flavor, with a savory twist that takes it up a notch beyond traditional smokes.

The slow burn of this smoke ensures that you won’t have to sacrifice flavor for time — enjoy an enjoyable ride with these Luxury Cigars. Perfect for special occasions or just when you feel like doing something extra special for yourself, Illusione Fume D’Amour Clementes cigars give you a unique tobacco experience from start to finish. Get them now and treat yourself to luxurious aroma and flavor!

Good Cigars to Smoke? More Like Great Cigars to Smoke

Nothing ruins the enjoyment of smoke quite like realizing the cigar falls short of your expectations. For an exceptional smoking experience, explore the exquisite selection of cigars on this curated list. You won’t be disappointed. Additionally, the Cuenca Sampler offers another exceptional option, featuring six of the best cigars that offer incredible value, all for under $20.

Interested a Nicaraguan cigar? If you’re seeking more alternatives beyond the previously mentioned Illusione, take a look at this article featuring the top 7 Nicaraguan cigars available for purchase. It’s a comprehensive guide that will satisfy your cigar cravings.

hand made cigars

How to Season a Humidor the Right Way

You’re a cigar smoker, which means you need to know how to season a humidor correctly. This is important to learn for newbies, as well as seasoned cigar smokers. If you’re a cigar lover but haven’t yet learned how to season a humidor, then it’s about time you do. Not taking care of your cigars properly will only end in wasted money.

Your cigars will give in to humidity and spawn mildew and mold. Cigars aren’t cheap so it’s essential to know how to properly contain them so they last as long as possible. In this video, we discuss how to season a humidor so you can prevent spoiling your cigars. The processes we share are very easy to do and remember. You won’t have to spend much time doing this so there’s no excuse not to. Take a look at this video today to learn how you can properly season a humidor for your cigars.

If you want to see the complete list of cigars you can treasure, Browse Cuenca Cigars-Now.

Video

How to Keep Cigars Fresh with Everyday Household Items

If you’re given the gift of cigars, then knowing how to keep cigars fresh is essential. Otherwise, your gifts will more than likely end up in the trash.

The good news is that there are several ways you can keep your cigars fresh until you get the proper equipment (or smoke them). In this video, we cover how to keep cigars fresh using everyday household items. In fact, you may already have some of these products in your home right now. Or you can go to your local store to buy them for a few bucks.

This knowledge is something you can put to use and even share with others in a similar predicament. Cigars aren’t cheap so it’s important to learn how to keep cigars fresh when you don’t have a humidor. If you’re a cigar smoker or new to it, then this video is for you. Take a look at it now to find out how to keep your cigars fresh!

To see a complete list of cigars click here!

Smoking Cigars: 4 Tips to Get the Most out of Your Experience

smoking cigars with friends

smoking cigars

When it comes to smoking cigars, everyone wants to get the most out of their experience. We take a look at 4 tips that will help, whether you’re a novice or a seasoned pro.

These days, it seems that more and more American adults are smoking cigars on a regular basis. For most people, smoking cigars is something they do to relax and forget about the stress of their day.

When beginning your journey into the world of cigars, you’ll need to do a bit of research. With some research, you can figure out what types of cigars are best suited for your tastes.

There are also some tips you should know to get the most out of smoking cigars. Even seasoned cigar enthusiasts are always looking for new ways to enjoy their cigar smoking experience.

Read below to learn about four tips that will help you get the most out of smoking cigars. Just remember that there are few hard and fast rules when it comes to enjoying your cigar.

1. Smoking Cigars Should Be a Relaxing and Enjoyable Process, So Take Your Time
People who have smoked cigarettes for years or are new to smoking, in general, will often get in a hurry the first time they smoke cigars. Rushing through this experience will only lead to disappointment and can certainly compromise the flavor of the cigar.
The faster you smoke the cigar, the higher the temperature of your ember will become. This hot burn will usually lead to less than stellar flavor profiles and can hide the enjoyable nuances of the cigar.

Taking a hit of your cigar every 30 seconds or so is preferable. By doing this, you can keep your flame at the right temperature and unleash the hidden flavors within the cigar.

2. Learn How to Cut Your Cigar Properly
Before you fire up your first cigar, you will need to cut a piece of the cap off. By cutting off the right amount of cap, you can more thoroughly enjoy your smoking experience.
The biggest mistake that most new cigar smokers make is cutting off too much of the cap. You should only clip off as much of the cap that is necessary to get a good draw.
Cutting off too much of the cap will generally result in the cigar unraveling. Instead of wasting a perfectly good cigar, simply make a shallow cut of the stogie and proceed. If the draw is inadequate, just snip off a bit more.
Some smokers prefer to use a punch cutter to put a neat hole in the cap or a V-cutter. Feel free to experiment with different types of cuts to find the method that best suits you.
Another tip is to use a sharp quality cigar cutter. This ensures your cut will be clean and precise. Want to know more about the different cigar cuts? Read this article.

3. Tips for 
Lighting a cigar properly is a bit harder than it looks, but is easily learned.
To get your cigar lit properly, rotate your flame around the end of it. As you rotate the lighter, gently puff on the cigar. Many cigar smokers prefer to “toast” their smokes first by igniting the foot with an indirect flame, which allows for a cooler ember to start with. By following these steps, you should have no problem getting your cigar lit with ease.
A lighter that burns lighter fluid instead of butane should be avoided, as that will impart that nasty petroleum smell to your cigar. If you use matches, be sure to let the match burn long enough to dispel the sulfur aroma before putting it to the cigar.
As for putting out your cigar, just let it die a natural death rather than crushing it out like a cigarette. Mashing out your cigar will only lead to a stinky atmosphere that will turn everyone off and cling to your fingers. A cigar left alone in an ashtray will usually self-extinguish in a matter of a few minutes.

4. Proper Cigar Storage
Neglecting to store your new cigars properly can lead to them becoming brittle, hard to keep lit, or tasting harsh and bitter. The best way to ensure a cigar will be at its best is by investing in a humidor.
There are a number of quality desktop humidors on the market. When looking for a humidor, be sure to consider what type of wood its interior is made from. Most smokers prefer humidors made from Spanish cedar wood because they hold in moisture and add a nice woody fragrance, but, there are other woods such as American Red Cedar and Honduran Mahogany, which are a not quite as prevalent in humidor construction. If you’re considering a quality humidor, a reputable and knowledgeable supplier will guide you in the right direction.
On top of that, an effective humidification delivery system is crucial to maintaining an ideal and consistent environment for your cigars.

Make Sure You Find the Right Cigar Supplier
If you want to start smoking cigars, or if you’ve been looking for quality cigars, you need to find the right supplier; one who has a great deal of knowledge on many aspects of the cigar world. Cuenca Cigars is just that supplier.

We have a deep-rooted passion for cigars that began in Cuba decades ago. We’re more than a cigar store; we’re a family. We are dedicated to extending that warmth to all our customers.
If you’re looking for high-quality cigars at great prices, check out our selection.

News from Casas Fumando: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark

By Tony Casas
Another beautiful El Paso Sunday with a Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark and a Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale XXI.

The Good Stuff:

Created to celebrate Carlos Fuente Sr.’s 80th birthday, The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark exploded off shelves earlier this year when it was named Cigar Aficionado’s top cigar of 2017. The Eye of the Shark is a smaller rendition of the extremely popular Shark format that cigar smoker’s flock to shops to buy throughout the year. Coming in at 5 ¾ x 52 the Eye of the Shark sports the meticulous square box-press to tapered torpedo that we all love. The cigar is created at the Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia factory in the Dominican Republic, but the details of the blend is held secret. Big thanks goes out to the team at Cuenca Cigars who sent these over to us. They actually feature them in their 2017 Top 25 Cigars by Cigar Aficionado Sampler which they currently have in stock.

Size: 5 ¾ x 52

Wrapper: Undisclosed

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed

Body: Medium/Full

Strength: Medium

Price: $11.25

Pairing: Firestone Walker Anniversary XXI (Imperial Stout 11.8%)

Prelight:

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark starts out with the obvious crazy looking vitola. As I stated earlier the foot is box-pressed perfectly square and as you pass a little more than the halfway point the cigar beings to taper and round out until it finishes at a perfect, sharp, torpedo-style cap. The wrapper is a very consistent light to medium brown with a few lighter areas around the smaller veins running through the cigar’s body. The cigar has a decent amount of tooth as well as some slight oils covering the wrapper. The wrapper feels very thin and delicate while the cigar as a whole feels slightly soft. The Eye of the Shark is finished off with the Black, gold, and red accented Don Carlos band we’ve seen on the blends before.

The wrapper on the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark gives off some slight earthiness and cashew aromas while the foot is much more dirty with notes of spice, and natural tobacco. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces hints of cashew, leather, light coffee and earthiness.

First Third:

The first few puffs of The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark start out with a bit of pepper which quickly fades to release some creamy coffee flavors over cashew, honey, gingerbread, musky dirt, and earthiness. The draw on this cigar is fabulous, every tiny puff kicks out massive clouds of thick, white smoke which hang around for quite some time. The cigar also pours out smoke as it rests in my ashtray. Its worth noting just how comfortable this cigar is due to the format both in hand and in mouth. The burnline is razor thin with some slight waves while the ash is semi-compact and white/light gray in color which held on for a little under an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark and the body has began to increase. With that the flavor profile becomes a bit more targeted with loads of cashew and musk, cedar and honey backed by soft spice and gingerbread. The retrohale really brings out the spice and musk and I find myself doing it quite often. The cigar is now burning brilliantly without any assistance from my torch. I close out the second third without anything in terms of nicotine.

Finish:

Keeping with the trend the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark has continuously ramped up in both body and strength since the start of the cigar. The body is now in the medium/full arena while the strength is at the top of medium. The flavors are still leading with cashew and musk, cedar and honey with some gingerbread, cocoa, and a bit of saltiness. It took me almost two hours to take this cigar down to the nub and it was fantastic all the way through. I experienced no harshness, nor extended heat and I closed out the cigar with only a tiny bit of nicotine felt.

Overview:

It’s easy to see why the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is such a highly acclaimed cigar. Was it the best cigar I’ve smoked recently? Probably not, but its definitely one of the better ones for sure. The flavor profile is excellent, construction is flawless, and the cigar delivers. It’s a big pricey but nothing I wouldn’t expect, nor mind paying for the experience it delivered.

Pairing:

Each year Firestone Walker releases a blended beer to celebrate their birthday. I won’t go too far into detail about the blend, but they basically use various versions of their small batch series such as Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Helldorado, etc. This year was the first time they featured these releases in the smaller bottle. The beer starts out with lots of caramel, cocoa, vanilla, a tootsie roll type flavor, maple syrup, and roasted malt with a very thick and sticky mouthfeel before finishing very weet with more cocoa, maple, vanilla, and bourbon barrel. The beer actually becomes a bit sweeter as it warms and while the alcohol was well hidden it really comes out with the warmth as well. The sweetness really added a whole new dimension to the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark which had just enough body to keep up with the beer.

The post Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando .

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News from Casas Fumando: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark

By Tony Casas
Another beautiful El Paso Sunday with a Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark and a Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale XXI.

The Good Stuff:

Created to celebrate Carlos Fuente Sr.’s 80th birthday, The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark exploded off shelves earlier this year when it was named Cigar Aficionado’s top cigar of 2017. The Eye of the Shark is a smaller rendition of the extremely popular Shark format that cigar smoker’s flock to shops to buy throughout the year. Coming in at 5 ¾ x 52 the Eye of the Shark sports the meticulous square box-press to tapered torpedo that we all love. The cigar is created at the Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia factory in the Dominican Republic, but the details of the blend is held secret. Big thanks goes out to the team at Cuenca Cigars who sent these over to us. They actually feature them in their 2017 Top 25 Cigars by Cigar Aficionado Sampler which they currently have in stock.

Size: 5 ¾ x 52

Wrapper: Undisclosed

Binder: Undisclosed

Filler: Undisclosed

Body: Medium/Full

Strength: Medium

Price: $11.25

Pairing: Firestone Walker Anniversary XXI (Imperial Stout 11.8%)

Prelight:

The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark starts out with the obvious crazy looking vitola. As I stated earlier the foot is box-pressed perfectly square and as you pass a little more than the halfway point the cigar beings to taper and round out until it finishes at a perfect, sharp, torpedo-style cap. The wrapper is a very consistent light to medium brown with a few lighter areas around the smaller veins running through the cigar’s body. The cigar has a decent amount of tooth as well as some slight oils covering the wrapper. The wrapper feels very thin and delicate while the cigar as a whole feels slightly soft. The Eye of the Shark is finished off with the Black, gold, and red accented Don Carlos band we’ve seen on the blends before.

The wrapper on the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark gives off some slight earthiness and cashew aromas while the foot is much more dirty with notes of spice, and natural tobacco. The cap cut clean and easily using my Xikar XO double bladed cutter. The cold draw produces hints of cashew, leather, light coffee and earthiness.

First Third:

The first few puffs of The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark start out with a bit of pepper which quickly fades to release some creamy coffee flavors over cashew, honey, gingerbread, musky dirt, and earthiness. The draw on this cigar is fabulous, every tiny puff kicks out massive clouds of thick, white smoke which hang around for quite some time. The cigar also pours out smoke as it rests in my ashtray. Its worth noting just how comfortable this cigar is due to the format both in hand and in mouth. The burnline is razor thin with some slight waves while the ash is semi-compact and white/light gray in color which held on for a little under an inch before falling into my ashtray.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark and the body has began to increase. With that the flavor profile becomes a bit more targeted with loads of cashew and musk, cedar and honey backed by soft spice and gingerbread. The retrohale really brings out the spice and musk and I find myself doing it quite often. The cigar is now burning brilliantly without any assistance from my torch. I close out the second third without anything in terms of nicotine.

Finish:

Keeping with the trend the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark has continuously ramped up in both body and strength since the start of the cigar. The body is now in the medium/full arena while the strength is at the top of medium. The flavors are still leading with cashew and musk, cedar and honey with some gingerbread, cocoa, and a bit of saltiness. It took me almost two hours to take this cigar down to the nub and it was fantastic all the way through. I experienced no harshness, nor extended heat and I closed out the cigar with only a tiny bit of nicotine felt.

Overview:

It’s easy to see why the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is such a highly acclaimed cigar. Was it the best cigar I’ve smoked recently? Probably not, but its definitely one of the better ones for sure. The flavor profile is excellent, construction is flawless, and the cigar delivers. It’s a big pricey but nothing I wouldn’t expect, nor mind paying for the experience it delivered.

Pairing:

Each year Firestone Walker releases a blended beer to celebrate their birthday. I won’t go too far into detail about the blend, but they basically use various versions of their small batch series such as Parabola, Stickee Monkee, Helldorado, etc. This year was the first time they featured these releases in the smaller bottle. The beer starts out with lots of caramel, cocoa, vanilla, a tootsie roll type flavor, maple syrup, and roasted malt with a very thick and sticky mouthfeel before finishing very weet with more cocoa, maple, vanilla, and bourbon barrel. The beer actually becomes a bit sweeter as it warms and while the alcohol was well hidden it really comes out with the warmth as well. The sweetness really added a whole new dimension to the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark which had just enough body to keep up with the beer.

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News from Casas Fumando: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark

By Tony Casas
Another beautiful El Paso Sunday with a Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark and a Firestone Walker Anniversary Ale XXI.  The Good Stuff: Created to celebrate Carlos Fuente Sr.’s 80th birthday, The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark exploded off shelves earlier this year when it was named Cigar Aficionado’s top […]

The post Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark appeared first on Cigar Reviews | Beer Pairings | Casas Fumando .
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