Happy shopping Fuente Fanatics, and remember, ONLY FUENTE IS FUENTE!
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https://tobaccobusiness.com/the-new-normal-tobacconists-during-covid-19/2/
]]>Please follow the link to read this great article.
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/arturo-fuente-from-factory-to-field-at-procigar-2020
]]>A few notes about this Specialty Cigar. Angela Yue has one and that was the genesis of this blog post, so it does exist and i have seen it in person! It is not for sale and must be handed to you at one of the Stefano Ricci Stores or from a representative of the company. For tasting notesL Halfwheel got to smoke one and did an extensive review of the cigar. You can find it here:
https://halfwheel.com/fuente-fuente-opusx-stefano-ricci/370582/
As Per the Fuente Website:
STEFANO RICCI, leader in high-quality luxury menswear, is proud to unveil its partnership with the Arturo Fuente Cigar Company, the iconic fourth generation Cuban cigar family business.
The Travel Humidor:
The OpusX by STEFANO RICCI travel humidor inaugurates the collaboration between STEFANO RICCI and Arturo Fuente. It is embellished by an elegant black Californian briar-root wood finishing and Australian mother of pearl inlay details. The distinguished lid displays the OpusX logo borne by the iconic STEFANO RICCI flying eagle emblem.
Opus X SR:
The special OpusX - STEFANO RICCI cigar was created as a symbol of the partnership and will only be produced in extremely limited quantities exclusively for the Ricci family, certain of their privileged customers and friends. While not for sale, this cigar will be dedicated to the true admirers of STEFANO RICCI’s best production, reserved for those who buy the OpusX by STEFANO RICCI travel humidor. From menswear to lifestyle, this is a collaboration conceived for cigar aficionados worldwide.
]]>
And here is another enchanting taste profile to the most sought after premium cigar brand in the world, the prestigious Fuente Fuente OpusX. Inside each bright golden box are 15 eXtraordinary cigars, divided into three units of five different sizes.
All of these fine cigars are composed of the highest quality binder, filler, and wrapper tobacco cultivated from the heart of the Dominican Republic. Specially selected Fuente Fuente Opus X wrapper has been pampered to be extra aged and fermented, thus giving the cigar a robust, balanced, and dark finish.
]]>Once more information is available we will write our own article. Currently Halfwheel has the most information to date.
]]>Then there is the Curly Head cigar. At or around $2 a cigar, it is by far the least expensive cigar in the Fuente lineup. It comes in a Claro, Connecticut and a Maduro. These cuban sandwich cigars are a mix of long and short filler wrapped in a tasty and toothy leaf. Cigar lore says that the cigars are filled with the premium leftovers from the rest the Fuente portfolio and wrapped in choice leaves.
But I was in the search for why call it the Curly Head. It does not have a pig tail or anything related to something being curly. The head of the cigar does have a sort of Three Stooges Curly rounded head, but that can't be the reason. The cigar is very unique in its shape and it's simplicity might lead to the answer. The cuban sandwich has a slight curly end but it is under the cap. This style cigar was very popular amongst cubans as a house roll for consumption by the people.
As for the cigar, value value value. At $90 for a box of 40 cigars, it is a consistent choice for value shoppers looking for something to smoke. Whether it's during the cold winter and you are around a fire and not sure how long you can stand the cold, or fishing for trout on your favorite stream, the Curly Head is an everyday cigar, full of flavor and value.
If you desire to taste candela in its original form, definitely try the Claro (green) version. It is full of hay and grass notes. The maduro is full flavored and medium plus while the Connecticut is mild and very woodsy.
Take your next free $2 and give these cigars a try. I'm sure your grandfather did!!!
]]>Play no money slot machines on your phone!! At least thats what us degenerate gamblers from Vegas do! So I'm playing this game and eventually run out of chips... but.. they give me a chance to win some chips by playing Bingo.. I hit bingo pretty quickly and won 300,000 chips. Then it hit me.. Why not play this live on Facebook with people stuck at home smoking cigars and give them great prizes when they win!! But would anyone really buy the tickets and play?
Well this weekend we will have our second game and we are getting closer and closer to the 100 card mark!!! And it is fun!! We have a live bingo machine where we pick the bingo balls and call them out on facebook, and when someone gets bingo they have to write it in the comments section of the live show! It's amazingly fun and quite a good distraction from the period of time we live in.
So if you are bored on a Sunday afternoon, tune in to Facebook Live on Lord Puffer Cigars and watch the Bingo Game! Better yet, go to www.lordpuffercigars.com and purchase a card for $10 or get 5 for $40 and chances to win crazy good prizes!!!
]]>We generally update our photos everyday with fun photos of Fuente products, new items in the store, or something crazy that happened in the store.
Also follow Owner: Angela Yue @angelayue and General Manager: JJ Williams @cigarjj
]]>check out the article in Cigars and Leisure Magazine.
https://cigarsandleisure.com/fuente-fever-33-photo-recap/
]]>
Finding a rare Añejo #77 Shark is like finding the gold at the end of the rainbow. I guess you could say that the creation of the Añejo is the rainbow to the end of a terrible natural disaster. If it weren't for Hurricane George the world would never had the chance to smoke an Añejo.
Here's the story.
In 1998, Hurricane Georges hit the Dominican Republic as a Category 4 storm causing more than $1 billion in damage and killing nearly 400 people. It displaced more than 150,000 from their homes. It was that storm that destroyed several tobacco barns at Chateau de la Fuente, where The Fuentes grow wrapper leaves for its Fuente Fuente Opus X.
Carilto Fuente Jr., now with no curing barns to house the famous tobacco, feared a shortage of his renowned wrappers. The storm temporarily halted the production of the OpusX.
Sooooo... Carilto started buying rich, toothy, sweet Connecticut broadleaf tobacco and created the Añejo Brand using the same filler and binder blend as OpusX, but used the Connecticut broadleaf wrapper on the outside.
Wow.
I had no idea that from that tragedy came one of the most sought after cigars in the Fuente lineup. And yet another story behind the Fuente Family and their ability to roll with the punches and create the pot of gold!
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When it comes down to it, Opus X is about a dream. About the commitment to excellence. And it is about the story. I'm happy to say that many memories in my life have revolved around this cigar. Carlito's vision for this cigar and it's story has created stories worldwide just like mine.
]]>But what about my commitment to bringing you guys some little known facts about the Opus X story? So I started looking up information and ran across this article from Cigar Aficionado and read through it, twice! It is full of incredible quotes and storylines that only by interviewing Carlito Fuente Jr. would I be able to write such an article. So I decided to pass it along to you.
When it comes down to it, Opus X is about a dream. About the commitment to excellence. And it is about the story. I'm happy to say that many memories in my life have revolved around this cigar. Carlito's vision for this cigar and it's story has created stories worldwide just like mine.
Please share your Opus X Stories in the comments area of the blog. I'd love to hear them.
Here is a link to the great article from Cigar Aficionado:
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/20-years-of-opusx-18442
]]>A daily show, starring Carlito Fuente, industry “professor" José Blanco and The Cameroon grower, Jeremiah Meerapfel. Co-Hosted by the one and only Melanie Sisco in “The Hot Spot” and hilarious Benoit Brochard in “Benoît’s Kitchen” This Tuesday our very own Angela Yue will be the special guest!
]]>Fuente and Meerapel Present: The Professor!
A daily show, starring Carlito Fuente, industry “professor" José Blanco and The Cameroon grower, Jeremiah Meerapfel.
Co-Hosted by the one and only Melanie Sisco in “The Hot Spot” and hilarious Benoit Brochard in “Benoît’s Kitchen”
This Tuesday our very own Angela Yue will be the special guest!
Tune in on Tuesday at 8am PST by following this link:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/312272736
You can also watch re-runs of the shows on their youtube channel:
]]>
The original idea of making the Don Carlos Birthday Cigar came from none other that his son Carlito Fuente Jr. The actual blend used for the cigar came from Fuente Sr. himself. Don Carlos said “It has to be something I would want to smoke." Wow, did he ever know what he was blending at the time? A classic cigar that has time and time again, proven to be one of the company’s most popular offerings to date. Some sizes are very elusive and extremely hard to find, yet others have become staples in every cigar shop in the country!
The Cigar consists of a 10-year-old Dominican tobacco that is used for the filler, partnered along with a rare West African Cameroon wrapper. Each and every cigar is aged in a special room for a minimum of one year. The result is a sweet, full flavored and spicy medium-bodied smoke.
In 2010, select retailers were gifted a box of Don Carlos 75th Anniversarys for his 75th birthday. Retailers were not charged and were allowed to choose what they wanted to do with the cigars, including selling.
There was also a 76th Anniversary cigar released in 2011.
2017 was the year of the shark... The Eye of the Shark that is.. a special new size that won Cigar of the Year by Cigar Aficionado!
9 sizes of the Don Carlos are currently produced and a few unicorns like the Don Carlos Lancero! You can see the sizes available on our website: www.lordpuffercigars.com
Fuente Fever is the largest West Coast Fuente Gathering. Every Year Lord Puffer throws a huge party for a great cause helping children in need in the Dominican Republic through the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation! Here is an article from the Times Advocate in Escondido regarding last years event.
This should give us something to look forward to this summer!! 2020 is going to be off the hook!! Remember... it's all for the kids!!
https://www.times-advocate.com/articles/the-cigar-smokers-dream-combined-with-a-great-cause/
]]>I was reading cigar aficionado today and saw this great article. I think you should read it. The question I have is.. where can I get one. I'll work on that and get back to you when I find some.
]]>Little did anyone know (well some people knew, but that is to be debated) that the Covid-19 virus would shut down and change life as we know it. The Future of the PCA Tradeshow, as of today, is that it will move forward as planned. I'm sure this is being debated daily and could of course change at any minute, but for the sake of the blog, let's assume PCA is going to happen, exhibitors and retailers will show up and Vegas is back to normal and everyone is going to do what they said they will do including the Fuentes.
So somewhere back in 2009-2010 A. Fuente released a Hemingway Signature Rosado. I can not find the exact dates, or any significant reviews on it, but it looks to be as limited as let's say an 8-5-8 Sun-Grown. Fast forward to 2020 PCA. A four cigar box release will include 4 sizes: Short Story, Signature, Work of Art and a brand new size called the Carlito's Way, and a four box release of Opus X Forbidden X, but ONLY to retailers attending the tradeshow.
This is exciting. A new size of Hemingway! Carlito's Way? Sounds awesome. I know that the Carilto's Way drink at Casa Fuente is one of my favorites. I know that Lord Puffer will be on the list to receive these rare cigars once they are released so I know where to get mine!
Details of the cigars are forthcoming. I have contact the Fuente Company for more information. I will update the blog as soon I as I receive anything.
]]>
Lounge Life Article Featuring Lord Puffer Cigars! Check it out! Cigars and Spirits Magazine! Thank you!
]]>Tobacco Business Magazine did a great article on Lord Puffer Owner Angela Yue! Please check it out!!
https://tobaccobusiness.com/angela-yue-lord-puffer-tobacconist-interview/
]]>Tobacco Business Magazine did a great story, check it out!:
https://tobaccobusiness.com/fuente-fever-2019-lord-puffer/
Don't forget, Lord Puffer Tobacconist has everything you need while you're stuck at home, check us out online: www.lordpuffercigars.com or call the store 858-800-2004. We have the largest selection of Arturo Fuente Cigars on the West Coast.
]]>1887-Arturo Fuente Born in Cuba.
1906-Arturo Fuente moved to Key West, Florida.
1910-Arturo Fuente 22 years old, Marries Doña Hilda and moves to West Tampa.
1912-Arturo Fuente founded A. Fuente & Company on 813 Francis Street, West Tampa making handmade cigars with Cuban Tobacco.
1922-A. Fuente & Company reaches 500 employees.
1924-Fire burned the factory down while Arturo was in Cuba buying tobacco. He divorces Doña Hilda and spent the next 22 years working as a general manager.
1930-Arturo Fuente marries Cristina Trujillo and moved to 14th Street and 20th Avenue, Ybor City, Florida.
1931-Arturo Oscar Fuente is born.
1935-Carlos Arturo Fuente is born.
1947-At age 12, Carlos Arturo Fuente contracted Polio and recovered.
1940-Arturo Fuente making cigars in the back of the family house. Arturo Oscar and Carlos Arturo roll 50 cigars a day after school.
1947-At age 12, Carlos Arturo Fuente contracted Polio and recovered.
1950-During the late 40's and early 50's Carlos Arturo Fuente takes job working as a baker to help make ends meet while moonlighting at A. Fuente making cigars.
1953- Carlos Arturo Fuente marries Anna Lopez. Anna Lopez was a roller at Cuesta Rey Factory. Carlos Arturo Fuente was selling A. Fuente Cigars.
1954-Carlito Fuente is born. (Cynthia and Richard Fuente Born.. not sure on dates)
1956- Arturo Fuente retires and Carlos Arturo Fuente buys $1.00 share from his brother Arturo Oscar Fuente and becomes the sole owner of A. Fuente & Company owning $1,161 in assets and zero debt.
1960-Carlos Arturo Fuente purchases 2 Story Building in Ybor City and sets up Miami and New York to sell Fuente Cigars.
1962-Shortly after Cuban Revolution Carlos Arturo Fuente, buys 3 years worth of cuban tobacco and later that year the Cuban Embargo began.
1965-Carlos Arturo Fuente Purchases The Charles the Great Building on 22nd Street in Ybor City. It was built in 1895.
1966-Flor De Orlando cigars was released by A. Fuente and Company. This was the first cigar without cuban tobacco.
1970's- early in the decade Carlos Arturo Fuente purchased a factory in Nicaragua. after only three years the factory employed 300 people and produced 18,000 cigars per day.
1973-Arturo Fuente passes away on February 11, 1973. He was 85.
1975-Flor Fina 8-5-8 was created in memory of Arturo Fuente.
1978-Sandinistas Liberation Front Rebellion, Carlos Arturo Fled for his life to Honduras factory. Nicarguan factory burned to the ground.
1979-Honduras Factory burns down. Carlos Arturo Fuente still producing cigars in Ybor City, Florida.
1980-January 3, 1980 Carlos Fuente Sr. met with Oliva Family to discuss opening a factory in the Dominican Republic.
1980-September 4th, Carlos and Carlito and families opened Fuente LTD in Santiago, Dominican Republic. 12,000 square foot Factory.
1981-Fuente releases Hemingway Series.
1984-Cigar Connoisseur Magazine features the Hemingway.
1985- Ashton brand established by Robert Levin and Fuente manufactures the cigars.
1986-Fuente Family joins the Newman Family to create FANCO to distribute cigars out of the Ybor City Location on 22nd Street.
1989-Hurricane George destroys 17 of 19 Tobacco Barns in the Dominican Republic.
1992-Carilto Fuente grows first dominican wrapper called "Project X from Planet 9"
1992-September: Cigar Aficionado is first published and ushered in the Cigar Boom.
1994-All Arturo Fuente operations closed at the Charles the Great Facility. Arturo Oscar Fuente retires from the company and opens Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company in the same building.
1995-November0 Opus X hits the cigar market.
1996-Mondovi Opus One sues Fuente Family for trade infringement.
1997-40 million cigars were produced.
1999-Fuente Family wins trade infringement suit with Mondovi Opus One.
2004-Andy Garcia films "Lost City" in Dominican Republic. Garcia needs tobacco fields for his film but no plants were growing. Carlito plants 15 acres for the film and the Special Crop is named the Opus X Lost City Edition.
2011-August 25 Fire in Villa Gonzalez burned down 2 tobacco warehouses at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. (the manufacturer of Opus X and Arturo Fuente Cigars)
2012- Cigar Aficionado puts Carlos and Carlito Fuente on the cover. The first time a cigar manufacturer was featured on the cover.
2012-Fuente Companies Celebrate 100 year Anniversary.
2012- Gran AniverXario Destino el Siglo released.
2012 & 2014: Fuente partners with Hublot to create several watches dedicated to their cigars.
2016-Commemorating 25 years of the Fuente and Newman Partnership in Tampa, the Mayor named part of 2nd Avenue in Ybor City, Carlos Fuente's Way.
2016-August 5-Carlos Arturo Fuente (Senior) passes away at 81 years old.
2018-January 17-Arturo Fuente Box Factory breaks ground.
2018-January 22-Fuente & Newman Cigars renamed Arturo Fuente Cigar Company.
2018-January 26-Carlito Fuente annonces Nicaragua Factory to be built in Esteli called "Gran Fabrica de Tabacos La Bella y Le Bestia." Factory to be Designed by Manny Iriarte and Felix Mesa to oversee operations in Nicaragua. Carlito announces plans for the Cigar Family Charitable Foundation to open in Nicaragua.
information for this timeline were gathered from these sites:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arturo_Fuente
]]>A superb moment for friends and fans you won’t want to miss!
Broadcasted live weekdays at 11 AM Eastern Time (GMT -4), Brussels 5PM, Hong Kong 11PM on:
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/312272736
Make sure to pre-download the Zoom application.
You can also watch the show on our YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCl_-Lve_QP1ziWhIv-bPfQA
Don’t forget to subscribe.
Arturo Fuente announced that Jose Blanco, a long-time fixture in the cigar industry, has joined the company as its new Director of Sales, Eastern Hemisphere. In this role, Jose will work closely with and provide support to Arturo Fuente International as it builds and grows the Arturo Fuente brand throughout the world.
“With close to 50 years of experience in sales and a wealth of knowledge in tobacco and cigars, we are very excited to have Jose join the team,” said Carlos P. Fuente, Chairman of Arturo Fuente. “I have known Jose for many decades, and find him to be a man of quality, integrity, and passion – all the things we search for when evaluating talent. I’m confident his work in this market will be very beneficial to the continued international growth of the Arturo Fuente brand.”
https://www.cigarjournal.com/jose-blanco-joins-arturo-fuente/
]]>I realized that I didn't know very much about the history of the cigar and decided to do some digging. This blog is the result of all that digging.
Robert Levin is the owner of Ashton Cigars and his father bought the now famous Holt's Cigars in Philadelphia, PA way back in 1957. Robert started working the business in the early 70's and by the 80's had his first cigar brand. He wanted to make something with a Connecticut wrapper and more flavor than what was currently on the market. That's when he came up with the name Ashton. Named after a friends import and export of Ashton pipes, Robert thought it was a good name, and Ashton was created.
The early Ashton cigar of the early 80's wasn't what Robert was dreaming of. In 1987 or 88, according to Levin, he went the Dominican Republic to long time friends, The Fuente's to make the Ashton Cabinet and then the Ashton Maduro. Then the cigar boom of the early 90's hit and Ashton was on the map and doing really well.
Now here's where the interview got interesting and why I was reminded of the ESG. Savona asks Levin about the Ashton VSG (Virgin Sun Grown). Here is the exact line...Levin says "I wanted a line extension to Ashton. We were going to come out with Ashton Crown, which was going to have Chateau de la Fuente wrapper. I had packaging, I had bands, I had everything. But after Fuente Fuente OpusX [which used the same wrapper] hit, the demand was so tremendous, Carlos couldn't make any Ashton Crowns."
Ashton Crowns? Chateau de la Fuente Wrapper? He made the VSG instead of the Crown. But forward to 2005.. and BAM.. out comes the Estate Sun Grown. As per the Ashton website "Irreplaceable reserves of the Fuente family’s oldest tobaccos exclusively comprise Ashton Estate Sun Grown. An all-Dominican recipe of ultra-mature tobaccos is finished in a rare and glistening Dominican wrapper leaf, harvested solely to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Ashton Cigars." Sounds like Levin finally got his "Crown" in the ESG. Special wrapper made for his 20th anniversary cigar, the sun grown, cuban seed, grown at Chateau de la Fuente??
That's totally a crown.. right? Levin had to be thinking of his original idea when he made the band and the cigar. I don't have first hand knowledge of this, but it seems fair to say after looking at the band close up.
This mellow starting cigar is full of surprises including the slow pick up of power and strength as it is smoked. That is how the ESG got it's nickname, "The Velvet Hammer." It's sneaky. It's really good. And it comes out in different sizes depending on the availability of tobacco. There are 5 sizes, the 20-24 Year Salute. 90+ ratings from 2006-2018 and 2 top 10 finishes in 2006 & 2014. This is a truly special cigar. Commemorate your next big occasion with this 20th anniversary Ashton Cigar!
The Estate Sun Grown by Ashton can be found at Lord Puffer Cigars just outside of San Diego, California. A full line up of Fuente made Ashton Cigars is on the shelves, including this gem. Check us out on our webpage: www.lordpuffercigars.com or stop by the store and say hi.
JJ Williams
Lord Puffer Cigar Blog
full interview with CA:
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/an-interview-with-ashtons-robert-levin-6123
]]>
https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/10-things-to-know-about-fuente-fuente-opusx?fbclid=IwAR1h_N7EjpmKdetoRhEHmx8nYXTvCvfBhACBJ711aQC6hRg8bninINsBfvc
Lord Puffer Tobacconist just outside of San Diego, California has one of the largest collections of Fuente Cigars on the West Coast! Please visit the store and the website soon!: www.lordpuffercigars.com
]]>Daniel Marshall with Carlito Fuente Jr. in the DR. A great look into the Fuente world!
]]>2010 Big Smoke, Las Vegas. 8 guys 1 wife, 3 cars, Jay-Z in the CD player, hitting up the Barstow In 'n' Out Burger halfway and seeing who was gonna hit the first scratch off was happening. Our yearly trip to the Cigar Heaven always started at Casa Fuente at The Forum Shops to catch up with and get some hard to find smokes from our friend, the General Manager Mikey Goldchains, sip lots of Mojitos from the beautiful waitresses, all while sitting and people watching as the escalator brought some serious sights to see. Mike Tyson and Pete Rose were always signing autographs across the way. Opus X, some Casa Fuentes, Sharks, and other rarities came to the table after my buddy would somehow get his hands on them after disappearing for 10 minutes or so into the Opus Humidor.
That year I was hoping for some big wins to help my rather meager wallet. I didn't have alot of extra cash to spend on crazy expensive cigars, but still wanted to smoke something that was special and good. My friend looks at me and says, "do you see what I see?" I was like, "um yeah.. lots of good cigars I can't afford." And thats when he said those three numbers... 8-5-8. I was like, "really?" See, I had smoked the maduro and the natural many times and I liked the cigar, I thought it was good, but for Big Smoke? C'mon bro! After a smack upside my head, he said.. "look bro (insert Armenian accent, more like.. brrro.) it's the 8-5-8 Sun Grown, it's da' bes. You HAVE to try this." That day started my love affair with this hard to find, incredible cigar. Thank you Tony.
Since then I have always wondered what the 8-5-8 meant. I mean the cigar isn't a 8 x 58, yes the numbers add up to 21 but what does that even mean, or maybe it's GPS coordinates for the special farm in the Dominican?? Yeah, no.
Carlos Fuente Sr. ( God rest his soul) explains the naming of this cigar. "My father showed me how to blend the tobaccos into a shape which later became known as the Flor Fina 8-5-8 ®. And when my father passed away at the age of 85, as a way of honoring him and as a means of expressing our eternal love for him, we called it 8-5-8 so that the number would be legible from both directions. It became very well accepted almost immediately. Since he was instrumental in originating this cigar, I am sure he would be delighted to know that the 8-5-8 is still our largest selling shape.”
Boom! There it is. After all these years it's just another thoughtful message about family from the first family of cigars. Just another thoughtful message doesn't mean what you think it means, it means what it says.. this is again, another tribute, remembering, honor, love song, thoughtfully written about and to the Fuente family history. Be aware, there are three versions of this cigar...2002, 2009, 2018 releases. 2002, super rare to to find (87 boxes of 50 cigars. 2009, it's possible to find some, it's the one I had back in 2010, and 2018. The bands change color but the cedar wrapped red ribbon band at the bottom doesn't.
Finding that stick in Brick and Mortar Shops is always special to me. Brings back many memories. In my opinion, there is not another cigar in that price point I would ever choose over that cigar. It is simply, Da' Bes.
Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Sun Grown cigars, as well at the Natural, Maduro and Candela can be found at Lord Puffer Tobacconist just outside of San Diego, CA. With the largest selection of Fuente products on the West Coast it is the go to spot for all things Fuente. Visit the website: www.lordpuffercigars.com
]]>In 2011 the Fuente's experienced their 9th fire. This fired burned aging tobacco with history dating back to the 1960's and plans for celebrating the 100th anniversary with some of this tobacco in the special blend. No one was hurt. Tobacco was lost and some of the buildings experienced fire damage. Some said they saw billows of thick grey smoke coming from the famous barns. Just imagine, 50+ year old tobacco, cared for, aged and ready for a masterpiece 100th anniversary cigar, gone. I probably would have lost my sh$t!
Carlos Fuente, Jr. did not. He acknowledged the smoke rising upwards to the heavens and asked the Angels to watch over the next phase of this disaster. It's the kind of story that seems to good to be true. Seems to hard to be that positive, unless you know the spirit of the Fuentes. 9 Fires? Movement back and forth across countries to make cigars over the 100 year period. This determination and positive attitude is what gave purpose and meaning behind the creation of the Angel's Share Opus X.
A New Opus X.
1995 created one of the most iconic, if not the #1 most sought after cigar in modern history, the Opus X. It was an expensive, beautiful, strong, hard to find, Dominican Puro grown in fields that never produced such incredible sun grown wrapper. Don Carlos Fuente Sr., said... "I thought my son was crazy" when referring to the creation of such a cigar. But here we are, still searching and savoring each stick with mouth watering don't let it end passion.
2012 was supposed to be different. The 100th anniversary cigar was meant for the 50+ year old tobacco burnt up in the fire. So what was the new plan.
17 years after the original Opus X was released, Carlos Fuente Jr. decided it was time for a new Opus X to hit the shelves. This time it would be middle priming wrapper leaf and an offering to cigar enthusiasts with just a little less power and more nuance, creaminess and nutty sweetness... and of course a new name.
The Aging Spirits, birth of the Angel's Share.
Get back to the billows of smoke rising up from the burning tobacco Carlos Fuente Jr. watched head towards the Angels. It reminded him of something. Long aged spirits ( bourbon, wine, grappa, etc..) experience a loss while aging in barrels. See, when the aging period was complete, the distillers, wine makers of old were faced with a mystery. Why did a cask full of spirit lose half its total volume? Lacking scientific knowledge, they believed the loss was the portion that nature gave to the guardian angels, the protectors who watched over people’s lives and work. They called this loss the Angel's Share. Imagine, Angels enjoying the fine smoke and offering protection for the future.
Angel's Share Opus X is the Fuente way of looking at things with the cigar half full! Making the best from the ashes. Angel's Share Opus X is the smoke prayers of the Fuentes towards the future of the family and those who enjoy their creations. After researching this cigar, I know that I will look at my smoke heading upwards in a different way. And maybe, I can look to the Fuente's for a bit of inspiration during these uncertain times. Either way, I'll never look at the Angel's Share Opus X cigar in the same way.
Lord Puffer Tobacconist has the full line up of Angel's share cigars. Call the store, visit the retail location or check out the website: www.lordpuffercigars.com to give this Opus X a try.
JJ Williams
Lord Puffer Cigars
]]>The Gran Reserva Line, especially the Chateau Queen B have characteristics similar to one another. The Chateaus, named after the compound where they are grown, Chateau de la Fuente, mostly share the same insides. A Dominican family blend, long held a secret, but sure to be a Dominican blend through and through. This Queen B is draped in a dark oily Ecuadoran Sun Grown wrapper that adds spice and flavor. Most cigars fancy the darker wrapper with strength, and the Queen B is a step up from the rest of the Chateau Naturals and Maduros. It's sweeter. It's nicer. Just like the Queen.
Searching an searching for information on this cigar led me to very little. Seems like this cigar is a lesser known gem in the Fuente Portfolio. Not many reviews, listed as the same thing over and over and actually listed as a regular Chateau on various online retailers. This cigar IS special. That is exactly why I chose to write about it. It needs to be shared.
First the size. A perfect compliment to the King B as its smaller and a bit more curvy than the King B. The cedar wrapped Belicosa, Belicoso, or short Torpedo (all the different ways people have described it) with the elegant red band around the bottom should catch your eye.
Second the wrapper. It looks dark like an Añejo, but the wrapper is smoother and less toothy.. actualy it's just plain prettier than the Añejo. The signature capping at the pointed end is classic Fuente craftsmanship.
Lastly the taste. Maybe it's the shape that makes this cigar seem more centered and balanced, full of flavor and concentrated Dominican goodness. I can tell its a Chateau, but that Sun Grown wrapper takes it up and over it's less spicy and less strong Chateau counterparts.
At a price point around $7-$11 depending on where you live, you must give this cigar a try. The Queen B does not disappoint.
My only regret is I still don't know why it is called the Queen B? Maybe because every King needs a Queen? Who knows? The next time I see Carlito, I will be sure to ask!
Lord Puffer Cigars will gladly help you choose this little lady the next time you visit! www.lordpuffercigars.com
Sincerely,
JJ Williams
Lord Puffer Tobacconist
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