Found a really good NC

[TM-US]

I know this is FoH, so please excuse the newbie, but I just wanted to share.

There was a big Fuente event at my local cigar store and they brought some stuff that you can't buy normally. Specifically, the Casa Fuente cigars- these you can only normally buy at their Las Vegas store, nowhere else. I smoked a Corona Gorda at the store- it was a fantastically good cigar!

Speaking with Carlos Fuente and Arturo Fuente Jr., I learned a lot more about their products. The Casa Fuente line has some seriously aged tobaccos- they say the cigar is made with tobacco that is 8-10 yrs. old. I can tell you that just by looking at the wrapper, you can tell this is very different from what you usually see- the tobacco looks old, if that's the right way to describe it.

The taste? Starts off light to medium bodied, very smooth, none of the typically NC harshness that I usually find in most NCs. There is an underlying spiciness to the flavor that I couldn't quite place- not white pepper, not cayenne, more like a cross between cinnamon and cayenne pepper, if that makes sense. It's not an overwhelming flavor, just a consistent undertone to the flavor. Really thick smoke, strong flavor throughout. Draw was on the firm side, even though I screwed up and cut a little more off the cap than I really wanted. Very nice construction, though- held the ash quite well, consistent, smooth burn, never went out, didn't do anything funky.

From about the halfway point onward, the cigar really strengthened in body and power and it became a medium to full-bodied cigar. The flavors intensified if that is the right way to describe it. Sorry I'm not one to find a million different flavors in cigars, so I can't really expound on it other than what I've already written. All said, it was a really wonderful smoke- at $12 per stick, definitely not cheap, but I probably should have bought a box of them. I will enjoy the five that I bought, along with a pair of lanceros from the same line and some other stuff.

This was the first NC that I can now really say that I really enjoyed and can say is on par with a good CC. Problem is, this is a very hard cigar to get and if I don't get them at the event, they're ridiculously, unbelievably expensive. We don't have any cigar tax here, which is great if you like cigars and you have a good local shop, but that doesn't help if you can't buy the right cigars. I plan on putting these cigars in the humidor for at least 6 months so I can see how they develop, if any.

Ironically, the biggest reason I didn't buy boxes of cigars was because I need money to buy Bolivar GMs, among others, that are discontinued and I need to get them while I can.

[Lotusguy]

You can always pick them up in Vegas at the Casa Fuente (not that they are much cheaper there either)

[cigcars]

W-e-e-l-l-l, I guess you got me convinced. I'm gonna have to get and sample one...one. They're $30+ apiece, even more expensive than my favorite non-cuban cigar, the Padron 45th Family Anniversary. And I do like Cameroon tobacco in the blend make-up of some premium NC's. Thanks for the very detailed review, Umbzp!

[PigFish]

... move over H SA!

Thanks for sharing! -Piggy

[anacostiakat]

My favorite is the corona gorda in that line. Unfortunately they are way overpriced.

[randomhero1090]

Assume you are talking about the Fuente event at Holt's? Holt's and Fuente have a working relationship. So it is a great place to get rare Fuentes and some of the limited Fuente releases (Anejo, WOAM, SSM).

I could not make it but a buddy picked me up a couple Double Robustos.

BTW, the Casa Fuente prices at the event were far under the Casa Fuente prices at the actual Casa Fuente in Las Vegas. Robustos were $14 and Double Robustos were $15. I was at the CF LV in May, I believe the Robustos were $20 and DRs $21.

[riazp]

For me Fuente is probably one of my favorite NC brands out there along with padron and illusione. I actually am planning on buying a box of short stories for the winter months. great flavorfull 30 min smoke. i've had the casa fuente lancero and I can quite honestly say it was one of the best cigars I have ever smoked, including the numerous cubans i've had...in my top 10 for sure.

[SCgarman]

I just bought a box of Fuente Chateau Sungrowns. Very nice short robusto cigar at a price of 80 to 90 dollars a box depending on source.

[TM-US]

Assume you are talking about the Fuente event at Holt's? Holt's and Fuente have a working relationship. So it is a great place to get rare Fuentes and some of the limited Fuente releases (Anejo, WOAM, SSM).

I could not make it but a buddy picked me up a couple Double Robustos.

BTW, the Casa Fuente prices at the event were far under the Casa Fuente prices at the actual Casa Fuente in Las Vegas. Robustos were $14 and Double Robustos were $15. I was at the CF LV in May, I believe the Robustos were $20 and DRs $21.

Yes, it was the Fuente event at Holt's. Great B&M, I'm glad I have such a good one right near home. It's also probably due to taxes. There are no cigar taxes in Pennsylvania, so that's probably why Cigars International and Famous Smoke Shop are both headquartered here. The Corona Gorda was $12, I just picked up some Churchills for $17- I was told that they are a fair bit more expensive in Vegas. I won't pay more than that because there are so many great CCs for less money- once you get around $20, I'm thinking I could smoke Siglo IVs all day long.

For example, they make a couple cigars that are stupidly expensive- the BBMF is $50! Big Bad Mother F**ker! That's Behike money, although I shouldn't talk about them because I've never smoked either one.

I feel for you guys in Canada- the prices there are outrageous- I'm bringing up a really nice Casa Fuente to Montreal this weekend for a friend and I'd bet it would be a $90 cigar there.

[TM-US]

For me Fuente is probably one of my favorite NC brands out there along with padron and illusione. I actually am planning on buying a box of short stories for the winter months. great flavorfull 30 min smoke. i've had the casa fuente lancero and I can quite honestly say it was one of the best cigars I have ever smoked, including the numerous cubans i've had...in my top 10 for sure.

Oh man, that's something to look forward to- I picked up a pair of Casa Fuente Lanceros and a pair of Opus X Lanceros along with some CF Churchills, Corona Gordas, a pair of Anejo Sharks and an AF 13.

The thing is, I don't really like the Anejos that I've tried- the Opus X is good and the Casa Fuente is excellent. I'm trying the Anejo Shark because it's a Maduro wrapper and it's a much larger gauge cigar than most of the Anejos- it will smoke differently, I think. Not a big fan of the Short Story or the Best Seller.

[jedipastor]

The Casa Fuente is one of my favorite NCs, particularly the in the lancero vitola (but they're all good). Like it's big brother the Opus X, you're probably going to be VERY happy with how the CF develops with time. These cigars change a LOT (most Fuentes age very well, actually, but especially the CF, Opus, and Anejo). I like them fresh as well, but with more age then gain flavor for the whole length of the cigar, and become much more complex as well. With a lot of age, they taste more like an aged Opus, but with less raw power and less pepper and leather (both still present, though), and more of the fruit and baking spices.

You picked a great one, glad you enjoyed it! (BTW, the Anejo and the Opus get MUCH better with age as well! They are like CCs in that respect. Honestly, I don't even smoke Opus or Anejo until they've had a minimum of a year of rest, usually more).

[BlueClaw]

well.. i smoked the OpusX Belicoso XXX for the first time today.. i was hesitant to buying it for $23 but i did !! over 100% markup from MSRP at this store. i can't seem to find it on-line or places are out of stock that sell it for around $10.. puffed real nice. smooth, pleasent and generated a lot of smoke whcih i like. flavor to me was just ok..

if i can get it on-line somewhere for $10 a stick i would buy it again but i wouldn't pay more than that.. to be honest, after i finished it the thought that entered my mind was 'why did i just spend $23 dollars for this..

anyway, i can always say I smoked one to me buddies..

[cigcars]

Has anybody tried the DeCrossier cigar before? Ordered two from a catalog and the "Golden Blend" belicoso wasn't too bad, a little harsh and smokey, but reasonably okay.

[aes8]

For example, they make a couple cigars that are stupidly expensive- the BBMF is $50!

The maduro BBMF was $150 two weeks ago at Casa Fuente, limit of one.

Is the cigar you wrote about in the OP the Angel Share?

[aes8]

Holt's and Fuente have a working relationship.

I believe Robert Levin, who owns Holts, owns the Ashton line. The Ashton line is rolled by Fuente, hence the working relationship and the reason you will find plenty of Ashtons in the Casa Fuente humidors.

If you ever get a chance try some Cabinet band VSGs with the Spellbounds the best, imo.