Chateau Fuente

Brand: Arturo Fuente

Price Point: $5.85-$7.50

Origin: Dominican Republic

Wrapper: Cameroon

Shape: Robusto

Length: 4.5”

Gauge: 50

Strength: Light to mild

Flavoring: None

Taste: Spicy oak, cedar, floral, bitter fruit or herb

Room Note: Sweet and pleasant

Smoke Time: Quick to medium

I pulled this cigar out on a cold winter day as I bundled up and sat on my deck while my dogs played in the backyard. This cigar comes wrapped in a thin cedar sleeve with a green ribbon and is constructed quite nicely, as is expected from Arturo Fuente. As I cut the cigar and smelled it, it had a honey-sweet scent to it that mixed with the cedar. I was expecting a full-bodied, spicy-sweet, relaxing smoke. Well, I will fully admit, there is much more to this cigar than my first impression made me believe.

This thing has layers. When you smoke one of these, I fully encourage you to give it your undivided attention and nurture it. It may not grab your attention immediately, but it will open up and you will be surprised.

When I first torched this cigar, the sweetness of the scent gave way to an immediate oaky spiciness. The spiciness prevailed through the foot, giving notes of oak and cedar. Once it had established a steady burn, it opened up to a very light sweetness with floral and berry notes. The floral notes are complex and fun to pick apart, but I will admit that I was almost disappointed at the lack of fullness of the flavor.

As I worked my way through the cigar, the flame picked up and really started to provide a full-bodied, full-flavored smoke that was savory, nutty, and slightly sweet in nature. This is the flavor I am used to getting from Arturo Fuente, and this is where the cigar definitely provided.

The last third of the cigar settled down on the sweetness and instead gave a light herbal or fruity bitterness. The profile on this part of the cigar tied me back to the light floral notes, but stood alone as its own flavor. This bitterness was quite unique and I immediately thought that it would pair well with a straightforward, sweet bourbon like Maker’s 46 or Bulleit.

Throughout the smoke, the cigar provided a sweet and pleasant aroma. The full circle of individual flavors and profiles in this cigar make it unique and fulfilling. It still provides the consistent and fortuitous flavor of Arturo Fuente but with something a little extra. This is a great choice as a day smoke but can definitely stand up as a special occasion cigar. Chateau Fuente is a staple of Arturo Fuente, and I can certainly see why.