Pre-light Experience

The wrapper on the Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro is medium brown with some darker marbling and there are some decently raised veins present. The seams are raised a fair amount, the tapered head isn’t finished all that well and the foot is covered with excess wrapper folded over. The band is red, bronze and white and denotes the company and Special Selection. The aroma from the wrapper and covered foot is dark earth along with some wood. The pre-light draw brings raisin bread and cedar along with a mild spiciness on my lips.

Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro

First Third

The cigar begins with lightly smoky, toasted oak and earth. At a half inch in, a light construction paper joins the profile. The retrohale is dry earth and some construction paper. At an inch and a quarter, the construction paper picks up a bit. At an inch and a half in, some mustiness joins the profile. As the third comes to a close, the lightly smoky, toasted oak is a bit ahead of the earth, with construction paper just behind the middle of the profile and some mustiness in the background. The strength was right at medium.

Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro

Second Third

As the second third begins, the earth increases to become even with the toasted oak up front. At a half inch in, a mild black pepper becomes present. The retrohale is now dry earth along with light amounts of construction paper and black pepper. At an inch and a half in, the black pepper increases a bit. As the third comes to a close, the lightly smoky, toasted oak and earth are even up front, with construction paper and black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and some mustiness in the background. The strength remained at medium.

Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro

Final Third

As the final third begins, the earth takes a slight lead in the profile. The retrohale is now earth with some slightly zingy black pepper and light amounts of construction paper and toasted oak. At an inch in, the earth lengthens its lead a bit. As the cigar wraps up, the earth has a decent lead over the lightly smoky, toasted oak, with construction paper and black pepper just behind the middle of the profile and some mustiness in the background. The strength bumped up to slightly above medium.

Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro

Burn

The burn was a bit wavy at times, but never needed any intervention. The ash held on in inch and a quarter increments.

Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar began with lightly smoky, toasted oak and earth. A light construction paper note joined in fairly quickly and then picked up a bit later. Then, some light mustiness joined in. The second third saw the earth to become even with the toasted oak up front. Then, some black pepper joined in and increased a bit later. The final third saw the earth take a slight lead and that increased later in the profile. The Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro had an average flavor profile throughout, focused around slightly smoky, toasted oak and earth. This maduro version was definitely a step above the Natural as it maintained the average flavor profile throughout and never succumbed to the woes that most budget cigars suffer from, which is bitterness or heavy toast. While this isn’t a cigar I’d really come back to, for those that smoke on a budget, this is a must try as it definitely punches above its price.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

5.65

Cost/Point

$0.73

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Maduro