Overall, the Arturo Fuente Casa Cuba Doble Tres had a fairly average flavor profile, focused around heavily toasted cedar, earth and black pepper. The burn was a big detractor and I have to assume it hindered the flavor profile at some level. I'd be open to coming back to this for a better burning example to see what the flavor profile is really like, but this just wasn't a great experience.
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.
This Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Sangre de Toro Raging Bull was nothing special. A cigar showing good fuller body but with too much dryness and flavors that didn't really pop. It tasted like the vast majority of Mexican San Andres in the market where it's just that dirty, gritty, earthy rawness that just isn't my jam. As such, easy pass for me.
The Arturo Fuente Curly Head Deluxe Natural had an average start and then dropped a level in the second third as the paper gained some bitterness. It remained at that level for the remainder of the cigar. This is a serviceable budget cigar, but the bitterness of the paper was a detriment, which is unfortunate. With the perfect construction, if it could have dodged the bitterness, it would be an attractive cheap smoking experience. Not a cigar I'd see coming back to.
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos 90 Años is a good cigar. It has a flavor profile that is complex throughout, and the cigar shows some nice transitioning from beginning to end. The body and strength increased in the second and final third, and it has a nice burn and draw as well. The size on the blend is great, and I am curious to see what other vitolas there are with the blend. This is a good cigar, and I look forward to discovering the blend and brand.
The Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Pyramid had a nice flavor profile through the first two thirds as the combination of flavors was well balanced. It took a step down in the final third as the toast level became pretty heavy and the earth increased. This is a well done Connecticut shade offering. The creaminess really helps in these profiles to keep dryness and/or bitterness at bay. This is a nice, long standing line that has a good price point. An easy return for me.
I'm sure it will not come to a surprise to most cigar smokers, but the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro Signature is a good cigar. The first and second thirds delivered balanced and complex flavor combinations that kept me interested. I found the last third to be pleasant but lacking compared to the rest of the cigar. No question I'd smoke the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro Signature again.
The Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s Sophisticated Hooker is significantly better than the Short Story offering. The cigar can grow and show complexities and transitioning. There was depth with the cigar, and a nice overall flavor profile from beginning to end. The burn was not perfect, but there were little problems and the draw was great. I loved the salted wood, dark cocoa, coffee, cream and barnyard notes.
The Arturo Fuente Flor Fina 8-5-8 Sun Grown had a nice profile through the first tow thirds with the toasted cedar, baking spice and meatiness with a nice chewy smoke. The final third took a step back as the meatiness departed and some wood staleness and bitterness joined in. It's nice coming back to some of these long standing lines that deliver with a very approachable price point. I'd easily come back to this cigar in the future.
I love the cause that goes with the Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960's Short Story, and I love the packaging, but I am not sold on the cigar. The blend has solid core flavors of citrus, cedar and pepper, but I was hoping for a little more. The wrapper is very dominant on the cigar, and it has a nice profile, but I think it needs to be balanced out some and the way to do that is by providing a larger offering.