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The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve is a 5 x 50 Cameroon-wrapped robusto made from the blend Carlos Fuente Sr. smoked himself, released publicly in 2015 for his 80th birthday. Cigar Insider rated it 91 points in 2017, and we sell it as singles.
100 in stock
Description
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve is a 5 x 50 Cameroon-wrapped robusto with Dominican binder and filler, made at Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia. It is the blend Carlos Fuente Sr. kept for his own smoking until 2015, when Fuente shared it to celebrate his 80th birthday.
What It Tastes Like
Cigar Insider, Cigar Aficionado’s newsletter, scored it 91 on May 2, 2017, rating it medium. Tasters got cinnamon and gingerbread spice, then nougat and a hint of tea on the finish. Cigar Coop gave it 93 in January 2016, rating it medium-full, and tasted lemon and lemongrass that gave way to cream, with black pepper throughout and earth joining late.
Who It’s For
- The curious who want to taste Fuente Sr.’s private recipe.
- Robusto fans after a 50-ring Don Carlos.
- Seasoned smokers, whom Cigar Coop recommended it for.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- 91 from Cigar Insider and 93 from Cigar Coop
- Straight burn and open draw in Cigar Coop’s test
Cons
- halfwheel scored it 85, citing an uneven burn and late bitterness
- In halfwheel’s review, a heavily glued band tore the wrapper, so remove it gently
About the Personal Reserve
Fuente Sr.’s private blend was a tweaked Don Carlos recipe that, halfwheel says, shifted with his preferences over time. Fuente’s website still lists the Personal Reserve Robusto in its Don Carlos lineup.
Pairing
Given the cinnamon and nougat reviewers noted, try it with a bourbon or coffee, two of the medium-strength picks in our cigar pairing guide.
Compare Similar Cigars
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark: its 2015 birthday-tribute sibling, a partly pressed 52-ring belicoso.
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos 90 Años: a 5 3/4 x 47 tribute with corojo-seed leaf over Cameroon, per halfwheel.
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 3: a slimmer corona, which Fuente sizes 5 1/2 x 44.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve FAQ
How big is the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve?
Sources differ slightly. Fuente, Cigar Aficionado and Cigar Coop give 5 x 50, while halfwheel listed 5 1/4 x 50 at its 2015 launch.
How strong is the Don Carlos Personal Reserve?
Reviewers split between medium (Cigar Aficionado, 2017) and medium-full (Cigar Coop, 2016). No review we found called it full.
How is the Personal Reserve different from the regular Don Carlos Robusto?
Same 5 x 50 size and Cameroon wrapper, per Fuente. Cigar Aficionado calls the Personal Reserve a lightly tweaked Don Carlos blend made to Fuente Sr.’s taste; the exact changes are undisclosed.
When was the Personal Reserve first released?
It went on sale in November 2015, according to halfwheel, timed to Carlos Fuente Sr.’s 80th birthday.
Find Fuente Sr.’s private robusto alongside the family’s other cigars in our Arturo Fuente collection.
Additional information
| Packaging Type | Single |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Wrapper | Cameroon |
| Binder | Dominican Republic |
| Filler | Dominican Republic |
| Length | 5" |
| Gauge | 50 |
