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The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is a partially pressed belicoso with an African Cameroon wrapper over Dominican binder and filler, named Cigar Aficionado’s 2017 Cigar of the Year with 97 points. It comes from Fuente’s Don Carlos line, and we sell it as singles.
47 in stock
Description
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is a partially pressed belicoso with a 52 ring gauge, an African Cameroon wrapper and Dominican binder and filler from Fuente’s Don Carlos line. Published lengths differ: 5 3/4 inches at launch, 5 1/4 on Fuente’s site today.
What It Tastes Like
Cigar Aficionado named the Eye of the Shark its 2017 Cigar of the Year with 97 points, rating it medium-full. Tasters found baking spice and a citrus edge, then nut and leather, finishing with cedar and a note of cider. Later reviews rated it medium: 95 points in December 2020 (walnut, almond, chocolate, citrus) and 92 points in April 2026 (nougat, creamy citrus, dark rye bread, nutmeg).
Who It’s For
- Award chasers who want to try a Cigar of the Year.
- Smokers who like a shaped cigar but find a full torpedo or perfecto too fussy.
- Don Carlos regulars curious about the line in a pressed belicoso.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Cigar Aficionado’s No. 1 cigar of 2017 (97 points)
- An unusual demi-press shape: squared below, round at the head
Cons
- Shipped in periodic batches, per Cigar Coop, so supply varies
- The 2026 Cigar Aficionado sample burned slightly unevenly
- Published lengths disagree (5 1/4 vs. 5 3/4 inches)
About the Don Carlos Line
Don Carlos honors Carlos Fuente Sr., the family patriarch, and Fuente says the line uses vintage tobaccos aged as long as ten years. According to Cigar Aficionado, the Eye of the Shark blend starts from the original Don Carlos cigar first released in 1976.
Pairing and Storage
Reviewers rate it medium to medium-full, so the medium picks in our cigar pairing guide suit it: bourbon, a balanced Rioja or espresso.
Compare Similar Cigars
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Personal Reserve: the robusto released alongside the Eye of the Shark, listed by Fuente at 5 x 50.
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2: a longer Don Carlos, listed by Fuente at 5 7/8 with a 44/55 ring.
- Fuente Fuente OpusX PerfecXion 77 Shark: a 5 1/2 x 52 Shark from the OpusX line, with a Dominican-grown wrapper.
Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark FAQ
What size is the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark?
Sources differ. It launched at 5 3/4 x 52, but Fuente’s site and Cigar Aficionado’s 2026 rating give 5 1/4 x 52.
Why is it called the Eye of the Shark?
Its shape. Cigar Aficionado notes that the pressed lower half and rounded belicoso head look like a shark’s body when the cigar lies on its side.
How strong is the Eye of the Shark?
Cigar Aficionado called it medium-full in 2017 and medium in 2020 and 2026; Cigar Coop found it built from medium to medium-full.
Is the Eye of the Shark part of the Don Carlos Personal Reserve?
Fuente’s website lists it as “Personal Reserve – Eye of The Shark,” while Cigar Aficionado and halfwheel covered it and the Personal Reserve Robusto as two separate tribute cigars.
Looking for another cigar from the Fuente family’s factory in the Dominican Republic? Browse our full Arturo Fuente selection.
Additional information
| Packaging Type | Single |
|---|---|
| Strength | Medium-Full |
| Origin | |
| Wrapper | African Cameroon |
| Binder | Dominican Republic |
| Filler | Dominican Republic |
| Length | 5 3/4" |
| Gauge | 52 |
