This is a write up that has been a long time coming. As many of you know I was first introduced to this cigar when I was in Tampa last month. This is the cigar that we were smoking with Arturo Funete Jr. during out interview at the Tampa Sweethearts Cigar Company in Ybor city (http://www.tampasweetheart.com).

Tasts as good as it looks

When Arturo Fuente Jr. gives you a cigar, you appreciate it. When he tells you that it is one of his favorites, you look forward to it. When you finally have the time to sit down and enjoy it, you know why. Today I am writing about the Fuente Don Carlos Robusto.

We are talking about a medium strength cigar wrapped in a Cameroon leaf, with 100% Dominican tobacco, and unlike their national team at the Baseball Classic this did not let me down. I had this one with nothing to drink; I really wanted to enjoy what it had to offer. So sitting in Albert’s basement, talking shop and working on the site last night, I gave this a light. It burned very evenly, and held a strong ash (it was over 2 inches long before it broke off). Smooth oily leaf, with a good slow burn. Great bonus with this cigar, no strong aftertaste! If you are looking for something nice, and feel like getting in the mid-range price point, give it a try.

Something for the Joe’s to talk about: When someone asks you about it, just say “I have it on good authority; this is one of the best that Fuente has to offer!”
Size: Robusto, 5 inches with Ring gauge of 50.
Time needed: Give yourself 45 minutes to a hour to enjoy this one..
Shelf Rating: 4/5 points for the Average Joe (it was great, upper end for a every day smoke, so a little higher priced for the average Joe)
Price: $8 to $12 a Cigar / $212.50 to $250 a box
Should you buy: Yes, I mean, come on did you not hear me say Arturo Fuente Jr. Smokes this one?? He has his pick of Diamond Crown Maximus, Ashton ESG, God of Fire, & Opus X, and he makes this one of his smokes of choice. Trust me on this; you will not be disappointed, great from cut to nub.

Before I start this review I would like take a moment and thank Mr. Arturo Fuente Jr for his hospitality last week at the Charles the Great building down in Ybor City, in the Cigar Capital of America Tampa, Florida. If I can take away anything from my visit it is the fact that there are still businesses in America that are built on a solid foundation of giving the customer a 110% and would never cut corners to achieve success.
When heading out of the Fuente office Arturo reached into his stock and handed me his “Work of Art” sampler pack and smiled at me and said, “This is something to definitely write about”. With that said it is on to my review of the Arturo Fuente Work of Art “Between the Lines” series.

A. Fuente “between the lines” series
I would like to start by saying I waited all week to sit down with this cigar just so I can have a true one on one experince with it. The “Between the lines” series catches your eye with its multi leaf Connecticut Shade and Broadleaf Maduro wrapper. The burn from lighting the tip past the wrapper just gives you a wonderful punch of natural spices that presented the tastes of a chocolate / caramel flavored coffee. I enjoyed smoking this cigar for almost an hour. The wrappers held up the whole time never breaking down at all.

Something for the Joe’s to talk about: Honestly just look at it, it a work of art that smokes as smooth as it looks.

Should you buy: Yes, but this is higher end cigar and should be placed in your humidors lower shelf (mid shelf rating) and should not be used as your daily smoke but as a weekly smoke.
Size: 4