Arturo Fuente, a brand known for its stellar quality cigars, is also known for its premium line cigars in its century-old history.
For budget-friendly cigars below $5, there is an option to downgrade in quality to trade-off the cost. There are various ways to make up for the lack of quality, if it is justifiable.
That does not seem to be the case for Arturo Fuente.
With the traditional creaminess of its cigars and richness of flavor profiles, a quality cigar below $ 5 is possible and worth looking at. This review of Arturo Fuente Especiales Cazadores will ascertain this quality at a lower price point.
For enthusiasts of budget cigars and for those who wish excellent quality for affordable cigars, this Arturo Fuente Especiales Cazadores is for you to read. Let’s review the cigar.
| Wrapper Origin: Ecuador | Shape: Toro |
| Length: 6 | Ring: 50 |
| Wrapper: Habano | List Price: $114 (Box of 30) |
| Origin: Dominican Republic | Strength: Medium |
Appearance of Arturo Fuente Especiales
The box of the cigar is plain in design and appearance. There are no extra lines that stand out in the box’s theme.
Inside, the golden logo and bronze-colored name, ‘Arturo Fuente’ is typical. The cigars are neatly arranged in light brown. The band does not stand out either. With red and some gold lines, it works well with the light sheen of the cigar’s Ecuadorian Habano wrapper.
There are visible veins, and the cigar feels a little lumpy. Construction can still get better.
Smoking Experience
The first third is clearly woody and cedary with sweetness and a creamy aroma. The pepper is present in the flavor profile but withdraws quite a bit in the end. Some nuttiness is discernible as well from the wood notes.
The burn is sharp while the ash holds well so far.
In the second third, the pepper has gotten milder. There are hints of herbal flavors from a more dominant leather and tobacco flavor. The sweet notes, together with the pepper, also recedes further. Meanwhile, the herbal flavors combine with some coffee notes. The strength of the tobacco is showing in the taste and body as well, as it is getting stronger. The burn, however, starts to get wavy.
In the final third, the flavors are losing their body. There are no discernible coffee notes anymore, while the bitterness of the cigar starts to appear. There are also some chemical flavors from the palette, and the herbal notes are no longer pleasant.
Overall
The burn and draw of the cigar throughout were pleasant. The aroma, creamy and light, made the smoking session a relaxing one. The construction didn’t fail; the ash is dark grey and held up reliably well. However, the body of this Arturo Fuente Especiales Cazadores was lacking. The occasional coffee and cocoa notes were sporadic, while the woody notes and cedar were consistent. This made it creamy and smooth because the pepper was weak, but some complexity in the flavor was not there.
With the price, the flavor and body of the Arturo Fuente Especiales Cazadores are just right. It’s not a bad cigar, but the middle of the road. The creamy profile of the Arturo Fuente is there, too. Good to pair with a mild drink. I give it an 80.
