09/11/2026
It's Fuente Friday!!!
Fire and Smoke Cigar Parlor Cigar of the day, Arturo Fuente Don Carlos!
Let me tell you, I had the pleasure to meet Carlos Carlito Fuente Jr. and Cybtha Fuente At PCA IN 2019. They are truly salt of the earth folks. In May, I joined Cynthia Fuente along with many other amazing women in the cigar business at the Fuente Headquarters in Tampa and the JC Newman Factory where we planned how we, as women, can continue to make positive impacts for women in every aspect of the cigar business. Even while caring for her sick brother she found the time to be the most gracious host. Then shortly after returning home Carlos came to my Cigar Parlor and we sat and talked about everything from his family, amazing ci**rs, and love of music. The whole family is a Class Act and their century old cigar business makes arguably some of best ci**rs in the business.
Arturo Fuente has been making ci**rs for over a century, with the company founded by Arturo Fuente in 1912 in West Tampa, Florida. While a factory fire in 1924 halted production for 22 years, the Fuente family has continued the tradition, and the brand remains family-run to this day, operating in the Dominican Republic.
A Brief History:
1912: Arturo Fuente established A. Fuente & Company in West Tampa, Florida, beginning the family's legacy in cigar making.
1924: The original factory burned down.
1946: After a 22-year hiatus, production resumed, with the Fuente family continuing the craft.
1950s: Carlos Fuente, Arturo's son, expanded the business significantly.
Present Day: The family remains involved in the business, maintaining the legacy of quality and tradition through four generations.
About the Don Carlos Ci**rs:
Rolled in flawless, genuine African Cameroon wrappers, unlike Fuente's mainline series with gold, red and green colored bands, Fuente Don Carlos ci**rs features the gold, red and black bands. I mention this only because there is often confusion among some cigar smokers about which band colors represent the different Fuente selections. The black bands generally represent the more up-market blends in the Fuente stable.
The cap comes off clean with a cold draw that's di