The Art of The Arturo Fuente Wrapper
The single most important element of a cigar is its wrapper. The wrapper leaf is not only the most beautiful, it is also the most fragile, the most difficult to cultivate, and is responsible for the majority of the cigar’s flavor. It is safe to say that a cigar manufacturer’s success can be attributed to its ability to produce or obtain superior wrapper tobacco.
It is in this area that Arturo Fuente can be seen as the Michael Jordan of the industry. Each of the company’s cigars, from the 8-5-8 to the Opus X, offers a flavorful and near pristine outer leaf. Let us take a look at some of the wonderful and rare wrappers that the Fuente family uses in its legendary lineup.
Though Arturo Fuente cigars are far from new, the brand burst onto the modern cigar scene in the 1980s with the release of its Hemingway series of medium-bodied Dominicans rolled into an unusual yet pleasing perfecto shape. Fuente later created the Don Carlos line that featured the same tobacco with a longer aging process, which made the cigar even smoother. Both of these fine products bear the ever-sought-after Cameroon wrapper, which is nutty and delicious with a toothy texture. Due to the current political climate of its country of origin, Cameroon wrapper has become increasingly difficult to obtain, but the Fuente family still makes a point to buy as much as possible, using some of it on the natural version of the 8-5-8.
In my personal opinion, a good maduro wrapper has no rivals; rich Connecticut broadleaf with hints of cocoa and a natural sweetness makes my taste buds go nuts. In the world of maduros, Fuente cigars are unequaled. Every maduro-wrapped Fuente cigar, from the 8-5-8 maduro to the Ashton Aged Maduro, features a vintage Connecticut broadleaf that is dark and oily with rich chocolaty flavors. If you’re a fan of maduro, pick up a Fuente as soon as possible.
If you’ve ever tried the Fuente Chateau series, you’re familiar with the rich and spicy Ecuadorian sun-grown wrapper, with which Carlito and Carlos Fuente have created some true gems, including one of the world’s most beloved full-bodied cigars, the legendary Ashton VSG. While the process of creating a good sun-grown wrapper can be difficult, the Fuente family has managed to perfect it (and a Double Chateau in a sun-grown wrapper is one of the best cigars under $10 you will ever smoke).
The final wrapper we will look into is probably the Fuentes’ most famous and most sought after: the rosado grown by Carlito Fuente, one of the first people to successfully utilize wrapper tobacco grown in the Dominican Republic. This wrapper was then used on the family’s most famous cigar to date, the Fuente Fuente Opus X, a full-bodied that is oily, smooth, and, above all, powerful. The Opus X has gone onto become one of the best-known cigars in the world, due in large portion to the famous wrapper that blankets it.
When it comes to choosing a cigar, there are a few factors you should consider. It should fit your preferred flavor and strength profiles as well as your budget, and make sure it has a good-looking wrapper. When choosing a Fuente cigar, you can always know its wrapper is of the finest quality.
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