A name that is recognized all over the world, led by two of the most renowned blenders/manufacturers in the business, Carlos Fuente Sr. and Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. This is the name behind the Hemingway and the Opus, which is probably the most sought after cigar in the US. This is also the family that grew the first Dominican wrapper, for the Fuente Fuente Opus X.
The cigar brand Arturo Fuente has been around since 1912, when the company began in Ybor City in Tampa, FL. After the business was passed down to Carlos Sr from Arturo Fuente, the company began to realize the art of cigar making was a dying art in the US, so they built a factory in Nicaragua, but the factory was soon destroyed by a fire, as was one they built in Honduras.
In 1980, they moved the operation to the Dominican Republic, starting with only 8 rollers! Currently the Fuentes have 2,500 employees working in 4 factories in the DR.
Arturo Fuente is famous for two wrappers – the Cameroon and the Dominican wrappers.
The Cameroon wrapper is featured in the AF line, but also in the Don Carlos and Hemingway lines. The Fuente Fuente Opus X uses the first Dominican grown wrapper.
The Fuente Family is responsible for producing 40 different cigars! Below is the list of the 40 different cigars made by the Fuente Family, under their name and for many others.
- Arturo Fuente- available in 14 sizes it’s mild with either a Cameroon, Maduro or Candela wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Anejo- available in 6 sizes (half en cedro) featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and the same filler used in the Opus X. The Shark size also featured a limited edition Cameroon wrapper. These cigars are released twice a year – on Father’s Day and right before Christmas.
- Arturo Fuente Chateau Series- available in 3 sizes it stronger than the regular line, featuring either a Ecuadorian or Maduro wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos – available in 8 sizes it is strong yet refined featuring an aged Cameroon wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Edicion de Anniversario- the special cigar was made to mark the 30th Anniversary or the Don Carlos line. It’s available in 3 sizes and features a Dominican wrapper. Medium-Full body and strength.
- Arturo Fuente Fuente Sun Grown Series – available in 3 sizes, it’s spicy with an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper. The King B size features a Ecuadorian Rosado wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Hemingway- available in 6 standard sizes, this brand single-handily brought back the perfecto shape. It also is available in a limited Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper in 5 sizes and a one size witha barber pole wrapper (Connecticut Shade & Broadleaf). This brand also features a Cameroon wrapper but is milder than the Don Carlos.
- Arturo Fuente Reserva Superior- offered predominantly over seas, where it was made for the European market, this cigar is similar to the Don Carlos but a little milder. It also features a Cameroon wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Rosado Sun Grown – three beefy sizes available intermittently with a Rosado wrapper.
- Arturo Fuente Seleccion d’Oro- available in 3 sizes its very mild and smooth, utilizing a Connecticut Shade wrapper.
Fuente Family Cigars- made by the Fuentes but not under the Arturo Fuente brand.
- Bauza – Featuring Ecuadorian wrappers, available in 8 sizes.
- Casa Fuente- available only in Las Vegas, this cigar comes in 4 sizes and features an exquisite Cameroon wrapper and a “tweaked” Opus X blend. My favorite Fuente cigar. Medium-Full in body and strength.
- Fuente Fuente Opus X
- Fuente Fuente Opus X- available in 13 sizes and a ton of Limited Release sizes, debuting in 1992 it features the first Dominican wrapper, a Dominican Rosado. Full in body and strength.
- Fuente Fuente Opus X Forbidden X- available at the Casa Fuente store in Las Vegas, this cigar comes in 7 sizes and features the same wrapper and blend as the Opus X line.
- Fuente Fuente Opus X The Lost City
- Montesino- referred to as the Fuente family’s boutique brand, the cigar is available in 7 sizes in either a Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Mild to medium in strength and body.
- Rigoletto- this bundled cigar is available in two sizes with either a Connecticut Shade or Broadleaf wrapper. Mild-medium in strength and body.
JC Newman cigars- in the 80′s the Newman and Fuente families came together to form the Cigar Family. The two together combine for over 200 years of cigar making experience!
- Alcazar – This all-maduro line was introduced in ’98 by JC Newman. Available in 5 sizes with a Nicaraguan Maduro wrapper.
- Brick House – a new line in 4 sizes with a Nicaraguan Havana Subido wrapper. Made in Nicaragua!
- Cuesta-Rey
- Cuesta-Rey Cabinet Selection - no longer made, but it came in 6 sizes and featureda Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. It was mild in body and strength.
- Cuesta-Rey Centennario- available in 9 sizes it either features a Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Mild to Medium in strength and body.
- Cuesta-Rey Centennial- this line became the Centennario and came with either a Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. It was mild-medium in body and strength.
- Cuesta-Rey Centro Fino Sun Grown – available in 5 sizes (8 historically) and with a Sumatran-seed Sun Grown wrapper by the Olivas. Medium in body and strength.
- Cuesta-Rey Stanford’s Cameroon Reserve – available in two sizes to commemorate Stanford Newman’s 40th Anniversary of Cameroon cigars, this cigar features a limited Cameroon wrapper.
- Diamond Crown
- Diamond Crown- this line is famous for its price and ring gauge, and comes in 10 sizes. It features either a “Connecticut Fermented Wrapper (CFW) or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. It’s mild in strength and body.
- Diamond Crown Cameroon Select – a one size a year LE to the DC line with a Cameroon wrapper.
- Diamond Crown Grid Iron Greats – a one size limited Edition with a Cameroon wrapper.
- Diamond Crown Maximus- available in 5 sizes, this is the powerhouse version of the Diamond Crown line. It features an Ecuadorian El Bajo Sun Grown wrapper. It is medium-full in strength and body.
- El Baton – a Nicaraguan value-priced puro available in 3 sizes.
- La Unica- in 1986, the Newman family commissioned the Fuentes to make the La Unica brand.
- La Unica - This used to be a bundle cigar, but was recently reblended as a premium cigar. It is available in 6 sizes and features either a Connecticut Shade or Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.
- La Unica Cameroon Series- no longer available but came in 4 sizes with a Cameroon wrapper. Medium in body and strength.
- Quorum- another Fuente bundled cigar made in Nicaragua for JC Newman available in 4 sizes with a Nicaraguan wrapper. Mild to Medium strength and body.
Ashton Cigars- the Levin family, owners of Holt’s cigar shop, commissioned the Fuente family to make cigars for a new premium brand. The VSG line but them on the map.
- Ashton Classic- comes in 16 sizes, including the new Panetela size. Features 3-4 year-old Dominican tobacco surrounded by a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Mild in body and strength.
- Ashton Aged Maduro- comes in 8 sizes and features an aged Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Medium bodied in strength and body.
- Ashton Cabinet Selection – comes in 10 sizes and features filler aged 4-5 years and a Connecticut Shade wrapper aged one year longer than the Classic Series. Mild in strength and Mild-Medium in body.
- Ashton Estate Sun Grown- the ESG will come in 5 sizes, one released every year to celebrate 20-25 years of cigar production. The cigar features a Dominican wrapper made exclusively on the Chateau Fuente farm. Medium-Full in strength and body.
- Ashton Heritage Puro Sol - available in 5 sizes, this cigar features a African Cameroon wrapper. It’s Medium in body and Mild-Medium in strength.
- Ashton Virgin Sun Grown- also comes in 10 sizes and features an Ecuadorian Sun Grown wrapper grown by the Olivas exclusively for this cigar. Medium in strength Medium-Full in body.
- Ashton VSG Estate Reserve- a limited edition cigar in 9 sizes and featuring an Opus X Rosado wrapper. No longer available.
Holt’s Cigars – since 1957, the Levin family has been selling cigars. They teamed up with the Fuentes to make two brands: Holt’s and Ashton.
- Holt’s Classic Series- available in 6 sizes and features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. Mild in body, medium in strength.
- Holt’s Dominican Bundles- an inexpensive bundle cigar available in 7 sizes featuring a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Mild in body, medium in strength.
- Holt’s Special Maduros- available in 7 sizes featuring a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper. Medium in body and strength.
Prometheus - commissioned by Prometheus, a high end lighter manufacturer these cigars are very hard to find.
- God of Fire- available in 5 sizes this cigar features an Ecuadorian (for the Carlito blend) or Cameroon wrapper (for the Don Carlos blend).
Savinelli - is a Italian lighter and cigar accessory company, the US outfit, located in Morrisville, NC, sells several different lines of cigars, the ELR is made by Fuente.
- Extremely Limited Reserve (ELR)- the ELR is available in 7 sizes with either a Connecticut Shade or Broadleaf wrapper. Mild in strength and body.
Sosa- Don Juan Sosa was a small tobacco grower in the fertile Taquasco region of Cuba at the turn of the century. The Sosa Family commissioned the Fuentes to make the cigars below.
- Sosa- available in 5 sizes with either an Ecuadorian Natural or Maduro wrapper. Medium body and strength.
- Sosa Family Selection – available in 7 sizes with a Connecticut Shade wrapper. Mild in strength and body.
- Sosa Super Selection- available in 5 sizes with a 5-year old Mexican Maduro wrapper. Mild-Medium body and strength.
- Macabi- available in 8 sizes with a 5-year old Mexican Maduro wrapper. Mild body and strength.
