Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2
When I picked up the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos No. 2, I wasn’t just choosing a classic blend—I was choosing a cigar made with care, tradition, and intention. The No. 2 is a 6 ⅝ x 55 torpedo, dressed in a beautifully rustic African Cameroon wrapper over a blend of aged Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, all crafted at the Tabacalera A. Fuente factory in the Dominican Republic. At around $19 per stick, it sits in that thoughtful premium range—not a casual impulse buy, but a deliberate choice for a serious experience.
I specifically selected the torpedo vitola not just for its visual appeal, but for what it offers in performance: focused flavor, enhanced transitions, and enough length to let the tobacco tell a full story. And more than that, rolling a torpedo is a skill in itself—one reserved for the most experienced torcedores in the factory. Cigars like this don’t just showcase the leaf—they showcase the hand behind it.
Pre-Light Impressions
The cigar presents itself with quiet strength. Visually, it’s rustic yet elegant, with an oily sheen on the African Cameroon wrapper and tightly wrapped seams that don’t hide anything. In the hand, it’s heavy and firm—a build that promises excellence.
Sliding off the band felt like drawing a sword from its sheath. The cold draw was stunning—perfect resistance with flavors already present: dried plum, a gentle musty undertone, and a sweetness that felt organic and deep. Even unlit, this cigar had soul.
First Third – The Standard
Upon lighting, the Don Carlos revealed itself as the quintessential cigar—not generic in a negative sense, but archetypal. If someone asked, “What does a cigar taste like?” this would be my answer. It opens with Cameroon’s classic interplay of gentle sweetness and dry spice. Toasted oak, white pepper on the retrohale, and a beautiful natural tobacco core define the opening. Full-flavored, yet never heavy.
The retrohale surprised me with a sharp bite—lively white pepper that made it clear: this cigar has attitude. It’s not coasting on legacy—it’s here to be heard.
Second Third – Character Over Comfort
The sweetness settled into the background, giving way to earth and aged wood. A note of old barnwood came forward—deep, dry, and full of history. This wasn’t about showiness or refined transitions. This was about character. A cigar that stands up straight and speaks plainly.
The retrohale mellowed from pepper to pure baking spice—cinnamon and clove, without sugar or soft edges. The draw remained perfect, and the burn line stayed clean and steady.
Tapping the ash revealed a perfect cone-shaped cherry, a known signature of Fuente construction and a likely sign of Ligero used in the filler. Some might mistake it for fast smoking—but this was no combustion flaw. It was evidence of layered construction, with stronger, slower-burning leaf at the core. This cigar was built for pacing and power, and it showed.
Final Third – A Return to Fire
Just as I relaxed into the cigar’s rhythm, it shifted again. The toasted oak intensified—pushing into a burned wood territory that almost bordered on espresso-like bitterness. Not unpleasant, but firm. Serious. The white pepper returned on the retrohale, brighter now, waking up the palate with a final reminder that this cigar has depth and backbone.
The smoke itself became more concentrated. Not thicker in volume, but more potent, more present. It didn’t need to change flavors anymore—it had said what it came to say.
Final Reflections
This is a cigar I’ll return to—again and again. Not as a weekly companion, but as a respected elder on the shelf. One I’ll happily pay full price for when I want something real. The Don Carlos No. 2 doesn’t seek to charm or flatter—it invites you to listen. It challenges. And like a relative you admire for their wisdom and grit, it leaves a mark.
It may not leave the palate with a feeling of comfort, but it does leave you better for having spent time with it. That’s not a flaw—it’s a virtue. This cigar is strength, story, and soul, layered from the soil up.
The Retrohale Score: B+ (88)
Smooth, elegant, and well-constructed with classic Fuente balance, though lacking standout complexity.