APPEARANCE AND CONSTRUCTION (11 of 15 Points Possible)
Construction was decent but not up to par with most 8 dollar cigars IMO. The wrapper was dark with some light spots and a few lumps. The fill was uniform. I smoked this at school and had to punch it because my xicar was at home. It punched well and the draw was laborious but justified once I got it lit.

FLAVOR (25 of 25 Points Possible)
It doesn't get much better than this if you like spicy cigars. This one has more spice than a pumpkin pie. It starts out like a day at the track. You are ready for the race to start and then BAM the gates open and off they go. This puppy hits you with a mouthfull of stuff you never tasted in a cigar before. I was thinking to myself, "what the F*** is in these things." The flavors I picked up were coffee, caramel, marshmallow, toffee, cinnamon, allspice, pepper, cocoa, cedar,and cream. There was a tangy quality to the tobacco as well but not in the negative "acrid" way. It was more like the tang that a cuban has when the flavor turns the corner and your lips cant help but smile because you know you just experienced/tasted what smoking cigars is all about. The flavors were extremely rich. This is an intensely flavorful cigar. The flavor coats your tongue and fills your throat to the point where you NEED a beverage with this thing. I had a huge iced coffee so I was good to go. Some of the subtleties in this stick remind me of the torano 1916 ever so slightly only fuente does it better with this blend.(at 3 times the price)

SMOKING CHARACTERISTICS (24 of 25 Points Possible)
I screwed up lighting it and in self corrected. The remainder of the burn was dead even. The draw remained slightly laborious but not overly so. The ash was firm and hung on for several inches, even outdoors in a slight breeze.

OVERALL IMPRESSION (33 of 35 Points Possible)
I picked up this stick at the local shop for $7.99. I think this probably blows away anything I have had in that price range. It was just a tad over medium strength. I would rate the strength at 6 out of a possible 10. This is a good cigar to be savored after a meal and it was great on-the-go as I had it.

The only trouble was, after a nice fat cheeseburger, a tall iced coffee, and a Don Carlos I was in no mood for the 4 hour physics class that followed.

Overall score - 93

Hard work may pay off eventually but laziness always pays off now.

I know I will get eaten alive for this but... of all the Don Carlos cigars I have had, I did not like them. I have had the robusto, and two others of different sizes. The taste just didn't do anything for me. I have three more remaining, so I will let them sit a while before giving them a try again.

BTW, nice review!

Eddie

"If a body catch a body coming through the rye" - Holden Caufield

pm
i agree with your review completely, with exception of all those flavors you detected. these are one of my favorites, but as you said the price is a bit steep. i'm about to order my next box.

Carpe Diem

cigarro, you don't taste a variety of different flavors in the don carlos? I thought it was very rich and complex. I can taste all kinds of flavors in a 3 dimensional cigar such as the don carlos. It always surprises me when people say then can't taste different flavors in cigars but rather just try to discern whether it is a good cigar or a bad cigar. Wine is the same way. I don't think wine can be properly appreciated without enjoying all its subtle smells and flavors.

Hard work may pay off eventually but laziness always pays off now.

^^^^^ But doesn't that take experience?

I'm relatively new to cigar smoking, and I remember I tasted my first "flavor" (cream) three months ago with a Montecristo No. 3. I've been smoking for almost a year. It was the first time I could honestly smoke a cigar on my own accord and say that a certain cigar has a particular flavor without reading it first in CA Mag.

I've smoked cigarettes for four years. I'm so habitual with cigarettes and have tried all sorts. I can smell a cigarette and know it's a Camel or a Marlboro. But in the beginning--give me anything, I'll smoke it and love it because it was difficult for my taste buds to discern the subtleties in tobacco.

And, just to stay on topic, I LOVE Fuente Don Carlos. It's my favorite Fuente.

I bought a Don Carlos #2 about 3 months ago to let it age in my humidor, does it make sense with the Don Carlos to let it age ? I want to smoke it, but not if it gets better with age. Any suggestions ?

"It's the U.S. soldier, not the protester who gives you the freedom of speech"

I would say that Don Carlos most definitely benefit with age. I've aged them for 3+ years and have found that they get spicier and more intensely rich tasting from the aging. Don't be afraid to age a Don Carlos. It's worth it.

>>>-------->
Boone & Crockett

dbowhntr, thanks for the advice.

"It's the U.S. soldier, not the protester who gives you the freedom of speech"

The Don Carlos #3 is the quintisessential( sp? ) Morning cigar, I love it, when I had a 40 minute drive into the Burgh every morning at 5 am I had a cup of coffee & a DC#3 on the way in 5/6/7 days a week for 7 years, at $7.25 retail it did get a little costley, but at $145.00 a box it was a little better but not a lot. I was somking an average of 4 sticks a day then, & the DC#3 was hands down the best one of the day , unless I was going out for dinner & would have a Cuban after.
I havent found a better morning smoke yet, & I have been at this since 1955 , longer than some of you have been alive., I just picked up a box of 33's this week I was down to 2 sticks & getting a little nervous!!, Enjoy, Vince

S.N.O.B.1012 News from the dining room table, <br> " Pass the gravy please"</br> vince@access995.com