The KC/DW Review Series

[King Catfish]

Today I am reviewing a big (7. 5/8 x 54) torpedo, the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Royal Salute. It appears to be the sun-grown Ecuadorian wrapper version. It comes with a black stripe on the lower edge of the usual red Arturo Fuente band, a cedar sleeve, and a black ribbon for a footband. Its garb, shape, color and thickness make for an impressive presentation. The cigar was very firm in the hand, but without an excess of weight.

The wrapper was a medium brown with a fine texture; it was medium brown in color, with a slight sheen of oil. Construction appeared rock-solid, absolutely perfect. This cigar appeared to my not-quite-expert eye to have the tiniest bit of plume on it; it was also a bit light (in weight) for its size. I would wager this cigar has been in Deedubya’s humidor for quite a while. Prelight aroma was spicy and cedary. The prelight draw was very free and easy, and my mouth was watering to get this stick started, so I took my diamond file to my el-cheapo cutter and made the cut. Unfortunately, the cut produced a small crack at the cap, which flaked just a bit. I really need a new cutter, I think.

Toasting the foot brought to the nose a dark, earthy, complex smell I enjoyed but could not name; the first puffs arrived with great volume and character. Right away earthiness, leather and spice were at the fore, with nuts in the background. The aroma of smoke in the room was pleasant and “classic”. I don’t know how else to describe it; it was just a classic pleasant cigar smell. The ash was white from the very beginning, and quite firm.

The first third delivered an abundance of spice and a taste somewhere between earthiness and leather. The cigar was obviously full-bodied and very flavorful right from the very first half-inch; no weak start for this one! The burn was acceptably even although not perfectly so. The aftertaste was pleasant and persistent. This cigar was like a confident karate master at tea or a champion boxer at an opera; the strength and huge character did not attack the mouth or throat, but gave a civilized display of power without wrecking the place. Perhaps like a mild-tempered draft horse: nonaggressive but strong. You get the idea.

Before the first third was over, the burn perfected itself without any help from me. By the time the middle third got started a mild saltiness was emerging, and the cigar burned very cool and smooth. It was at this point the entire first third fell off as a single ash, well over an inch and half in length. The saltiness was increasing slightly, as was my impression that this is a very individual, unique cigar, different from any others I’ve had. The spiciness remained center-stage, and the leatheriness was fading; there was perhaps the smallest hint of unsweetened chocolate, perhaps coffee, maybe some wood, but none of these were pronounced or central to the overall taste. Smoke volume remained simply enormous. The next ash that fell off was nearly three inches in length.

The final third brought in an alkaline, “black coffee aftertaste” sort of flavor, with the leatheriness, earthiness, and saltiness fading; the spiciness remained. Taking the band off produced some tiny cracks in the wrapper and worsened the crack already in the cap, and the cigar started to unravel a bit. It seems the band was stuck to the cigar just a bit, and I was not deft enough to get it off without damage. Despite my care not to rush it and puff too often (hard to do with a smoke this tasty), the flavor profile started to blend together and become a little less complex, and the aftertaste started to become a bit flat and bitter, although still pretty good. In the final inch, a purge brought back some of the flavor quality, but construction issues prevented me from smoking it quite to the finger-burning stage.

An hour and a half had passed. Make sure you have enough time for this one.

Score 19.25 (x5) = 96.25, losing a point for not surviving my inexpert cut unscathed and another point for a somewhat flat and bitter finish, for a final score of 94.25. This is a most excellent, well balanced cigar, with a complex, strong, delicious flavor profile, especially in the first half. I smoked it with a glass of water (trying to cut back on the drinking). I would try my next one with a rich, flavorful meal, and I would not worry about overpowering it with strong drink, although I would avoid anything sweet, which I think would clash with the taste.

Many thanks to the generous DeeDubya for this fine experience.