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We have two solid cigars on tap for you today. First up is the flavorful Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro Churchill, which will be followed by the smooth and pricy AVO Limited Edition 2011.
Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro Churchill
The Arturo Fuente brand has many quality cigars in its portfolio, but it lists its Gran Reserva line as its flagship. With such a distinction from such a well-respected brand, it is easy to expect big things out of the Gran Reserva. While the line does come in versions carrying African Cameroon and Ecuadorian Sungrown wrappers, I decided to give the Maduro version a try for this review.
Measuring in at 7 1/4 x 48, the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro Churchill is just one of many sizes in the line. Some of the others you will find include the 4 1/2 x 50 Rothschilds, 5 x 38 Petit Corona, 5 1/4 x 45 Corona, 6 1/4 x 47 Flor Fina 8-5-8, 6 1/2 x 42 Spanish Lonsdale, 6 1/2 x 46 Corona Imperial, and the huge 8 1/2 x 52 Cañones. The Gran Reserva Maduro features a filler and binder made from Dominican tobaccos. A Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper completes the cigar. It should be noted that the tobaccos used to make the Gran Reserva come from a private reserve set aside especially for the line. In terms of strength, the Gran Reserva Maduro is said to be medium to full-bodied.
From the looks of it, the Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro Churchill is a cigar that is well-built. The dark brown wrapper is very oily. There are no major defects on the wrapper, and only a few small veins are visible. Feeling the Gran Reserva Maduro Churchill from top to bottom reveals that it is packed with plenty of tobacco. The decorative band near the head showcases the Fuente and Gran Reserva names over a gold, red, and white color scheme that is underlined by a touch of green at the bottom. Before lighting, the cigar has a cedar scent. As for the cold taste, it's rather sweet.
Once lit, the Fuente Gran Reserva Maduro burns well without any major issues. The draw is just right, and the volume of smoke that is produced is significant and aromatic. The ash is long and light gray in color. The burn stays even for the duration of the smoke, without the need for any touch-ups. Re-lights are also unnecessary.
