How Cigars Became a Symbol of Luxury
BY RICHARD CARLETON HACKER
Carlos “Carlito” Fuente, Jr. is president of Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia, the largest family-owned premium cigar company in the world. Headquartered in Santiago, Dominican Republic, they employ 4,000 people and produce 30 million cigars a year.
The company was founded in the United States in 1912 by Arturo Fuente, who came from Cuba and was eventually joined in the business by his son, Carlos Fuente, Sr., and then his grandson, Carlos Jr. (Carlito) and granddaughter Cynthia. At various times since the Cuban embargo, the Fuentes had factories in Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, and Honduras, often losing everything due to civil unrest. Finally, in 1980, they settled in the Dominican Republic.
Since then, Carlito Fuente has become the persona of the Fuente brand and with his late father, brought back many figurado shapes and introduced innovative blends. Entire rooms in their factories are dedicated to their most famous cigars, including the Don Carlos, Hemingway, and OpusX – a cigar that revolutionized the industry by becoming the first successful all-Dominican puro.
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Announcing the Arturo Fuente Cigar Company
New Arturo Fuente Box Factory
January 17, 2018 marked a historical moment for the oldest family in the Santiago Freezone, as the next generation was asked by Carlito Fuente to break ground at the exact location of the new Arturo Fuente Box Factory. This state of the art 69,000 square foot facility will be the home of many new and exciting projects.
Arturo Fuente Cigars Launch the Dubai Exclusivo During the Mr. Ping Life Cigar World Tour
Our Mr. Ping Life Cigar World Tour has been the platform for many firsts, many cigar anniversaries, many joyful times! Since its inception, the Tour has hosted annual Arturo Fuente cigar events, and our November 2017 one was yet another big hit. The special night, co-hosted with Allied Foods & Trading, Fuente’s distributors in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and S.T. Dupont, was centered around the unveiling of the first ever Dubai Exclusivo, an all-new release from the Carlito Especial Reserva Limitada. As always, our dear friend Carlos Fuente Jr. was the star of the evening, welcoming everyone with positivity and fire for life. Carlito shared deep emotions and thoughts, explaining more about the Dubai Exclusivo and voicing his love for the ‘city of life’.
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Cigar Aficionado’s 2017 Cigar of the Year.
Occasionally, a cigar comes along that is unique in every way—interesting blend, innovative shape, intriguing story—and, at the same time, can still maintain the classic standards of excellence. This is the case with the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark, Cigar Aficionado’s 2017 Cigar of the Year.
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Hublot Debuts Three Classic Fusion Watches In Honor Of Cigar Maker Arturo Fuente
All three breath-taking variants rest on the famed Classic Fusion 45mm case. One of the models basks in King Gold, a unique alloy Hublot has created by combining gold and titanium. Swept in the rare metal, the case is engraved with a drawing of tobacco leaves, while the bezel bears the letter X, the emblem of the Fuente family. The caseback features an illustration that reminds of Guines, the Cuban town where the Fuente family started. “Château de la Fuente” marks the watch, which is available in only 50 pieces.
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2017 Retailer Survey: The Best-selling Cigar Brands In America, Market Trends And More
High Marks for Fuente
Cognac and Cigar Pairing
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