Casa Fuente robusto

What goes on in Vegas WILL make its way out of Vegas. Whether it's a hushed trip to the doctor when you get home, or a nasty credit card bill in the mail; don't fool yourself, the truth will out.

Not all lingering repercussions are bad, though. In this instance, I carried back a handful of the really exspendy, and really excellent, Casa Fuente cigars.

Fair warning (as if you won't notice this in other blogs about Casa Fuente), even this meager 5x52 robusto will run you about $20.

Loads of other bloggers, with more refined taste than mine, will tell you all the florid nuances of this cigar. I'll just do so in a few bold strokes; Sweet grass overtone, with a savory spice body that's incredible. Think of a Fuente Hemingway wrapper on an Opus X. It's a great combo, and unfortunately exclusive to this pricey line of cigars.

If you're going to make the trip to Casa Fuente, might as well bring home a couple flammable souvenirs to remind you of the experience, right? Be it smoking at the Forum Shops location, or your own garage, this is one mighty fine smoke.

Esteban Carreras 1961 Robusto

  There must be something special about 1961, as Esteban Carreras joins the illustrious company of Rocky Patel and Frank Llaneza in naming a cigar after that year. So what's the big deal?  Let's check Wikipedia for some hints.

  1961 Birthdays: Wayne Gretsky... Henry Rollins... Vince Neil... Ray "Boom-Boom" Mancini... George Clooney... Melissa Etheridge... Boy George...

  Cigar makers Hockey fans? I don't think that Miami has been a big force in hockey. Motley Crue fans, perhaps? I think Black Flag was better. Boxing, 'ER" reruns, Gay pop singers? Must not be a birthday thing..

  1961 Events: Adolf Eichmann's death sentence... Alan Shepard goes into space on the Mercury-Redstone 3... Roger Maris tops Babe Ruth's home run record... failed Bay of Pigs invasion... Fidel Castro declares Socialism for Cuba. Ahh.. I think we're getting warm.

  So, 1961 might mean more to Baby Boomer cigar aficionados than anyone else.

Esteban Carreras 1961 Robusto

  Esteban Carreras 1961 envelops a blend of  Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers with a Sumatran binder and Cameroon wrapper. The wrapper is medium brown in color and has mild veining over a mildly toothy surface. While burning, the ash at the core of the cigar is strikingly white.

  The flavors start out as sweet grass and dirt in a mild-medium bodied presentation. After the first inch, the earthiness recedes in favor of a leathery compliment to the dominant sweet grass notes. The last third still finds sweet grass and leather, with a subtle spice creeping in as the cigar winds down.

  Not a bad cigar if you like sweet grassy flavors, but the Esteban Carreras 1961 won't push the Fuente Hemingway out of my humidor. The 1961 robusto runs $6-7 on the shelf, which isn't terribly expensive. Still, I'd just as soon spend the extra $1-2 for the Hemi.