Arturo Fuente Chateau Fuente Royale Salute (M)

This is a big stick! The flavor goes right along with the size. I enjoyed every minute of this smoke (about 100 of them). The draw was a little tight, but not enough to hinder the smoking of this cigar. The burn was fairly straight. Anyone that enjoys AF smokes will want to add some of these to their humidor.

These cigars look great. They come in a nice cedar casing and underneath is a deep brown maduro wrapper with few veins and a slight sheen. These really do look like someone has created something rather than just rolled a cigar. Having lit it, it was very mild to start with, with some nice light cocoa flavours. A very easy draw without being 'loose' is also a nice benefit. Strength picks up after first inch or so, but is still smooth. I found plain black coffee went well with this. I tasted a variety of earthy flavours, which in themselves were nice but I was a little disappointed not to have some 'sweetness' thrown in. Don't get me wrong: this cigar is not at all bitter, but with the rich maduro wrapper I had expected a little chocolatey flavour throughout, and the closest was cocoa in the first inch. Mine also went out a couple of times, which could have been due to inattention, but I don't think I put it down either time for more than two or three mins. To some extent the cigar fails to live up to the fantastic appearance, but this is more a reflection on the appearance than massive faulting finding with the cigar. Don't expect to smoke these quickly either: allow two hours. With a little extra flavour range and had it not gone out a few times, then this really would have been very special. As it is, it's still a might fine cigar, and will not disappoint.

This was a mild to medium bodied cigar for me. It was wound a little too tight but the draw was consistent. The wrapper was awesome with small oily dots on it and even veining across its surface. Small hints of cocoa in a deep white plentiful smoke. Slight burn irregularity that was easily corrected. If left to a nice humidor for 12-18 months would be even smoother. No harshness detected on this smoke. Finish is slightly spicy for the last ¾ inch of usable body. This one is for the long haul 1hour plus! No collection is complete without one of these waiting in the wings.

A friend of mine sent me one of these, well-aged, and man did I enjoy it. I can confirm that even a fast smoker cannot down one of these in less than an hour. I thought it was a bit harsher than other Fuente's I've had, but the flavor made it bearable. Mine was wrapped in a cedar sleeve which really gave it an added cedary taste, which was something new for me. Perhaps my pallette is becoming more refined haha. Anyway, not sure how much these cost but I'll be trying more.

This is a good cigar, but you need a good hour and a half to enjoy it all. Typical Fuente and they are consistently good.

Although a very long cigar, I found that I wanted more after nearly 45 minutes of smoking this one. Perfect burn with a beautiful white ash. Mild creamy smoke with hints of leather and coco. Just and excellent cigar.

Wrapper nearly perfect. Perfect draw maybe little loose. Taste of leather and a little bit of sweetness. Hint of Chocolate and earth.
Decent but I payed to much

This is the best looking cigar I have ever seen (beats any Davidoff and other overpriced "high-end" brands): the construction is flawless, and the shape and silkiness of the maduro wrapper are perfect. The pre-lit smell is not as strong as in its Sun-Grown cousin, but still very pleasant, with notes of oak and leather. Once lit, the cigar comes alive slowly for a most enjoyable 2-hour smoke: the flavors develop steadily and become more complex as you smoke - about half-way through it reaches its peak, with bursts of cinammon, wood and some leather. The finish is amazingly smooth. The burn was even throughout and the draw correct, if slightly tight during the first half or so. This is the ideal golf cigar, and one of the best cigars there are overall, regardless of price. A must have in any humidor.