Original Release Cuban Belicoso SG

[Mark Twain]

This was a gift that I enjoyed smoking because I’m an avid fan of the sun grown wrapper. I wasn’t always a fan. I still find myself at odds with the opening bite I sometimes get from the intensely spicy wrapper, which often leaves my lower lip numb after finishing the smoke. Age seemed to take away the intensity of the wrapper. The spice was still there, but it never overwhelmed me or made me uncomfortable enough to reach for a glass of water to alleviate that light headed feeling that often occurs when I smoke one of its younger siblings.

Pretty smooth flavors. The most outstanding feature was the calmness of the smoke. This was the most balanced sun grown I’ve smoked. I ended up going out and buying a box of Château Fuente Sun Growns to put down in my cooler for a year to see how well they age.

 

[Ginseng]

Nice review and nice snaps, Marc. The Cuban Beli is one Fuente I seem to consistently enjoy. I prefer it over the 858SG.

Wilkey

 

[KayakinBoy]

How old is an OR sungrown? Personally, I don't smoke an SG till I know it's got at least 6 months on it. Great review.

 

[nfulton]

Nice review and nice snaps, Marc. The Cuban Beli is one Fuente I seem to consistently enjoy. I prefer it over the 858SG.

Wilkey

I thought I was the only one that felt this way about the 858 SG's. One of the best SG's out there and for a price that can't be beat.

 

[Ginseng]

Nice review and nice snaps, Marc. The Cuban Beli is one Fuente I seem to consistently enjoy. I prefer it over the 858SG.

Wilkey

I thought I was the only one that felt this way about the 858 SG's. One of the best SG's out there and for a price that can't be beat.

No Nate, you're not the only one. Of course taste is everything but once you set aside the hype and HTF frenzy and compare the two, I think the Cuban Beli provides a satisfying, flavorful smoke to the very nub. Such has not been the case with me and 858SGs.

Wilkey

 

[Mike33]

I still find myself at odds with the opening bite I sometimes get from the intensely spicy wrapper, which often leaves my lower lip numb after finishing the smoke.

Pussy!

I actually prefer the SG line to Opus. The amount power and flavor to the SGs are almost always in balance and are a real treat to smoke w/ age. I would take the Cuban Belicoso over the 858 most days, but the absolute best is the hemingway classic SG. I wasn't impressed with the 1st HC SG I had, but the last two were superb!

 

[grateful1]

The beli's just a little much of this type of smoke. I prefer the 858 as a size...so it goes hand in hand with the wrapper - for me.

Size matters. :whistling:


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Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia began offering the Fuente Sun Grown line in 1999 in three sizes: the Chateau Fuente (4 1/2 x 50), the Double Chateau (6 3/4 x 50) and the Royal Salute (7 5/8 x 54). In late 2000 the line was extended to include two new sizes: the Cuban Belicoso (5 3/4 x 52) and the 858 (6 x 47). (The 858 was a limited release and has sold out.)

The Fuente Sun Grown line uses a Sumatra-seed, Ecuador grown wrapper and the name is a bit of a misnomer. The wrapper tobacco is grown near Guayaquil, Ecuador in the foothills of the Andes mountains and because of the constant cloud cover, receives very little direct sunlight. This eliminates the need for the cloth shading used in Connecticut and Sumatra to keep the wrapper tobacco thin. The result is a more full-bodied taste. The binder and filler tobaccos are grown in the Dominican Republic. Suggested retail prices are between $3.50 and $5.75. </FONT>