Initial Thoughts
This time of year is one of my favorite times, not only do we have the NHL & NFL going, but it’s also gearing up for the holidays. That also means that it’s prime time to start hunting for hard to find bourbons. November is when distilleries start shipping out things like Pappy Van Winkle and the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection. I know what you’re thinking, what does this have to do with the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark cigar review? Well my friends, everything. I came across this cigar when I stopped in a liquor store south of Nashville. I ran into an old friend who manages the humidor in the back of the spirit store! Not only did he showcase his boxes of Opus X (next review), but he turned me on to this Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark which I had not heard about! Needless to say, I was super excited to give it a try.
As you’ve probably noticed I’m not one for reviewing a ton of cigars from the big brands, I’ve always been more of a boutique guy myself. However, it’s hard to deny that a company like Arturo Fuente who have been around 30+ years obviously make some great freaking cigars, or they wouldn’t still be around. So when I dug around and looked at their site it was great to see info on this Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark. Named in honor of the founder and patriarch of the company this cigar is honoring his 80th birthday and 30 years as a company. So it better be pretty special! So let’s jump into it and kick off the review.
Looks
First off, this is a great looking cigar. The band is a bit different from most of the Arturo Fuentes that are on the market. They went with a special black band that has gold as the secondary color and opting for the AF red as the highlighted color on the outside of the band. This Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark has a unique shape as well. It’s a figurado, more specifically a pyramide. It’s a 5 3/4″ x 52 ring gauge. Not a ton of cigars out there that are this size and I really enjoy the size. Another feature of this cigar is the Cameroon wrapper it’s very delicate, yet has plenty of texture to it. Overall, a great looking cigar and I love the change up of the style of bands for this special release.
Function
I tend to cut all figurado / torpedo cigars the same way. I use my Xikar Xi cutter and make a slanted or angle cut. I feel that it provides better air flow down the barrel and helps present more flavors. Once I made the angle cut on this Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark I could taste some great flavors and I knew I was in for a good smoke. The draw was fairly wide open which is nice it allows a lot of smoke to down through the barrel. So enough jibber jabber let’s light this thing up and get the flavors out of it!
Flavor
Right out of the gate I pick up a nice cedar sweetness on the cold draw. That is followed up by a some notes of sweet tobacco and slight hints of leather. Once the flame hits the tobacco I’m met with a good jolt of sweetness. The most notable flavor that I’m picking up is cedar it’s a nice compliment to the hint of spice on the retrohale. There are notes of leather throughout the entire smoke that give the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark a nice bit of balance between the sweet and the spice throughout. This cigar is fairly complex yet subtle in flavors which I believe is very difficult to achieve. Too often cigars can be in your face with the flavor profile, but I actually prefer the subtle complex flavors and this cigar has that in spades. Overall this cigar built to medium-full in terms of strength. Never really grew above that which I’m totally ok with. I have a feeling the Opus X which is up next will be packed full of strength and put a hurting on me if I’m not careful.
Would I Buy It Again?
Absolutely, I would highly recommend a box of these if you can find them.Is It an Every Day Smoke?
Would I Buy a Box?
If the price is right, I would. Not sure that I can pull the trigger on a $300 box though. It takes a lot for me to shell out $300. This cigar definitely warrants the price, I’m just super cheap 🙂Frequently Asked Questions
How strong is the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark?
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is a medium to full-bodied cigar. Check our full review above for strength and body notes from first light to the nub.
What are the flavor notes of the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark?
See the Flavor section above for a full tasting breakdown of the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark across all three thirds, including retrohale notes and finish.
Where can I buy the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark?
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark is available at Famous Smoke Shop, Cigars International, and Amazon. See the Where to Buy table below for current pricing and availability.
How much does the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark cost?
The Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark retails for approximately $13 per stick depending on the retailer and vitola. Prices may vary by box size.
What bourbon pairs well with the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark?
Our top bourbon pairings for the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark are Knob Creek 9 Year, Old Forester 1920, Russell’s Reserve, chosen based on complementary flavor profile scoring. See the Pairing section below for details.
Where to Buy Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark
Average retail: ~$13 per stick. Prices vary by retailer.
| Retailer | Price | Availability | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Famous Smoke Shop | ~$13/stick | ✅ In Stock | Shop Now → |
| Cigars International | ~$13/stick | ⚠️ Check Stock | Shop Now → |
| Amazon (samplers) | Varies | ✅ Available | Search Amazon → |
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Best Bourbon Pairings for the Arturo Fuente Don Carlos Eye of the Shark
As a full-bodied, high-strength Nicaraguan torpedo, the Cojonu 2006 demands a bourbon with presence. Here are our top three pairings based on complementary flavor profiles.
#1 — Knob Creek 9 Year
High-rye character and oak depth complement the earthiness and spice of the Cojonu perfectly.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →#2 — Old Forester 1920
Rich toasted oak and dark fruit lift the nutty, creamy second third beautifully.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →#3 — Russell’s Reserve
A balanced, full-bodied pour with just enough rye spice to match the cigar’s pepper backbone.
Buy on ReserveBar → Read Our Review →Pairing suggestions based on the Stogies on the Rocks flavor profile scoring system. Browse all bourbon reviews →
