Fuente Ships Don Carlos The Man & Humidor

At this year’s IPCPR Convention & Trade Show, Arturo Fuente offered customers the chance to buy a special humidor made in honor of the late Carlos Fuente Sr.

The Carlos A. Fuente Commemorative Humidor is designed to hold 150 cigars, including 14 cigars that can be stored in a secret compartment on the back. It’s a small touch that harkens to the idea that Fuente Sr., who was known for giving people the cigars out of his pocket, always had a way to hide cigars for himself. In order to access the compartment, you must press down on a small gold piece that has the thumbprint of Fuente Sr.

Like many recent Fuente accessories, Manny Iriarte designed the humidor.

A total of 800 humidors are being sold, each priced at $550.

Retailers who purchased the humidors were also given the option to purchase a special cigar: Don Carlos The Man.

The Man debuted at an event at Holt’s late last year. Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. told halfwheel that the blend is based on the Don Carlos, but with some modifications made by the younger Fuente. He’s also stated that the fillers come from the company’s Chateau de la Fuente farms in the Dominican Republic.

It’s priced at $14.03 per cigar and sold in boxes of 20. Each retailer is able to purchase up to two boxes per humidor, though the cigars are not a required purchase.

Fuente Sr. was the younger son of Arturo Fuente, who founded the company in 1911. In 1958, after the company had experienced down years, the younger Fuente purchased complete control of the cigar company for $1.

He would lead the company for most of the next six decades through the Cuban embargo and spells in Honduras and Nicaragua before settling its rolling operations in the Dominican Republic. Ultimately, the company that was once purchased for $1 would grow to become a leader in the premium cigar industry.

Carlos A. Fuente passed away in August 2016 at the age of 81.