Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2013 Toro

Late last year, Arturo Fuente shipped a small batch of unknown cigars somewhat rightly named, Unnamed Reserve. Even from the line’s debut last year, it seemed destined there would be a 2013 release of the cigar, something that was confirmed to us at the 2013 IPCPR trade show and convention when we were handed samples of two sizes of what were described as the 2013 version of the cigar.

Arturo Fuente has little interest in talking about the cigar, even less than it did last year, but there are a few things known. The boxes retail for $337.50 plus applicable local taxes—up from $8.50 per cigar last year—with ten 5 1/4 x 48 robustos and ten 5 3/4 x 50 toros in each box. The boxes once again say “sun grown” and they started appearing in stores in late November. Quietly, some Fuente employees have said that the release is smaller than the 2012 shipment.

Here is what all three Unnamed Reserves look like:

• Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2012 (5 3/4 x 48) — December 2012
• Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2013 Robusto (5 1/4 x 48) — November 2013
• Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2013 Toro (5 3/4 x 50) — November 2013

This is a picture of the IPCPR sample and the production version. They appear largely identical and would indicate Fuente had finalized this blend by July at the latest:

The boxes of the Unnamed Reserve feature two rows of five toros on the left and five robustos on the right. They look like this:

While the boxes look largely the same as the 2012 version, they are much smaller and there are a few obvious changes, although it’s largely the same style:

• Cigar Reviewed: Arturo Fuente Unnamed Reserve 2013 Toro
• Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
• Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
• Wrapper: n/a
• Binder: n/a
• Filler: n/a
• Size: 5 3/4 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 50
• Vitola: Toro
• MSRP: $16.88 (Boxes of 20, $337.50)
• Date Released: November 20, 2013
• Number of Cigars Released: n/a
• Number of Cigars Smoked for Review: 2 

The wrapper is much lighter than last year’s version with a semi sand-colored wrapper that looks only a bit off from Don Carlos. Once out of the cellophane, there’s a sweet mixture of grainy cereal, leather and berries from the box-pressed toro. I get a weird mixture of ketchup, berries, cedar and leather from both versions of the 2013 Unnamed Reserve. I did not find it at all present in the 2012 release, although all three cigars had sweetness on the cold draw.

Interestingly, some of that ketchup note lingers into the start of the first third, although it’s behind cedar, salty walnuts and a bit of a more generic sweetness. A few puffs in, a toastiness begins to overtake the profile, which also sees touches of burnt candied pomegranates—a flavor you can find while making real grenadine—the salty walnut flavor and touches of mild pepper. There’s a strong white pepper and salt note through the nose at two points of the first third, but it’s hardly consistent. The draw is a bit open, smoke production from the Fuente is about average and the medium grey ash holds for an inch. Nothing to complain about, nothing to rave about.

The velvet texture stays at the back of the throat for the second third of the Unnamed Reserve Toro, but the rest of the flavor smooths out. The toastiness now has a sweet herbal flavors—albeit not floral—touches of oregano, lemon grass and paprika through the nose. There are a ton of spices on both the tongue and through the nose, although they never overtake the semi-sweet profile. The pepper has largely died down, particularly if you are able to separate the roughness of the body, which seems unrelated to the pepper. Elsewhere, construction remains the same, at least until I take the band off.

I begin the final third, by completely destroying the cigar by removing the band. While looking at my notes, the flavor profile didn’t seem to be affected as I got almost identical flavors between the two samples, but the burn of the Unnamed Reserve was obviously affected. It’s a glue problem, also not a new problem for Fuente. As for the flavor, the toastiness takes on a bit of a coffee-like touch, which is a nice addition. The spices are dying down with the nutmeg largely the only identifiable one. For a few puffs right around an inch and a half left, I get a grapefruit note. Eventually, the cigar goes out, more on why below.

Final Notes: 

• If you missed out on the first batch, a few Fuente retailers I’ve spoken to seem to be getting additional shipments in this week.
• One day we might get an explanation about why this cigar nearly doubled in price. I honestly have no clue as to what the justification would be. 
• I spoke to almost a dozen retailers about the cigar. Some had complaints about it having poor construction in what seem to be complaints about the fragility of the wrapper. This is yet another lesson about releasing cigars in the middle of winter. 
• According to this post on Fuente’s Cigar Family forum, Unnamed Reserve will see a new blend every year with none of the previous releases returning. While that seems likely, it’s hard to take anything in the cigar industry in stone, particularly two years into a limited series from a company that does not want to talk about the cigar.
• After smoking my second Toro for this review, I lit up a 2012 Unnamed Reserve and a 2013 Robusto. I found the 2013 versions very similar, including that peculiar ketchup note. Overall, I think the 2012 version is far more developed at this point in time, and also a bit sweeter. If you are having to decide between the 2013s, it’s somewhat of a toss-up although the one Robusto I smoked had slightly better construction than the Toros I smoked.
• Last year Fuente shipped both ForbiddenX 13 and Don Carlos Lancero in December. As of now, those products have not shown up in retail stores to my knowledge. It’s unclear whether or not the company is planning on it.
• I’ve said it before: no one goes overboard with the glue like Fuente. The cigar’s flavor didn’t seem to be affected, but the burn was a mess after I tried removing the band.
• Personally, my guess on the wrapper is Cameroon. It does not have some of the signature Cameroon notes, but knowing the diversity of how Fuente uses Cameroon, and looking at the wrapper itself—this would be where I’m placing my bets.
• Fuente is known to be insanely detailed-oriented with its packaging, how the foam used was an acceptable solution is beyond me given some of the stories I’ve heard about packaging rejects. It’s not awful, but it’s not great. 
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel. 
• Final smoking time was one hour and 35 minutes on average.