Arturo Fuente chief Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. has a knack for coming up with new tobacco mixtures and novel ways for cigar fans to enjoy them, and the Don Carlos Eye of the Bull (name-checking the firm’s legendary patriarch) is another winning vitola in this highly acclaimed series from one of the cigar world’s most esteemed brands.
Here, Carlito took his brand’s famous Don Carlos blend, with its integral Cameroonian wrapper and Dominican binder and filler, and packaged it in a diminutive 3.5-inch Robusto format with a 55 ring gauge.
But don’t let the short length fool you. This is a medium-to-full-strength smoke that packs a punch, being bolder than its cousins while providing a lush draw and a slow, cool, even burn. Revealing cedar, walnut, and baking spice notes along the way (including nutmeg and cinnamon), the finish smacks of orange peel zest and honey. (The “Bull’s Eye” in the name refers to a small circle of dark tobacco on the head of the stick before it’s cut.)
The Eye of the Bull was Cigar Aficionado’s ninth-best cigar of 2025, earning a stunning 94 rating from the industry publication after racking up a 93 score in 2023. Pick up a single smoke or a box of five or 20 today, and see if your cigar-picking abilities are on target with this hard-charging winner.