The Fuente Story

PASSION BEHINDTHE TRADITION &LEGACY 1912-2011

May 2011 Release of The Fuente Story

In commemoration of the 99th anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company, 1,912 boxes of the May 2011 release of The Fuente Story will be shipped to the authorized Fuente Aged Selection dealers worldwide.

The May 2011 release of The Fuente Story comes with the biography of Carlos Fuente Sr., and 4 rare vintage Fuente Aged Selection cigars:

Excerpt from The Fuente Story: Passion behind the Tradition and Legacy

Carlos Arturo Fuente speaks to his son, Carlito, about moving their cigar factory to Dominican Republic from Tampa, Florida.

Meanwhile, the American economy was also in a state of crisis. In the 1970’s, it plunged into the worst recession since the Great Depression. The American economy suffered from the four fold increase in oil price, high unemployment rate, double digit inflation and the political crisis surrounding Watergate. More over, interest rates rose sharply, the prime rate charged by banks soaring to more than 20%, painfully raising the cost of running the company. To make things even worse, the pool of cigar artisans continued to dwindle. Machine production was a fact of life that had to be accepted. But the decline of the handcrafting tradition took away something that both Carlos and Carlito treasured – the satisfaction of making the very best cigar possible. Machine made cigars were reasonably profitable, but they would not take the Fuente family to the top of the cigar world.

In spite of these grave challenges, Carlos and Carlito realized that they were more fortunate than most. Other long established Tampa cigar companies were selling out to large corporations. Carlos and Carlito knew that they were running out of time too. But they still had hope and optimism. “I realized that we had to try another foreign country, “Carlos says. “This was a scary thought.We'd had some hard knocks when we tried it before.

“I was actually close to quitting. I couldn't take the pain anymore. Mean¬while, there were people who wanted to buy us out. I didn't want to sell, but I had to ask my son what his feeling was.”

“Papa,” Carlito replied,“this is my life. I want to stay in this business forever.”

“Well,” Carlos countered, “you know that we're almost broke. So we have to move. And if we go to any foreign country, it has to be as a family. I don't want any more partners. I don't want to have to deal with anybody else.”

“Whatever you want,Dad.”That was Carlito's answer.From that moment,their decision to move forward to a new home overseas was firmly set. And a pattern was set, too. Many times in the years to come, Carlito’s energy, determination and dedication would inspire Carlos to keep pressing ahead, pushing himself, working to make the business ever stronger, and to create cigars that would be known as the ultimate in quality and flavor.

Photographs from the Biography of Carlos Arturo Fuente Photographs from the Biography of Carlos Arturo Fuente

Don Arturo Gran AniverXario

Carlito Fuente has created a new cigar, Don Arturo Gran AniverXario, in a tribute to his grandfather,Arturo Fuente.

These cigars are made with the legendary wrapper leaves from Chateau de la Fuente, the birthplace of dream.

Carlito Fuente made Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars in 2001 to celebrate the 100thAnniversary ofArturo Fuente Cigar Company,which was founded by his grand¬father in 1912. He planned to release Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars every year, starting in 2002,to celebrate the 100th anniversary. However,these cigars were never released except the limited releases in 2008 and 2009.

Don Arturo Gran AniverXario cigars have been aging in the Fuente aging room since 2001. These 10¬ year¬old cigars will be shipped to retail tobacconists worldwide this fall to commemorate the 99th anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company and the release of his father's biography.

2011 is the 99th Anniversary of Arturo Fuente Cigar Company.