How do you keep them straight? My color vision isn't the best and the bands often just say Arturo Fuente. It's hard for me to tell the difference between the different types once they're in my humidor. I can tell a difference when I fire one up, but then it's too late. They're all good, so no big problem there but I'd like to know up front what I'm smoking.

I go by the bands on the cigars other than the obvious wrapper color (cameroon vs maduro).
The fuente regular line band bottom is green; the premium or gran reserva line is black on the bottom of the band (Don Carlos is as well) and the Anejo is white. Other than that I'm not sure. The sun grown line, Hemmingways, and Don Carlos is black. Other than bands, I don't know about any other way to id them unless you write it down when you buy them.

And that's my concern, knowing my Don Carlos' from my Hemmingways.

There was another way to distinguish the Don Carlos from the Hemmingways, but I cannot remember, now. It has to do with something on the bands themselves. Have you looked at all your black label bands to see if they differ?

I've looked pretty closely. I think I'm going to take a Sharpie and mark the bands. Or store them separately. Thanks for responding.

Here's the solution:
Send them to me... I'll smoke 1/2 and mark them with a sharpie.... then send them back to you !! :o)

Always willing to help...

Low

What a guy! If you could just give me your credit card #, for ID puposes of course, I'll get those right out to you. ;o)

Good question. Except the different color bands from the regular and premium lines as you already mention, it is difficult. Of course, color, size, shape and taste is a definite indicator. Once you smoke them, it's not possible to distinguish between the bands, e.g. which black band belonged to which.
I do keep my Don Carlos's cigars(my peronal favorites), in their own box(partially opened,of course) in my Humidor.
Ed

Picked up some 8-5-8's today at a local shop paid 7.00 each. What do you think? Did I pay too much?

Regards,


B

Wait, can't you tell the difference between a Hemingway and a Don Carlos by the shape of the cigar itself?

what smoker said. hemingways all have the perfecto tip. don carlos, as far as i know, do not.

Hey! that's too obvious looking at the tips like that...sheeeite...didn't think of that but I believe you are right Watson! But what about the Sungrowns? I guess for the sungrowns, don't remove the cedar sleeve.

the sungrowns have a black band on the bottom of the cedar wrap......so I'm told

Tarheel, that is true.

Wouldestus is correct.

Don Carlos have a straight cut foot.

Hemingways taper down, or the perfecto foot.

$7.00 is high for an 8-5-8 to me. But that can depend on what your state tobacco tax is.

Thanks smoker06, I didn't know that all of the Hemmis had the perfecto tip and the Don Carlos didn't. I haven't had too many of either. As a matter of fact, you were the source of my Don Carlos' that are confusing me. They are a remarkable cigar, thanks again.

The Anejo Shark (#77) has a red band at the foot, as does (if I'm not mistaken) last year's Anejos and the original Anejos...I don't remember white bands on the foots of Anejos for some reason (???)