Argyle Fumas Staff Review

For today’s review, I’ve selected another leader from our illustrious list of the best cigar bundles you can buy: the original Argyle Fumas, and I’m about to toast the foot on a traditional 6 by 50 Toro. The Argyle cigars portfolio is loaded with above-average smokes that cost way less dough than the competition charges, and that means you can anticipate consistent taste for an unbeatably low price regardless of whether you’re purchasing a bundle, a box, or a single stick.   

In case you’re unfamiliar with Fumas cigars, they’re a bit different from traditional premium handmades due to the filler tobaccos inside the cigars. Fumas are made from a Cuban-sandwich blend of short-filler and long-filler tobaccos tucked under the outer wrapper, which, in the case of Argyle Fumas, is an oily, gingerbread-hued Sumatra leaf. Most Fumas are packaged in bundles, but there are a few exceptions like Alec Bradley White Gold and any Fumas made by Padilla, which come in boxes.

I’m the foremost authority on Fumas here at Holt’s; some would say the East Coast. You see, I smoke a copious number of cigars every day of the week, and my consumption necessitates a price point most folks don’t believe exists. Argyle Fumas start around $1.49 apiece. That makes them frontrunners in my daily rotation as we wrap up the last few weeks of winter.

I spend a solid three to four months, beginning in the fall, coaxing a beard out of my face until I’ve got a shimmering cascade of facial hair hanging over my torso. Brushing out the cockleburs and keeping it colored and oiled gets expensive, but I can’t look like a hobo when I’m coming to the office. By February, it’s so long, manicuring my whiskers cuts into my cigar budget, so I switch over to Fumas for a few weeks to save some cash. It isn’t for naught, though. Once, I got a call back from Brawny when I auditioned to be on the guy on their paper towel packaging.

Argyle Fumas are packed in 20-count bundles clad in dark orange cigar bands. As the ‘#1 Value Cigar in America,’ Argyle’s got a reputation to maintain. When I tear a fresh batch open and pluck a cigar from the center, I’m impressed the second I begin my rigorous inspection of the wrapper leaf, the construction, and the aroma when I remove a new cigar from its cellophane sleeve. The Sumatra wrapper leaf shows only a few subtle veins and seems to have a firm grasp on the interior of aged Dominican tobaccos beneath it. A succulent aroma of sweet hay and fresh bread stimulates my nasal cavity as I give the unlit foot a deep sniff.

To minimize the chance of getting strands of loose tobacco in my mouth, I cut my Fumas with a punch cutter. What I admire about the Argyle Fumas Toro I’m about to fire up is how well the cap stays intact and how open and easy the draw is when I take a few cold puffs. High quality-control standards for Fumas inspires brand loyalty because you can bet other Argyle cigars will even more consistent.

Nutty notes of blonde roast coffee mingle with earthy hints of toast and dried fruit as I draw the first few streams of creamy and spicy smoke onto my palate. Argyle Fumas is peppery in the nose for sure. A spirited profile of leather and red pepper causes my face to twitch a few times in the first five minutes, but the texture turns creamy as the cigar heats up.

A lot of premium cigar lovers who smoke Fumas for the first time should adjust their expectations when it comes to the cigar’s burn. Because some of the tobaccos in the cigar are short-fillers, the ash might fall off prematurely in a few spots, or you’ll have to relight it a few times. For under two bucks per cigar, though, I’m mostly prospecting for tolerable flavor and aroma. So far, Argyle Fumas isn’t offending my senses and, honestly, exceeds expectations. I might not pour a top-shelf whiskey to sip on with a Fumas in my hand, but I’d have no problem running the weed whacker for a few hours. And I wouldn’t lose my temper if I lost a cigar in grass.

As I nudge past the middle part of the cigar, the spice kicks in with more intensity but there’s still a milky note in the background. Oatmeal cookie dough, nutmeg, and a touch of oolong tea weave an interesting tapestry over my tongue, but I could be overthinking the taste. Fumas are intended to be functional before complex.

By the time I get past the band, I’m ready to be done. There’s no big or shocking crescendo at the end, just great straightforward taste. Argyle Fumas are cheap, so I don’t feel guilty if I don’t smoke the whole nub. I’ll just grab another one – and next time, I’m going to compare it with another of my favorite Fumas, Rocky Patel Mulligans Caddy’s Choice. In the meantime, don’t be shy about grabbing a bundle of Argyle Fumas when you’re stocking up on yard ‘gars. You can’t beat the price, and before you know it, your coolerdor will be as full as mine. 

Until next time, long ashes to you!