Cigar Insider: Casa Fuente General Manager Michael Fayerverger

The Fuente Opus X may be considered the most elusive cigar in the world, but did you know Fuente makes a stogie that’s even rarer than the Opus X? That cigar is the Casa Fuente, and it’s only available at the Casa Fuente store in Las Vegas.

On a recent trip to the “Entertainment Capital of the World” (also known as sin city) I had the opportunity to visit Casa Fuente and talk cigars with Michael Fayerverger, the general manager. As we talked in the humidor, he told me the vitola that best demonstrates Casa Fuente’s flavor profile is the five and ¾ inch by 52 ring gauge Double Robusto.

Michael also generously agreed to take a few minutes to answer some questions for the third edition of our “Ask a Cigar Insider” series.

SG: Who’s the most interesting person to visit Casa Fuente? Can you tell us a bit about your customers?

MF: I think the most interesting person to meet was Andy Garcia, who attended our grand opening. You see all his movies and they’re great, and then to see him in person, makes it that much better. Plus he is a very close friend of the Fuentes. We get customers from all over the world; from entertainers to the average tourist to our local and repeat customers, and everyone has a cigar story. So it’s great to have such a diverse group of customers.

SG: Your store is the only place people can buy the Casa Fuente cigar. What makes that blend so special?

MF: From what we’re told, it’s a blend of Opus X, with a Cameroon wrapper. This makes it a phenomenal tasting cigar.

SG: If you could only smoke one specific cigar for the rest of your life, what would it be? If you had to pick a cigar not made by Fuente/Newman, what would it be?

MF: The cigar I’d pick would be the Ashton Virgin Sun Grown Spellbound. If I had to pick a cigar not made by Fuente/Newman, it would be a La Flor Dominicana LG.

SG: Casa Fuente has a very extensive list of drinks. What is your favorite beverage to enjoy while having a smoke?

MF: My favorite drink is a refreshing Mojito, made with 12-year-old Montecristo Rum.

SG: In your personal humidors, do you keep the cellophane on or off? Why?

MF: Both. The ones that come with cellophane I leave on. The ones that don’t have cellophane, that’s the way I keep them. Everyone seems to have different answers on the way they keep their cigars. I like to look at the cellophane after the cigars have been sitting three or more years, because the cellophane turns all yellow, and then I know I’m in for one hell of a cigar.

SG: When the Las Vegas smoking ban went into effect, your store had to go to court to continue to allow people to smoke on the patio. What’s the status of that litigation?

MF: First we filed a restraining order. Then we had our court date, which I’m happy to say we won. So smoking on the patio at Casa Fuente is a big go.

Thanks to Michael Fayerverger for taking the time to answer our questions. During your next trip to Las Vegas, be sure to visit Casa Fuente in the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

–Patrick S

Tags: cigars