Arturo Fuente Hemingway Masterpiece (9x52)

It is not everyday that I get to smoke a cigar that was as rare as this one. The cigar itself is not rare, in that, you can find these in pretty much any B&M that carries Fuente. What is rare is that this was from an original release box that was procured in 1991. This cigar is at least 20 years old, and from what I know about the Fuente's this may have had three years of age on it before it hit the box. A very close friend gave me this smoke as a gift and I had been trying to figure out when to smoke it. Da Bears/Packers game seemed like just the right time for this pursuit.

The cigar presents in an intimidating perfecto size that seems gigantic to me. The wrapper is showing some age, and feels a touch dry, but I am not anticipating any issues. The construction seems to be excellent as an inspection reveals nothing of note. The pre light aroma is light and floral. The pre light draw shows some slight tobacco essence, but not much else is there.

The cigar opens with a profile that is extremely mild. There are some flavors of cedar and tobacco here, but they are neither complex or particularly deep. At the back of the palate there are some dusty wood characteristics, but again the palate is left wanting for more in the experience. The burn is right on the money and that is a testament to expert construction, for a cigar of this shape and size to burn well is a marvel of cigar engineering. The draw is fluid and easy, imparting just the right amount of smoke with every draw.

The first third of the cigar shows little progression of any kind. The main body picks up some floral ideas, but continues to show steady presentations of cedar and tobacco. At the back of the palate there are still some dusty wood presentations, but a wheaty character has entered the picture here as well. The burn is still right on the money and the draw continues to be a dream.

The middle third of the cigar continues to be mired in mediocrity. The core profile takes on a more floral personality, but there really is nothing here that is leading to any complexity or depth. The back of the palate continues to be combination of wood and wheat. The burn and draw are continuing to be the stars of this particular show.

The final third of the cigar continues to be very blase. The core profile is floral, with some touches of tobacco and some fleeting cinnamon notes (that at one time would have been profound). At the back of the palate there are still just some wood and wheat notes that are nothing special. The burn and draw steal the show here, just magnificent through to the end.

The finish was short and wheaty. At least I can say that I am one of the few people that has smoked a 20 year old Fuente, but this definitely reaffirms that old adage....smoke if you got em...

Appearance- 88 a nice looking smoke, but it is showing it's age
Taste- 84 very mundane and lacking in complexity and depth
Construction- 96 for a cigar of this size to be this well constructed and stay that way for 20 years warrants this score
Strength- 85 a very non-descript mild
Overall- 88.75 based in large part on construction

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (4x48)

In looking through my archives I found that I had never reviewed this iconic cigar, and I have been smoking it for years and years. At one time, during the end of the boom period, this cigar could command $17.00. In recent years it is less than $6.00 and I have always thought that it was worth every penny, even when the premium was in place. My fear of reviewing these classic cigars of bygone smoking days is always the same, what if I now think the cigar stinks, I will not only have lost an old standby but I will have ruined some great cigar memories. So with wistful emotions I begin the journey of this review.

The cigar itself presents very well, I have always admired this shape, and I know what skill and craftsmanship is on display in this intricate vitola. The wrapper is the usual Hemingway medium brown and has that dusty texture that just seems right on these cigars. I always think of an old library somewhere, probably having to do with being named after the legendary author, and I think of dusty books with information yet to be discovered. This cigar always make me long for a smoking jacket, slippers, fireplace, armchair and scotch. This vivid imagery has always accompanied this smoke for me, no matter the venue in which I smoke it. The cigar is well made, but I anticipate the usual early burn problems that I always encounter with this vitola. The pre light aroma is light, but has some nice hints of roasted nuts. The pre light draw is almost floral, but shows some nutty presentations as well.

The cigar opens as I expect. The draw is tight, this is due to the nipple at the foot and the narrow burn passageway in the early moments, but I believe that it will open up as it usually does. The burn is wonky, but I also have always experienced this correcting itself relatively quickly. The profile is replete with roasted nut flavors, but they are not particularly complex or deep. At the back of the palate there are some nice light wood flavors with some cedar sweetness.

The main body of this small smoke is all that I remember it to be. There are some excellent notes of roasted nuts, spice and light wood throughout the smoke. There are some complexity and depth issues, but the straightforward presentation is refreshing here. At the back of the palate there are some dry areas, but overall there are some nice touches of wood and some floral essences here as well. The draw opens up nicely in the middle sections and the burn evens out making for an easy smoking experience.

The finish is somewhat middling, but has some nice wood and floral notes that linger.

Appearance- 94 always fun to look at
Taste- 88 a solid profile that could use more depth and complexity
Construction- 88 some early issues as usual, but they evened out
Strength- 91 a very nice mild/medium
Overall- 89.5 an excellent cigar that has stood the test of time