Who more so than Ernest Hemingway wrote the Great American Novel?
Who more so than Arturo Fuente reinvented the classic premium cigar?
When Arturo Fuente boss Don “Carlito” Carlos Fuente Junior set out to conceive a new line of smokes in the early 1980s, he wanted to indulge in an unexpected return to the cigar-making arts of the first half of the twentieth century, when shaped sticks were all the rage. One shape in particular — the Perfecto, which features a prominent nipple at the foot of the cigar — intrigued the young Carlito. By teaching his tobacco rollers how to fashion Perfectos, Carlito not only kept this tradition alive, but incorporated it into the Hemingway cigar’s production, making an elegant “Classic” that’s as creative and memorable as the writer who had his friends call him “Papa.”
Like Hemingway, Carlito journeyed as far as Africa — in his case, to seek out rare Meerapfel Cameroonian wrapper — today considered Arturo Fuente’s finest — that encapsulates the aged Dominican long-filler leaves inside this assertive, adventurous line of smokes. The resulting lushly drawing, evenly burning, medium-to-full-strength cigars are flavorful yet still scrupulously balanced, redolent of spices, toast and creamy cocoa and enhanced by essences of cedar, almonds, cashews, caramel, orange peel and coffee.
In 2009, the Hemingway Classic ranked seventh on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of the Year list, achieving an enviable 93 rating. In total, this vitola has been ranked 90 or above by CA no fewer than 13 times (13 just happens to have been the lucky number of Carlito’s father — the legendary, sorely missed Don Carlos Fuente Senior).
When ardent fans return again and again to the same beloved staple, regardless of its novelty, that’s the indisputable definition of a timeless Classic. Take note of this glorious cigar — it’s one that’s likely to go down in the books as a veritable tour de force.