Cigar Geeks - Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Maduro

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Maduro
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: G Scott Lewis (texlewee)

93
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Cigar Geeks Critique of a cigar provided to us by our friends at Cigars Direct. Up for review this time is the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Maduro.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Classic Maduro

Brand:: Arturo Fuente
Name:: Hemingway Classic Maduro
Length:: 7
Ring Gauge:: 48
Country of Origin:: Dominican Republic
Filler:: Dominican Republic
Binder:: Dominican Republic
Wrapper:: Connecticut Broadleaf
United States
Color:: Maduro
Strength:: Medium
Shape:: Perfecto
Average Member Purchase Price:: $19.25
Average Member Rating:: (9 Review(s))

This cigar was enjoyed with Coffee - Black

Pre-Light: 19 Points of 10 Possible

A slightly bumpy wrapper with very small veins. No obvious flaws. Cap appears solid and smoothly transitions to the body of the cigar. The trademark "nipple" is firm as well, with no apparent flaws. The wrapper is dark, almost black. Doesn't appear oily at all, but belies a well constructed cigar. Very solid in the hand. Not even a bit spongy.

The pre light aroma was very peppery, with strong hints of classic barnyard. I snipped it with a v-cut. It snipped smoothly and cleanly. Revealing a milk chocolate inner core.

Light time: 3 pm

Lighting and Burn: 13 Points of 15 Possible

I lit the nipple and let it extinguish before initiating the light. However, I didn't get to relight. The slight flaming to the nipple was all the light I needed. It immediately lent an easy, but not airy draw. Immediately it gave up VOLUMES of thick smoke. The burn was slightly crooked, but the ash held anyway. It held to over 1.5 inches not once, but 3 times. Each time I had to use the old "dustbuster" to clean up a good lengthy ash. It was solid and slightly salt and pepper, with little to no flaking.

Construction: 28 Points of 30 Possible

The draw was a perfect easy medium, and the construction and cap held flawlessly throughout the smoke. As noted before, the cigar was solid, and remained solid throughout. The cigar never required any touch-up, in spite of the slight crookedness of the first 1/3rd. The ash held well throughout, giving me a lengthy ash even as I neared the nub.

Flavor and Aroma: 33 Points of 45 Possible

A medium/full smoke, this cigar had a bevy of flavours and several transitions. The first 1/3 gave me a very earthy taste with classic barnyard aromas. The finish was a lingering taste of roasted peppers in chocolate. At the 1/2 way point, it transitioned to a dark chocolaty taste, retaining much of its earthy feel. The finish kept a little of its peppery bite, but less than before. As I neared the band, I detected some slight anise tastes with just a bit of bittersweet nutmeg. The band to the nub gave me more earth. The peppery feel was near non-existent at this point. But the chocolates were coming through full and strong. It kept an intense chocolate and earth feel through the nub, never getting unpleasantly bitter or hot. The finish was a slightly sweet chocolate that lingered for a good while.

Summary

This cigar was a classic, as its name implied. All the flavours one might expect from a maduro were there. Chocolate, earth, barnyard, and light hints of pepper. The cigar finished as strong as it started, with good, clear, full flavours until it burned my hand. The tastes of my burning flesh finally beckoned me to put it down.

Finish time: 4:30 PM.

I want another.