A perfecto cigar is classified as a cigar that is tapered on both ends, and today we continue our week-long look at these cigars which are my personal favorite size.
According to the Fuente website, the perfecto cigar was popular in the 1920’s, 1930’s and 1940’s and were made by hand. As time moved by and the rollers grew older and retired fewer perfectos were being made as only the true master rollers were able to roll this size.
When you think of a perfecto and Arturo Fuente, you think of the Short Story which we have already reviewed in the past. Today we look at the next size up in the Hemingway line which is the Best Seller.
Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Series
Size: 4.5 x 43/55 (Best Seller)
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican Republic
Filler: Dominican Republic
Source: Medium
The Look: The one thing that gets me going with Fuente cigars is the visible pectin on the wrapper, which is the case with today’s cigar at the cap and in the back where the band comes together. The Cameroon wrapper of the cigar is coarse under the fingers and there are no soft spots.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar is that of earth, specifically dirt with a hint of nutmeg present. As we run the cigar under our nose there is an aroma of freshly ground coffee and a hint of cedar which is inviting to this cigar smoker.
One we light the tip of the cigar, the initial pulls brings us some of that Cameroon sweetness that makes this wrapper oh so enjoyable. As we work past the nipple of the cigar, elements of nutmeg envelope the palate mingling with the honey like sweetness and smokey wood notes that make up the Fuente Best Seller.
Around the halfway point to layers of flavor begin to shift with the honey like sweetness moving to the background while the elements of smokey wood and nuts move to the forefront. There is an added salty component that one can feel on the tip of their tongue.
As we move into final stretches of the Best Seller from Arturo Fuente some cinnamon moves to the front end of the cigar as the cedar and nuttiness are noticed more on the finish of the cigar.
The Burn: One you work past the nipple of the perfecto the draw opens up to perfection. The burn which is also a little uneven corrects itself to a razor-sharp thin combustion line that reveals a firm marble like ash that held for the first half of the cigar. The stick remained lit from first light to last puff.
The Finish: During the cigar boom one of the hardest cigars to find was the Fuente Short Story. The waiting list was long, and the prices were gouged by consumers on some cigar boards. I could only image what they would sell for on the black market had Facebook been around. As far as the cigar, the remarkably sweet notes and core flavors of smoked wood and nuts make this a classic perfecto cigar.
Price: $8.59
Score: 92
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller Foot
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller Burn
