Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story vs. Best Seller
Arturo Fuente is the leading maker of Dominican cigars in the world. Among the brand’s most popular cigars is Arturo Fuente Hemingway, a distinctive line blended from well-aged Dominican binder and filler tobaccos finished in a glistening Cameroon wrapper leaf. Every size in the collection is a Figurado, or a figured shape. Figurado cigar shapes include Torpedos, Pyramids, Belicosos, and Perfectos. All Hemingway cigars are Perfectos. They taper at the head and are thick and bulbous at the foot which is closed except for a small nipple, the part of the cigar you light.
When the Hemingway line debuted, many cigar-makers had abandoned rolling Perfectos because they are difficult to make and require a higher degree of training. The Fuentes established their reputation by blending and crafting cigars according to old-world Cuban standards, and the Hemingway line is a perfect example. The blend is named for celebrated American author Ernest Hemingway, and each size is a reference to a literary work. Arturo Fuente Hemingway cigars range in price from around $6 to $15 per cigar.
Among the seven Hemingway sizes are two very popular, small and striking formats: Short Story and Best Seller. At a glance, they nearly look identical, but the differences between the two emerge when we look at their exact dimensions. Each size has scored numerous ratings over 90 points from the critics in Cigar Aficionado. Smoking both cigars is an opportunity to experience the subtle distinctions different shapes make in the same blend.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Short Story (4 x 49)
Many aficionados consider the Hemingway Short Story one of the best short cigars you can smoke. Thousands of premium cigar stores around the world carry Arturo Fuente Hemingway, and the Short Story has been one of the most popular sizes for over three decades. At 4 inches long with a 49 ring gauge, the Short Story is a shape adored by seasoned connoisseurs as well as newer cigar lovers who are drawn to its petit format.
When smoking a Short Story, only light the nipple on the foot of the cigar. Perfectos burn gradually with a slightly tighter draw in the beginning, which is intended to deliver greater flavor from the wrapper because it encloses the foot. Despite its small stature, a Short Story can burn for forty minutes or longer – if you smoke it slowly. Tasting notes of cedar, maple, baking spices, and nuts weave a luscious tapestry of flavor across the palate. Hints of dried fruit and black pepper create a sweet and spicy impression that intensifies toward the end.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller (4.5 x 55)
The Best Seller is a touch longer at 4.5 inches with a slightly thicker 55 ring gauge. The incrementally larger format adds roughly twenty minutes of smoking time, and the draw is a touch cooler. The same delicious profile of maple, cedar, and nuts comes to life with a plethora of signature Dominican spices. The finish is also a touch longer and provides a greater rumination of flavor and aroma. You can smoke a Best Seller or a Short Story in under thirty minutes without rushing or causing the cigar to burn too hot, too, which is why both shapes are popular with cigar lovers who crave high-quality, complex taste in a manageable format.
Arturo Fuente Hemingway Maduro
Both the Short Story and the Best Seller are blended with a succulent Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper in Arturo Fuente Hemingway Maduro. Sweeter, dark flavors of cocoa, molasses, and spices characterize Hemingway Maduro, which is produced in smaller quantities. Consider the Maduro blend if you’re a fan of other Connecticut Broadleaf cigars like Ashton Aged Maduro and the ultra-rare Arturo Fuente Anejo. Hemingway Maduro cigars are harder to find than the original Hemingway series, but they’re not as limited as Anejo. To compare and contrast the two blends before you smoke them, check out our Hemingway staff review and our Hemingway Maduro staff review for our take on a pair of classic Fuente cigars.
