The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro is a new version of the Fuente staple. Released only to to members of the Tobacconist Association of America this new version features an Ecuador Sungrown Oscuro wrapper.
Each year 80 or so of the top retailers and some of the top manufactures get together for a mini trade show. It has become a tradition for the manufacturers of the TAA to release a limited edition cigar for these top accounts. This release is different as the line was made to order based on how many were sold. However, the company plans to take feedback to see if there will be a large release with this wrapper and in addition sizes.
For now the cigar comes in two sizes the Hemingway Signature (6 x 46, $10.95 MSRP and the Hemingway Classic (7 x 46, $11.75).
Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro
Size: 7 x 46 (Classic)
Wrapper: Ecuador Oscuro
Binder: Dominican Republic
Fillers: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia.
Release Date: November 2024
Box Count: 25
The Cigar: The Salomon size cigars of the Hemingway line brought the vitola to the mainstream. You see a cigar in this shape, and size (thin ring) your first thought is Fuente. The Hemingway and LFD’s The Chisel are the only two cigars that are instantly identified by their shape. The dark color Oscuro wrapper is flawless with some oils and veins. In the hand the cigar is firm and hefty though it seems to me more heavy toward the foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro has notes of smores with marshmallow fluff, smores and chocolate. The aroma from the nipple foot and wrapper as non descript. The draw of the cigar starts off a little snug until you pass the nipple and as you do it opens up with more chocolate sweetness.
Smoking the first third the cigar the notes of chocolate slowly begin to fade as the cigar develops peanuts as the primary note with a subtle fudge in the background and an earthy finish. The retrohale enhances the chocolate sweetness with a touch of earth.
Moving into the second third the cigar sees notes of fudge remain but slow gives way to some pepper notes and roasted peanuts with a touch of earth. As we transition past the halfway point on this slow smoking cigar there is some saltiness developing along with some sourdough toast. The retrohale sees an abundance of red pepper with some rye on the finish.
Moving into the final third of the Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro, notes of chocolate return for an encore with continues nuttines and for the first time a hint of coconut shavings. The finish is long and leathery with some raw tobacco notes present that are enhanced on the spicy retrohale.
The Conclusion: Definitely not what I expected. When I first started smoking in the late 1990s everyone wanted the Fuente Short Story. They were back ordered all the time and hard to find. Back then when I was new to cigars I gravitated to the Fuente line as there Cameroon wrapper cigars provided a natural sweetness. In time I moved away from the Fuente core lines and the brand over the decade became old and dated.
I was walking out of Twins Smoke Shop in Londonderry, NH when the owner and friend Kurt Kendall asked if I saw the new wrapper Hemingway TAA that just came in. To be honest, to be polite I grabbed a couple and figure they would be old and dated. I was wrong (just don’t tell me wife I admitted that). The new Fuente Hemmingway Sungrown Oscuro is incredible. It’s well balanced with a nice strength to it and as someone who has moved away from Dominican cigars, it doesn’t feel Dominican.
Score: 94
Price: $11.75 (Before any local or state taxes)
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