The Arturo Fuente Rare Pink started out as feel good story with Fuente donating $13 of every box sold to Breast Cancer Research. It brought attention to a form of cancer experienced predominantly by woman, but then like a lot of Fuente products it took a turn toward the deviant side that Fuente likes to push. Two sizes introduced would refer to the sex trade with the names of Sophisticated Hooker & Happy Ending following down the same dark back alley as the Opus X line. That line features names like BBMF (Big Bad Mother Fucker) and Pussy Juice.
The company which doesn’t appear as dominant as they once was still has a cult following, but more on that later. There are legions that are dwindling in numbers that chase every rare Fuente product. In the meantime, their core line has become dated and reminiscent of days gone by. There was a time when every cigar shop I walked into would have 8-5-8, Double Chateau and more in order to survive but that isn’t the case anymore.
And the rare items seem to sit on the shelf longer than they once did.
Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Short Story
Size: 4″ x 42 x 49
Wrapper: Ecuador
Binder: Dominican Republic
Fillers: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
Release Date: December 2020
Box Count: 25
The Look: If there is one size in the cigar industry that is synonymous with a brand it is the little perfecto that Fuente calls Short Story. In the late 90s the cigar was incredibly sort after and difficult to find. The Rare Pink Short Story rendition replaces the red of the Fuente band with pink. It’s a busy band that is extremely gaudy, but you can’t smoke the band. The Ecuador wrapper is nearly flawless and the cigar is firm with no soft spots.
The Notes: The cold draw has notes of cinnamon, rich molasses and figs but it also has a pipe tobacco feel with a Cavendish like aroma to the tobacco. Due to the size of the cigar we will break this down in two halves. Once the cigar is toasted and lit there is the taste of brown paper bag and a subtle brown sugar sweetness.
As we smoke the first half I can’t help but think about how much the cigar tastes like the aroma of a brown paper bag that has gotten slightly damp from melting frozen goods. The first half of the cigar is rounded out by floral notes, soda crackers and dry earth. The retrohale is the savior of the cigar with notes of cinnamon, espresso and a subtle tea but it doesn’t do enough .
As we smoke the final half of the Rare Pink Short Story from Fuente the cigar continue to serve up notes of brown paper bag, dried earth and umami. The retrohale which had something to offer in the first third now brings for very floral notes and additional dry earth. Despite having water handy I am left with a very dry mouth and can’t wait to light something else up.
The Finish: Fuente reminds me a lot of the bourbon market, There are people who will chase allocated bourbons and often pay double and triple the price. I believe these individuals much like those who smoke Opus X, Rare Pink, etc are all brand whores. They see the rarity of the brand and they say they like it because they need to feel important and be a part of the “hey, look at me and what I got!” crowd.
Then there are those that say, you can’t smoke them now! You need to sit on them for 4-5 years in order to enjoy them. Yeah, I’m sorry I am not investing time to age these. Especially when the company has the slogan, “We will never rush the hands of time.” It should be their job to deliver a product ready to be enjoyed within 30 days of purchase.
Personally, I think the company needs to come out with a 7 x 70 Opus X and call it “The O Face.” As in, oh my God, why did I buy one of these?
Score: 69 (Because it fits the brand)
Price: $11.00 (Before any local or state taxes)
