Fuente Hemingway Best Seller

I have heard a lot of good things about the Hemingway line, but I have never tried one. Until now! Well, until a few days ago.

I actually picked this little guy up in Arizona, where their tobacco taxes are apparently much cheaper. I got a collection of nice sticks there for a much lower price than I could find here in the east.

Anyhow, the Best Seller is a slightly larger version of the popular Short Story, which I had not had before either (I also bought one of those, but I found it very similar to this cigar, so I won't review that separately).

It has a nice perfecto shape which I find creates an even burn, but some people have trouble with it. It is deceptive in its size, since it burns as long as a much bigger cigar. I enjoyed a nice long book-reading evening on the porch with this little guy.

I paired it with a nice Eagle Rare SB bourbon that had a nice bite to it, and they went together pretty well. The cigar tended towards a nice clean tobacco flavor, with some nuts and cedar. It kinda tasted the way a humidor smells. And since I like that smell, it was all good with me.

I didn't notice any distinct taste changes, and the flavor was a bit low-key for me. But it was definitely a solid cigar. So for having a decent flavor, good burn and nice construction, I give it points. The slightly too-high price, the one-note flavor profile, and slightly bland taste knock it down a couple pegs.

In general, I give it a Belvedere.

Fuente Hemingway Best Seller
Size: Perfecto (5" x 55 ring)
Taste: Medium-Mild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Cedar and nut, tasty tobacco flavor
Overall Rating:
Fat in the middle like Mr. Belvedere.

Nub 460 Habano

(Editor's Note: "The Nub" was also Lawson's previous girlfriend's nickname for him.)

I picked up this little thing on a whim - the other Nick had been talking about some recent cigarbid wins, and I was tempted to give it another go (had some bad experiences several years back) - but also having a business trip coming up, the last thing I wanted was for an order of cigars to be left out baking in a box on my back porch for 4 or 5 days...

So I swung by the local shop and picked a couple up, one of which was the Nub 460 Habano. If you've read the hype sheet for these, you'll know:

Rather than wait for a cigar to develop and evolve, which typically occurs an inch to two inches in, the idea behind Nub was to specifically blend it to hit its sweet spot right off the bat and remain at its peak right through to the end.

See what I did there? I assumed you were familiar with the hype, and then included it anyway. (Editor: Just like when that glorious day comes when I can finally fire you. You'll know it's coming, but I'll still tell you in person.)

So... does it live up? Sorta. Maybe. I guess it depends how your read into it.

Let's start with construction, it's a beautiful little cigar - small but with a good heft. The draw was consistent, and it built up a solid bit of almost-white ash as I smoked.

Anyway, out of the gate, the cigar had some nutty, almost almond overtones that stuck with it throughout, but it started with a bit of heat that mellowed out quickly - if that "heat" was the cigar "developing and evolving" - they might have missed their mark with their stated goal... but that said, I don't really care. (Editor: Congratulations! Neither do I!)

It was a charming little cigar, packing enough punch to leave me quite lightheaded by the finish, and I'm eager to try some of the other styles in this line. At approximately $4.50 for the tiny stick, don't be fooled, it's a solid hour-long smoke, and a powerhouse at that - I wish it was a bit cheaper, to make a good "weekday" stick, but it was still enjoyable. (Editor: Hey, speaking of enjoyable - remember that time when you wrote a review that I loved? Haha just kidding.)

Short, stocky and lovable, this one gets a Hogg.

Nub 460 Habano
Size: 4" x 60 ring
Taste: Medium-Wild
Draw: Good
Burn: Even and consistent
Flavors: Almonds and Tobacco.
Overall Rating: