Simply Wonderful - Worth buying

Okay, I got your comments: each review should stand alone and also bring more depth. Gotcha. I'm smoking another Hemmingway Signature and giving analysis at the same time.

Mood: rare situation. 4pm with a Miller High Life to wet the mouth. Listening to Stairway to Heaven.

The cigar is dark brown with a perfecto roll. The size is about 6 inches. I will not give the history on the cigar because that can be referenced by reading Arturo Fuente's website. The general background is that this cigar cannot be purchased at any cigar shop on any given day. According to my tobacco shop Arturo Fuente 'allows' dealers to purchase these cigars (hemmingway, don carlos, and opus x) at certain times and different regions receive different amounts. This could be one factor in higher prices (Bevmo in California sells short stories for $11.99 and my shop sells them for $5.50 - I'm located in Arizona for College).

Okay the cigar. Lighting perfectos are easier than robustos simply because you light a small, little portion of the tip and the cigar corrects itself - a small positive.

The taste, well, I'm not highly educated in this area. I will try to explain, but understand that you will receive different nuances simply because I will not hit everything and your tastes vary:

I taste earth, nut, spice... believe it or not chocolate along with carmel. The carmel being the stronger of the two and the chocolate rounding out the taste. I smoked one signature a couple days ago and afterwards thought "maybe I am just imagining things" - simply because I've never tasted those notes before. I usually only taste earthy tobacco with nuts and oil in cigars, but the next morning after I got out of the shower and walked in my room... I smelled chocolate and carmel!

The cigar has an extremely easy pull. My experience with Arturo Fuente ranges from the $3 generic line, to the hemmindway short story, to hemmingway signature, to opus x corona. The generic $3 cigar had a tight pull, the short story had an medium/easy pull, the signature and opusx have incredibly easy pulls. Pull - meaning - that when you breathe in the cigar it burns easy and pulls a ton of smoke into your mouth.

I will note that I am not enjoying this cigar as much as I did. This is relative because it is still better than most of all cigars I have smoked. I attribute this to the fact that it is mid-day and I do not smoke during this time. I am glad I am smoking now because now I will only smoke these after dinner, with a stronger beer, and in a good mood.

Also, I am tasting more good tobacco than chocolate and carmel at this moment. I will re-evaluate after I leave and come back later tonight and rate the 'after smoke' effect.

At $7-something a stick this is incredibly affordable. My previous review said that I would be purchasing $100 worth of these ciagrs. Well, yesterday I went to the shop and only five signatures were left and I snagged them. Also, they received a box of opus x so I spent the rest on those. A general, quick comparison:

OpusX is incredibly strong. I understand why they compare them to the legal equiv. of cubans. Do not smoke OpusX without a dinner. The smoke was incredible (again, tasting notes in another review on them) and, again, if you get the chance check them out. Signatures are a laid back great smoke, OpusX is intense.

Signatures: $7.25 per stick
OpusX Corona: $11 per stick (my tobacco shop is awesome)

Also, noteworthy is the fact that I'm a 21 year old college student (read: poor) and couldn't buy the box at $11 per stick. If I could, I would have - without hesitation.

I have no affiliation with Arturo Fuente. I smoke many different brands, but recently I've found great success with Arturo so I'm posting about it to help others 'interested' or so bombarded with cigar brands they have never had a chance to sit down with a hemmingway or opusx.

Also, please take in account that I - hate - signing up at sites. I did sign-up at epinions.com with the sole intention of posting about the signatures. Now I might write more reviews, but if that is not a solid vouch I'm not sure what is : )

Currently my fav's are in this order:
Montecristo (Cuban) No. 2 [aged]
OpusX
Hemmingway Signature

(Partagas Cuban somewhere in there - they had incredible smoke - maybe the thickest I've had - but I'd rather buy Montecristos over them anyday)

Look, enjoy this sport because it's a luxury (no more 4pm smoking). Golf, Wines, and Cigars... pretty much the rich guy's lifestyle. If you are buying legal cigars then Arturo Fuente will meet or exceed your needs. If you dabble in cubans, then prost!

I'd just ask you try this once. I'm confident you'll at the very _minimum_ not feel cheated.

Thanks,
Kevin