This is one of those cigars I had on my mind all day, but unfortunately, it was a windy day, not exactly ideal conditions for enjoying a cigar. But if you know me, once I decide I’m smoking something, it’s happening. So, naturally, I went for it.
The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller has been around forever, and somehow I just hadn’t gotten around to it. No real reason, I just hadn’t picked one up yet. After spending time with it, I get why the Hemingway line has stuck around and become the iconic cigar it is.
This is a smooth, balanced Cameroon wrapper cigar that’s easy to enjoy, but there’s a little more going on here than you might expect.
If you’re looking for a smooth, medium-bodied cigar that’s easy to enjoy without overthinking it, this is a strong yes. The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller delivers cedar, cream, coffee, and a natural sweetness that leans more toward brown sugar than anything artificial. It’s balanced, approachable, and works just about anytime.
That said, the perfecto shape can be a little sensitive depending on how you start it. I had some burn issues early on (partly on me, partly conditions), but once it settled in, it smoked the way you’d expect from a cigar produced by the Arturo Fuente family.
If you’re stepping up from mild cigars or just want something reliable you can come back to, this fits. It’s one of those Dominican cigars that doesn’t try too hard, and doesn’t need to.
Profile: Medium
Wrapper: Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Dominican
Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cía, Dominican Republic
Size Reviewed: Best Seller (4.5 x 55)
Sizes Available: Best Seller (4.5 x 55), Between the Lines (4.5 x 54), Classic (7 x 48), Masterpiece (9 x 52), Short Story (4 x 49), Signature (6 x 47), Work of Art 4.875 x 60)
Notable Features: An iconic perfecto vitola with a tapered foot that creates a more focused start and evolving smoke
Flavor Highlights: Cedar, cream, nuts, baking spices, cocoa, honey, and subtle citrus
Price Point: Typically around $9 per cigar, closer to $8 per cigar when bought in boxes of 25 cigars
The Hemingway line has a pretty unique origin story, and it’s part of what makes this cigar stand out. Back in the early 80s, Carlito Fuente was experimenting with older molds that dated back to his grandfather, Arturo Fuente Sr. These molds were used to make what were called “fancy tails”, early versions of what we now know as perfectos. Per Cigar Aficionado, Carlos Fuente Jr. and his father 'revived the perfecto shape with their Hemingway series', and built the family's Dominican production legacy.
At the time, this wasn’t a common shape at all. Carlito brought the blend together, let it age, and originally introduced the Signature size as more of an experiment than anything else. When a reporter visiting the factory had asked about it, it was described as a tribute to a “man’s man”, someone larger than life. And that’s how the Hemingway name came to be. It stuck, and the line was officially released in 1983.
Since then, the Hemingway series has become one of the most recognizable lines in the cigar world. It also helped bring the perfecto shape back into the spotlight at a time when it had largely disappeared.
The Arturo Fuente factory is known for its attention to detail, and cigars like this are only rolled by experienced torcedores. Between the construction, the aging process, and the consistency, it’s easy to see why this line has held up over time.
Before getting into it, the cigar felt exactly how you’d expect from the Hemingway line: firm, well-constructed, and clean. The perfecto shape had just the right amount of give without feeling soft anywhere.
On the cold draw, I was picking up some cedar, a little cocoa, and a subtle sweetness. The initial start is where things got a little tricky.
Between the wind and probably rushing things a bit, it didn’t begin perfectly. That tapered foot can be sensitive if you don’t take your time, and I’ll take some of the blame there.
Once it got going, I started picking up coffee and brown sugar right away, which set the tone for the rest of the experience. The taste of the cold draw matched closely what came through after.
Once it settled in, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller really started to show what it does well. Cedar and cream lead the way, backed by coffee and a natural sweetness that leans more toward brown sugar than anything artificial. It’s smooth, balanced, and easy to get into.
There’s also a subtle citrus note that comes and goes, adding just enough brightness to keep things interesting. This is where the Cameroon wrapper really stands out, bringing that slightly sweet, slightly spicy character without overpowering anything.
As I moved past the halfway point, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller really started to settle in. The profile didn’t shift dramatically, but everything felt more connected and blended together really well. The cedar and cream were still there, while the sweetness became a little more noticeable, leaning into honey and light brown sugar.
This is also where some of the baking spices started to show up more clearly. I was picking up a bit of nutmeg and a soft spice on the finish, but nothing overpowering.
The burn line still needed a little attention here, which wasn’t ideal, but the overall experience stayed consistent enough that it didn’t take away from it. This middle portion is really where it shines, balanced, smooth, and easy to sit with.
By the final third, the profile leaned a little drier and more spice-forward. The sweetness backed off slightly, and things moved more into baking spices, cedar, and a light cocoa note. There was still some creaminess in the background, but it wasn’t as prominent as earlier.
This is also where the earlier burn issues showed up again. It didn’t fall apart, but it needed a little attention to keep things even. Some of that comes with the perfecto vitola, but it was definitely influenced by the conditions I chose to smoke in.
Even with that, it held together well. It didn’t get harsh, didn’t overheat, and finished clean.
Construction overall was solid, it felt firm in hand, the wrapper looked clean, and the band presentation is exactly what you’d expect from Arturo Fuente, classic and recognizable. This review applies the same construction-burn-flavor framework formalized in Halfwheel, where 'every review on halfwheel is given a final score using the same formula' separating appearance, construction, strength, body, flavor, and finish as independent dimensions.
The draw was consistent from start to finish, which is always a good sign with a shape like this. The burn was a bit more of a mixed bag.
Between the initial start and the wind, it never fully corrected itself without a little help. The burn line wasn’t razor sharp, and I had to stay on it more than I’d like.
That said, it still performed well enough overall. Smoke output stayed consistent, the ash held decently, and it never turned hot or harsh. The cap held up well through multiple cuts and burned down clean without unraveling.
With a slower, more controlled start in better conditions, I’d expect this to perform better.
This is one of those cigars that just works. The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller delivers a smooth, balanced experience that’s easy to come back to. The profile hits that classic Cameroon wrapper lane, cedar, cream, sweetness, and light spice, all working together without anything feeling forced.
The burn wasn’t perfect for me, but it also didn’t ruin the experience. If anything, it’s a reminder that a cigar like this rewards a little patience. For what it is, a medium-bodied, approachable cigar with a unique shape, it does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
The perfecto shape isn’t just for looks; it actually changes how this cigar smokes. With the tapered foot, the cigar starts more concentrated, delivering a tighter, more focused flavor early on. As it opens up, the draw loosens slightly, and the profile becomes more balanced.
That transition is part of what makes the Hemingway line unique. The trade-off is that perfectos can be a little more sensitive when it comes to lighting and burn consistency. If you rush the light or smoke too quickly, it can affect how evenly it burns.
When done right, though, it adds a layer of complexity you don’t always get from a standard cigar. That’s part of what makes perfectos stand out; they require a little more attention, but they reward you for it.
If you’ve had the Short Story, this is essentially the next step up. The Best Seller stretches things out a bit more, usually around 35–45 minutes, depending on your pace, while keeping that same core profile.
The Short Story is quicker, slightly more compact, and a great option when you don’t have much time. The Best Seller gives you more room for the cigar to open up, especially through the second third.
If you enjoy the Short Story, this is an easy move.
This is one of those cigars that works just about anytime. It’s not overly heavy, sits comfortably in that medium body range, and doesn’t demand your full attention. You can smoke it in the morning, mid-day, or evening without it feeling out of place.
The smoking time also makes it easy to fit in. You’re looking at around 30–45 minutes, depending on how slowly you take it. It pairs well with coffee, and I could see it working just as well with a lighter bourbon or even a scotch.
If you’re just sitting back and looking for something reliable, this fits. For the price, it’s an easy cigar to keep in rotation without overthinking it.
| Category | Rating (0–10) |
|---|---|
| Flavor | 9.1 |
| Construction | 9.0 |
| Burn / Draw | 8.6 |
| Value | 9.2 |
| Overall Rating | ⭐ 9.0 / 10 |
(Comparable to a 90–91 on a traditional cigar scale)
A smooth, medium-bodied cigar that delivers a consistent and balanced experience from start to finish. Not the boldest or most complex cigar out there, but one that earns its place through reliability and how easy it is to come back to.
If you’re looking to try the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Best Seller, we carry it at After Action Cigars along with other cigars from the Hemingway line.
If you’ve had the Short Story and enjoyed it, this is a natural next step. And if you’re just getting into the Arturo Fuente Cigars lineup, this is one of the easier cigars to start with.
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