Pre-light Experience

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Between the Lines is a similar shape to the Best Seller but is a barber pole with dark brown and light brown wrappers. There are some slightly raised veins on the lighter wrappers. The seams are very smooth and the caps are very well applied. The band is the Grand Reserva style with a gold, red and black color combination. The aroma from the wrapper is a mix of wood, biscuit and dark chocolate. The foot opening is too small to detect anything different. The pre-light draw brings more wood and biscuit notes along with a very mild spiciness on my tongue and lips.

First Third

The cigar begins with a mix of wood, dark earth and mustiness. Once the burn gets over the shoulder, the wood has transitioned to an aged cedar with the mustiness accompanying it and the earth lightening up a bit. The retrohale is a musty, general wood note. At an inch in, a light black pepper has joined the profile. As the third wraps up, the aged, musty cedar is up front with the dark earth a bit behind and a mild black pepper in the background. The strength in this third was slightly below medium.

Second Third

The second third continues with the aged, musty cedar up front, dark earth a bit behind and a mild black pepper in the background. At a half inch in, the cedar gains a decent level of toast. The retrohale is now musty and toasted cedar. As the third comes to a close, the cedar is now heavily toasted and still carries the mustiness while the earth is a bit behind and the black pepper is light in the background. The strength in this third bumped up to medium.

Final Third

The final third begins with heavily toasted cedar just ahead of the earth while the mustiness is now more in the background. The black pepper is still pretty faint. The retrohale remains musty and toasted cedar. At three quarters of an inch in, the heavily toasted cedar and earth are even with the mustiness in the background and the black pepper having departed. The strength in this third remained at medium.

Burn

The burn was slightly wavy in the first third, but was then razor sharp the rest of the way. The ash held on to the midpoint of the cigar and then again until the end.

Draw

The draw was perfect, with just the right amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

This is a nice, well balanced smaller vitola. A good mix of musty cedar, earth and pepper with a medium strength profile. Construction was fantastic and allowed me to just focus on the flavors. While I would probably lean towards the non-barber poles in the Hemingway line, the Arturo Fuente Hemingway Between the Lines is a nice variation. The price point is fairly high for the short smoking time, but I could see coming back to this on occasion.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.72

Cost/Point

$2.28

Scoring System

Personal Cigar Review: Arturo Fuente Hemingway Between the Lines