After a hectic time at the office I decided to treat myself to a nice cigar and relax out front with an adult beverage. Poking around the humi and looking for something different I decided to go the NC route and see what was available. After digging deep and blowing some dust off my premium selection of aged A.Fuente cigars I decided on the Hemingway Signature Maduro...
Given the constant buzz and admiration of many I felt that this was a good cigar to end a busy day with. Now, what to pair this beauty with??? I looked over my extensive collection of tequila, bourbon, rum and various wines and nothing really popped out... I decided to go with an ole favorite of mine... Beer!
Now this isn't just any beer, but a beer the originated in the land of pleasant living... A beer brewed in the old Baltimore style... National Bohemian...
This handsome cigar is draped in a Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper that is the color of dark semi-sweet chocolate. The cigar feels firm but not hard seeming to be rolled with impeccable attention to detail, in short it's very well constructed.
Effortlessly my Gen2 Palio cutter clips the head of this cigar at the exact spot it should. The prelight draw and sent remind me of an old bale of hay, not necessarily a good thing... However, still possessing a heart full of enthusiasm I eagerly ignite my Steele Blue PB - 207 and gently toast the foot...
My initial impressions are ones of disappointment as I search for words to describe the flavor, I can't find any... I think it is a result of the flatness presented by the Signature. I am detecting faint hints of mild tobacco and a slight maduro profile... I push forward in hopes the there will be some future developments... After a few pulls of Natty Boh my taste buds are refreshed and I dive back into the Hemi...
As I ease into the second third I find myself wondering what went wrong... This cigar has only made a bad day worse... I look to the heavens as ask God "Why? Why me?" Then in an instant, a solution pops into my head... Perhaps a purge will rid this forsaken roll of leaves from the clutches this dank and dampy bitterness! Carefully I blow a slow stream of air into the cigar and nothing happens, still a flat and somewhat bitter cigar. I'd call it one dimensional but that would be too many dimensions. Welling up with anger and despair I throw the cigar to the ground and curse it's creator!
Reflecting on the experience I get a little sick to my stomach when I think about what I spent on this cigar... The only consistent characteristic I have experienced with Fuente's of late is their inconsistency... The lesson learned? "If you have to go Dominican, smoke a Gomez..."
