I had the pleasure of enjoying both a natural and a maduro of the Fuente Hemingway Best Seller. I know. I know. You’re not supposed to smoke two different sticks at the same time. Not supposed to… I hate being told what I can’t do! And besides. It was my birthday. Do what I want!

Well, honestly, on my birthday, I didn’t smoke both at the exact same time. I smoked the natural first. Then enjoyed the maduro after. Note the words I used. But the next day, Warren wanted to try some cigars with me. That’s when I smoked both simultaneously. And in all honesty, it didn’t seem to be a problem. Both cigars flavours were distinct. It’s just too bad I don’t yet have the skills to describe them.

The cigar remained fairly unchanged by the drink. But the drink transformed.

I was loaded with the good ol’ Martell VSOP on my birthday. That’s the stock standard fire-water the Family and I enjoy. And I was hoping the Hemingway Natural would pair well. It was okay. The cigar remained fairly unchanged by the drink. But the drink transformed. The smoke brought out more of the barrel flavour in the cognac. I also found the smoke enhanced the fruity notes of the drink while not touching any sweetness.

The cigar was okay at best. I did get the impression that the dry hay flavour would be the signature Fuente Natural taste. It was very distinct. I had only properly smoked previously a couple of Oliva Serie G Special G Maduros, and 2 dead Cubans, an H. Upmann and Romeo Y Julieta. And from what I could tell, I wasn’t enjoying the Fuente as much as I thought I would. It tasted very dry woodish, and dry hay-like. It didn’t have the same thickness in smoke that the Special G Maduro had. Those Olivas were really keeping me interested in cigars. I was disappointed the Fuente Natural wasn’t giving the same effect.

The story changed when I let the Fuente Maduro. As soon as I lit its small foot, I got a mouthful of thick, dark flavour. I knew in that instant. I loved maduros. There’s something more delicious and flavourful about the dark maduro smoke. That’s the only way I know how to describe it. Dark, thick, rich smokiness. My palette is instantly delighted with such smoke. As I always say, it’s likely because I’ve smoked cigarettes for 2 decades. Or maybe because I always drink my coffee black. All I know is I’m damned sure maduros are for me!

I knew in that instant. I loved maduros

The Best Seller Maduro tasted much like the Natural, with a dry wood and dry hay flavour, only much darker and richer. The woody taste was less evident since the burnt charcoal flavour didn’t appear in the maduro. Instead, the woody smoke tasted fresh, rather than dry. There was also hints of coffee on my palette.

The cognac didn’t really affect the Maduro, just like it didn’t with the Natural. And the Maduro had the same effect on the drink as the Natural did. No obvious differences from what I could tell.

The next day, I shared both sticks with Warren. Well actually, I was being a selfish bastard, and gave him the Natural while I dibsed the Maduro for myself. It was his first proper cigar, and I could see on his face that he wasn’t enjoying it. I felt bad and told him I liked the maduro flavours better. As soon as he tasted the Maduro, he completely agreed. The Maduro was way more enjoyable. He too, was a long-time cigarette smoker. So, it’s likely his palette was similar to mine.

Inhaling was deep in our nature. And I too sometimes do it without thinking.

Warren didn’t want to smoke too much of the cigar because of the habit of inhaling smoke. Inhaling was deep in our nature. And I too sometimes do it without thinking. But with both cigars lit, I decided I’d finish both.

No longer smoking, Warren was eating the jam donuts we bought at Dande-Market. He passed me one, and from the first bite, I was shocked to find a different taste. The Dande donut had rich coffee and vanilla notes I never tasted before. I knew it was the cigars. The Maduro in particular. I smoked more of the dark stick, and the sweetness of jam transferred into the smoke, giving all the characteristics of the cigar a more dessert like taste. It was amazing!

The donut now had a more balanced taste, where its usual over-powering sweetness had faded away into the cigar. And what was left was a delicious, buttery sandwich with a strawberry tart finish.

From what I remembered, the Fuente Hemingway Best Sellers pair delightfully with fresh sugar-coated jam donuts. And I must note, especially the Maduro, and especially Dande donuts.

The long country roads with a pair of enhanced cigars was the perfect way to road trip.

Even with my donut finished, both cigars were still so tasty. We went on a road trip that day. And I was smoking and driving like a boss. The long country roads with a pair of enhanced cigars was the perfect way to road trip.

But yeah. I’m pretty sure I’m a maduro man. I can feel it!

-Daniel Roy