Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art Natural 4 7/8″ x 60

Classic perfecto shaping gives this cigar its own pace from the first light.

Arturo Fuente Hemingway Work of Art Natural belongs to Fuente’s long-running Hemingway series, the Dominican-made line built around traditional perfecto molds that returned to production in the 1980s. The Natural version uses a Cameroon wrapper over Dominican binder and filler, and it is offered in boxes of 25.

The Work of Art is a 4 7/8 inch perfecto with a 46/60 taper, so it begins with a narrow foot, opens through a broader middle, and narrows again at the head. That shape changes how the blend presents itself compared with a straight-sided cigar, especially early on while the foot is still opening.

The flavor usually starts a little reserved, then moves toward cedar, toast, nuts, baking spice, and a light citrus edge, with the sweeter side of the Cameroon wrapper showing more as the cigar settles in. Ranked No. 6 in Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 Cigars of 2018, this is a shorter-format Hemingway that still carries the fuller feel of a shaped cigar.

Pairs well with coffee, bourbon, or amber ale.