Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro Heads to TAA Stores

At last month’s 2024 Tobacconists’ Association of America (TAA) Meeting & Convention, Arturo Fuente brought a new version of its popular Hemingway line. Now, it’s heading to TAA stores.

The Arturo Fuente Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro is currently offered in two sizes: Signature (6 x 46, $10.95) and Classic (7 x 46, $11.75). Carlos “Carlito” Fuente Jr. told halfwheel that the wrapper is a habano-seed from Oliva Tobacco Co., likely meaning it comes from Ecuador. The original Hemingway blend was developed by Carlos Fuente Sr., using a Cameroon wrapper over a blend of Dominican tobaccos. It’s also offered in a Maduro variant, that uses a Connecticut broadleaf wrapper, and Sungrown, which uses an Ecuadorian wrapper.

Arturo Fuente only offered the Hemingway Sungrown Oscuro to retailers that are members of the TAA, a retail-focused trade group. That said, it’s not a traditional TAA exclusive. Fuente says that the line is currently sold out and that the company will gather feedback to see if there will be subsequent releases, which could go to more stores.

The TAA is a membership group made up of approximately 80 retailers and roughly 40 manufacturers that gathers annually to discuss issues facing the industry and retailers, as well as to have its annual trade show, a unique event that works on a group buying format in order to secure exclusive deals for these generally high-volume merchants.

During the event—which is took place Oct. 20-24 in Aruba—the organization holds two selling events, one known as the Dream Machine, where the retailers collectively order to secure larger discounts, while the other is a more traditional trade show.

While this line is not part of the program, around a dozen manufacturers release new exclusive cigars for the retail members of the organization under the TAA Exclusive Series Program (ESP) banner. Those manufacturers agree to give a portion of the proceeds to the organization, a minimum of $1 per cigar, previously 50 cents.

CLE, Crowned Heads, E.P. Carrillo, Espinosa, Ferio Tego, Gurkha, Joya de Nicaragua, Kristoff, Miami Cigar & Co., Oliva, Plasencia, Quesada, STG and Villiger Cigars North America announced new TAA ESP releases for 2024.

Update — Added info about where the wrapper likely comes from.