Today, we take a look at the Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s in the Sophisticated Hooker size. Pink is a color associated with breast cancer awareness, and the Rare Pink 1960’s is a line meant to raise awareness and money for breast cancer research. Company Chairman Carlos “Carlito” Fuente got the inspiration to support this cause from his daughter Liana, who lost both her grandmother and aunt to breast cancer. The boxes of these cigars are pink, and the bands have pink accents. The bands also have a retro 1960’s-era vibe – which is the period in time when Carlito was growing up. It was initially launched in four sizes back in 2022. The Sophisticated Hooker was added in 2022, and measuring 7 1/4 x 53, it was the longest cigar in the series.
Liana Fuente told the Cigar Coop Team that the name Sophisticated Hooker is more innocent than it sounds. It turns out that Liana’s father, Carlos “Carlito” Fuente, had been in Key West at a Cigar Family Charitable Foundation fundraiser on a boat called the Sophisticated Hooker. The boat had been named that because of all of the fishing hooks on it. The event was so memorable to Carlito that he wanted to bring that name back and put it on the Rare Pink cigar.
Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s Sophisticated Hooker – Agile Cigar Review
SPECIFICATIONS
The Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s line features an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper over a Dominican binder and filler from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Like the Arturo Fuente Hemingway line, the Rare Pink line is all-figurado. While some of the Rare Pink sizes are identical to the Hemingway line, the Sophisticated Hooker is unique to the Rare Pink. The Rare Pink is produced in small batches and released on a limited basis.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder: Dominican
- Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
- Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
- Factory: Tabacalera A. Fuente y Cia
- Sophisticated Hooker: 7 1/4 x 53
PERFORMANCE
After a good dose of sweet natural tobacco on the pre-light, when the cigar was lit, it delivered slightly less sweetness, but there were more natural tobacco notes. In addition, notes of coffee, hay, cream, and cedar emerged in the background. The natural tobacco moved into the forefront. There were some wood notes present on the retro-hale. Later, in the first third, the coffee notes joined the natural tobacco notes. Both of these notes alternated in intensity. Some black pepper emerged on the tongue and retro-hale. The pepper increased on the tongue and retro-hale during the second half while the hay and creamy notes dissipated. By the final third, the natural tobacco remained in the forefront. Meanwhile, the pepper was the most prominent secondary note but was rounded out by the coffee and cedar notes.
The Sophisticated Hooker started out mild to medium in strength and body, but both attributes progressed to medium by the second third. The burn required frequent touch-ups to maintain a straight burn line and path. As for the draw, it had a touch of resistance – which is something that I like.
OVERALL ASSESSMENT
Final Thoughts
The Sophisticated Hooker size is the best one that I have smoked in the Rare Pink Series. This cigar shines in the longer format, and it allows for the complexity to really shine. On top of that, I found this size to be the best in terms of the most critical category – flavor. This is not an easy cigar to get, and you will probably pay more than the $17.70 price listed below. Use your judgment, but pick up some multiples if you can find it reasonably priced. It’s a cigar I would buy and smoke again. Coming in at 90 points, this cigar earns a Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence designation.
Summary
Key Flavors: Coffee, Natural Tobacco, Cedar, Cream, Hay, Wood Pepper
Burn: Very Good
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium Plus
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Third), Medium (Remainder)
Body: Mild to Medium (1st Third), Medium (Remainder)
Finish: Very Good
Rating
Value: Buy Multiples
Score: 90
Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence
The Smoking Syndicate Review
Ben Lee of The Smoking Syndicate and Cigar Coop assessed the Short Story size of the Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s and gave it a 91.
REFERENCES
Previous Assessment: Arturo Fuente Rare Pink Vintage 1960’s Signature
News: Arturo Fuente Showcases New Rare Pink Sizes at 2021 PCA Trade Show
Price: $17.70
Source: Purchased
Brand Reference: Arturo Fuente
Photo Credits: Cigar Coop
Note: Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments in a lightweight, shorter format. They will never replace our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time or a blend we are looking at in a different size.
