Tag Archives: Fratello

Merlions, Fratello, Viva Republica and Evil Genius Cigars and a Contest!

I have been remiss in having contests! Between job hunting, the whole pre-IPCPR news deluge, a lack of companies being forthcoming with goodies to giveaway contributed to this, but mostly it’s my forgetfulness. I’m going to make up for it now. The prize is going to be a selection of cigars from my humidor relating to the cigars featured in this post, and then some, no less than five, most likely more. A few I don’t have more of, but that will me more than made up for, rest assured.  I also will include a Stage V Clinger Cigar Clip! It’s not going to be the usual random, pick a comment out of a hat game this time, I’m going to require a little work. There still might be some randomness, because I don’t think it’s going to be that hard. More on that at the end of the post.

 

Let’s get started! Last week I went on a bit of a La Sirena bender, and I guess I omitted the Merlion brand from that bender, because a package showed up from Danny D this week with a few of the Merlion Robustos and Merlion Maduro Toros with a note thanking me for the post! Merlion Maduro Toro is a favorite of mine, and I have half a box on the shelf, but I’m always happy to add a few to the box, and I’m sure I had some naturals around, so the omission last week was more because I ran out of time than anything else, but I always appreciate the generosity of my friends and valued sponsors! La Sirena is a great little company and produces beautiful cigars which I highly recommend, and will feature prominently in this week’s contest prize, by the way! So I smoked the Merlion Maduro Toro from existing stock, as the ones that arrived this week came off a very hot UPS truck and needed some resting time. The Merlion is made in the DR, with a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, Brazilian Sumatra binder, and Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The only difference between this and the “natural” Merlion is wrapper, we’ll get to that later. As I said, this is a cigar I really enjoy. It’s not a traditional Toro, as the size is 5½” x 54, but it has pretty much the same burn time for me, so it’s OK.

 

Fratello_Oro_RobustoNext up was a Fratello Oro Robusto. This is Omar de Frias’ Third release, and his first cigar out of his home country of Dominican Republic. Of course, Oro means “Gold” in Italian, which fits in with his theme of a cigar with an Italian brand name. Of course, Oro is also Spanish for Gold, so everyone can figure it out. I’m two releases behind on the Fratello portfolio, sad to say, I still haven’t smoked the Navetta, and the new Navetta Inverso. I gotta get my hands on those two. I have to check the humidor for some Biancos, as this week is the Diner en Blanc in Philadelphia, which my wife and I are attending, and I like to have a selection of “white” themed cigars along. I have my white guayabera all ready to go. Anyway, the Fratello Oro has a n Ecuador Connecticut wrapper, Cameroon binder and Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. I think the Cameroon binder is what makes this cigar stand our from other “shade” cigars, it gives it a little special something, that “Camerooniness” that sets it apart, along with the little extra oomph from the Nicaraguan in the filler blend. It’s a really flavorful cigar, smooth and creamy with some sweetness and spice. A very nice cigar.

 

EvilGenius_TimeMachine_RobustoNext up I had to really do some humidor diving for, but it was worth it. This was a cigar from a company that used to be called Evil Genius Cigars, but due to some trademark dispute or another, has ended up with the name “Censored Genius Cigars“. These guys are basically neighbors of mine, up the road in Allentown, PA, and came on the scene in 2013 with a couple of cigars called White Chapel and Black Chapel, I think the White was the stronger cigar and the Black was the milder, but maybe I’m thinking of some other tricky brand that tried that game. The cigar I chose was the Time Machine, and I want to say it came out at the 2015 IPCPR show. One aside, when ever I meet with the guys at this company, whatever they call themselves, I feel short, and I’m 6″ 0″.  I think the shorted among them is about 6″ 4”. The Time Machine Robusto is 5″ x 50, wrapped in Nicaraguan Habano, with a Nicaraguan Corojo binder and Dominican and Cameroon fillers.  Interesting, one doesn’t generally see Cameroon used in  the filler but it can’t all be wrapper or even binder quality, can it? This was an interesting tasting cigar, and, with three years of age, it performed very well. I don’t recall having smoked this before, maybe I did, I’d have to look back, but it was a good smoke and I’d smoke it again. I’ve lost touch with Alex and his guys, perhaps I’ll run into them someplace in the area one of these days.

 

VivaRepublica_RaptureCRA_RothchildAfter nine years of being a Cigar Rights of America member, and not smoking many of the cigars they send me when I renew, I came across this Viva Republica Rapture in a Rothchild size that was the right size for the time I had, and piqued my curiosity. I have a bunch of CRA banded cigars, somehow I never have gotten the Ligas, or the Opus or anything like that, but some of them probably have enough age on them that I should smoke them. There’s one Hawaiian something or other I never heard of, but the rest are name brands. Anyway, Viva Republica is a brand that is owned by another Pennsylvanian, Jason Holly, who owns a cigar store up in the Scranton/Wilkes Barre area of PA (way up north). They say that the CRA banded cigars are special blends, so this might not be right, but the cigar might have been 4½”x 50 (it most likely was) Ecuadorian Havana Vuelta Abajo wrapper, with Dominican Republic  binder, Nicaragua, Brazil, Dominican Republic filler.  Could have been, I don’t know,  but it was a really tasty cigar, I’m not going to dwell on it too much because it’s an oddball. I would recommend trying the Rapture line, if you are a CRA member and you have this one in your humidor, smoke it, you’ll not be disappointed, if you’re not a CRA member, why not? sign up, tell them I sent you!

 

Merlion_RobustoFinally, I circled back to the Merlion Natural, the original Merlion, and the second release from La Sirena. Like I said earlier, this has an Ecuador Corojo wrapper, with Brazilian Sumatra binder, and Brazilian, Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers. The robusto was 5″ x 50 and the band is easily 4″, but, brilliantly, and much to the dismay of the factory staff tasked with the application of the bands, it’s in two parts, so when the lower part is removed, one is still left with a beautiful upper band, and a beautiful band it/they is/are. I like this cigar, but I’m not as fond of it as I am of the maduro version. There’s not a darned thing wrong with the cigar, but it’s a strong argument about the wrapper making a huge difference in the flavor of a cigar, and there a flavor in the Ecuador Corojo on this that isn’t in my particular wheelhouse. Oddly, and people argue that smaller ring gauge cigars showcase the wrapper flavor, the little Merlion Sea Lion perfecto is fantastic! I guess I’m just weird, a point which is rarely disputed. Anyway, I do like the entire La Sirena portfolio, but you can’t love everything.

 

Contest!

Aug12 PrizeThe prize: An orange Stage V Clinger, a cigar holding device that’s got a magnet and a velcro strap and gently holds your cigar when you’re out and about. It’s heavily marketed to golfers, but I’ve used one around the yard, when I’m out on walks (it’s handy if I have to go to someone’s door, I leave my cigar clipped to the mailbox so I don’t have to be standing at the door with a cigar). It’s a nifty device, and it’s free, who are you to complain!  Also, I’ll put together a selection of cigars from my humidor that will include a Merlion Maduro Toro, a Merlion Robusto, an Anchor by La Sirena, an Oceano Atlantic and a La Sirena Trident. No doubt, some other cigars appropriate to the theme of this contest, but would give the answer away, will make it into the prize pack. So your job is to leave a comment, but this time you have to look back a the five cigars mentioned in this post and tell me what they all have in common! I’ll choose a winner from the correct responses next Sunday, August 19, 2018. It’s pretty easy, good luck!

 

That’s all for now, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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News: Fratello Cigars Announces Navetta Inverso

Here’s news from Fratello Cigars on a line extension to last year’s Navetta release, sad to say, I still haven’t smoked it!  I’ll get around to it sooner or later. You may have seen news from Fratello reported elsewhere about standardizing packaging across their lines, If you missed that and need more info, let me know.

 

Omar de Frias is proud to announce the debut of Navetta Inverso at this year’s IPCPR.  Translated “inversed shuttle” in Italian, Navetta Inverso is all about us using the same tobaccos we used under Navetta but literally inverting all the tobaccos.  The result of this change was incredible.

 

“It does not cease to amaze me how one leaf of tobacco can change a blend entirely.  In our case we changed it all.” said de Frias.  Navetta Inverso features a Habano Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuador binder and Dominican and Nicaragua filler.

 

“Reality is when you use well fermented and aged tobaccos, the likelihood that the cigar will be great is high” said de Frias.

 

Fratello Navetta InversoNavetta Inverso will be featured in 3 vitolas:

– Corona Gorda (5 7/8 x 46) 9.50

– Robusto (5 ½ x 54) 11.25

– Toro Grande (6 ¼ x 54) 12.50

 

Navetta Inverso is manufactured at Joya de Nicaragua and will be available for shipment in September.  Omar de Frias worked at NASA for 12 years prior to leaving to focus full time on Fratello.

 

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News: Fratello Cigars Announces New Director of Operations

This little bit of news probably doesn’t mean much to a lot of people, but I think it’s important to recognize that Omar de Frias started the Fratello brand in 2013 while still working full time for NASA, hit the ground running making a great cigar, getting it in front of a lot of people in a short amount of time, hitting the road Rocky Patel style selling it at great personal expense (and I’m talking time away from family expense), and has grown to the point where he’s adding even more headcount!  A great success story, and if I were a sales guy, I’d be hitting Omar up for a job!  Keep rocking, Omar and crew! 

 

Omar de Frias is proud to announce the hiring of Shannon Strang as the new Director of Operations for Fratello Cigars.  The Pittsburgh native comes to Fratello with a wealth of experience in accounting, business development, logistics and customer service. Primary duties as director of operations is to streamline our company logistics, solidify our relationship with our customers and suppliers, financial management and business development.

“I am beyond excited that Shannon accepted this position.  Together, we plan to bring our customer service strategy and operational capabilities to new heights” Said de Frias.

 

“I have followed Fratello and Omar’s journey since 2013.  Besides being a big fan of the cigars, joining forces with Omar to help solidify his growth in this industry will be my primary driver” Said Strang.  

 

Fratello Cigars was established in 2013.  Since inception Fratello has grown to be sold in 800 brick and mortars in the US and 9 international destinations.    

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Smoking Cigars and Sightseeing in Rome

My wife and I took a couple of days and are seeing the sights in Rome, Italy. This is going to be a short post, we still have some things to do and gelato to eat! I’ve smoked a few cigars whilst wandering around. I figured a Fratello Firecracker would be appropriate while at the Spanish Steps for several reasons. It was awesome, by the way. I look forward to trying Saka’s Mi Querida Firecracker when it comes out.

Any way, we hit all the tourist sights, Trevi Fountain (apparently all the fountains in Rome have potable water!) Colosseum, the Vatican, the Pantheon, incredible all the ancient ruins and buildings mixed in amongst the city. I tried to visit Fincato, the La Casa Del Habanos store in Rome, but it’s closed Sunday! I picked up some Toscano Cigars at another little tobacco shop along with a Cuban Montecristo Open Regalo Tubo which I smoked walking back from the Colosseum and Roman Forum tour. I should have given it some humidor time at home since it burned crappy. Good flavor, just a nuisance to smoke. Fairly priced at 11,40 Euros I guess.

A couple of observations: many of what we would think are sidewalks are roads. If you’re a fan of scooters and small cars, and I am, this is the place for you. Finally, every Sunday at noon the Pope pokes his head out his window to bless the cigars, at least that’s the way I translated it. There were even cosplayers in St Peters Square for the blessing, we stood next to three guys in brown robes tied with rope at the waist!

Having fun in Rome, until the next time,

CigarCraig

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IPCPR 2017 – Fratello Cigars

Fratello_Bianco_TheBoxerI’m down to my last couple videos to post from the IPCPR show, and realized that I hadn’t posted the video with one of my biggest best friends from the cigar industry, Fratello Cigar‘s Omar de Frias. So tonight I grabbed a Fratello Bianco the Boxer for my evening walk. You may recall this cigar was one of my favorite cigar from 2016,  and it remains so, it’s a great smoke, it has a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, Dominican binder and fillers from the USA, Nicaragua and Peru made at the Joya de Nicaragua factory. It’s rich and chocolaty with some spice and I really like it. The rest of the line is great, as are all of the Fratello cigars. I especially look forward to trying the Oro in The Boxer shape, as well as the new cigar Omar showed at the IPCPR show, the Navetta, which he tells us about in the video. Navetta is “shuttle” in Italian, and it pays homage to Omar’s career with NASA and all the shuttle missions of which he was a part. If you ever have a chance to meet Omar at an event near you, run, don’t walk, to the event and spend a few minutes talking to this super-cool dude.

 

Navetta

this was the display, not the retail packaging….sadly…

 

Speaking of Big….don’t forget to go back to Friday’s contest post and leave a comment for a chance to win some Big Papi cigars from the folks at El Artista! Contest ends Friday!

That’s all for today, until the next time,

 

CigarCraig

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