El Pulpo

It took Artesano del Tobacco five years to get El Pulpo right, and one smoke tells you exactly why they waited. Blended by AJ Fernandez and rolled at his San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, every box-pressed stick pairs proprietary Nicaraguan binder and filler with a near-black, toothy Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper aged well beyond the typical timeline for that leaf. Medium-full to full strength, and a Cigar Aficionado Top 25 cigar of 2023.

Mocha and dark chocolate open things up, deep and rich right from the start. Cedar and zesty citrus weave in behind them, followed by leather, roasted coffee, and a slow-building red pepper spice that keeps the whole smoke lively without tipping into overwhelming. A caramel sweetness lingers on the long finish. Once an octopus gets hold of you, it does not let go. Grab a box and find out for yourself.