My Weekend Cigar Review: Artesano Del Tobacco El Pulpo
El Pulpo, a cigar that begs the question: ‘How does that grab ya?'
It took five years to debut Artesano Del Tobacco’s El Pulpo, but brand owners, Billy and Gus Fakih believe it was well worth it. Blended by AJ Fernandez, the four vitola follow-up to Viva La Vida uses a Mexican San Andrés Maduro wrapper that required a much longer aging period than usual for Mexican wrappers and is responsible for the delayed release. The binder & filler blend come exclusively from AJ Fernandez’s Nicaraguan estate farms, and the cigars are crafted at his San Lotano factory in Ocotal. The El Pulpo Belicoso Grande has already earned a 94 Aficionado rating and took the #10 spot for the Top 25 Cigars of 2023.
Why “El Pulpo?” Spanish for “The Octopus,” as Billy and Gus see it, “We wanted a blend that fits people’s palates the way an octopus fits in different shapes, spaces, and becomes that shape; a blend that becomes hard for any smoker to put down once they light up, like an octopus that doesn’t let go of its prey.”
Cigar Details:
Factory: San Lotano - Ocotal, Nicaragua
Size: 5” x 56 Robusto Grande box-pressed
Body & Strength: Full
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Flavor profile: Full bodied, tart, earthy, and spicy
Presented in boxes of 10
El Pulpo Cigar Review
Both of my El Pulpo Robusto Grande samples were squarely box pressed, quite firm throughout, and the San Andrés Maduro wrapper had a brick-like color in fair light with a textbook triple seam cap. I didn’t get any specific aroma from the wrapper, but the base tobaccos had a fresh, honeyed tobacco sweetness. The cap cut cleanly with a double blade cutter and issued a perfect draw with sweet tobacco notes.
Early on, the flavors were mostly on the tart citrusy side with a hint of sweetness that lay just below a thin layer of damp earth. The smoke was also very chewy, very thick. Here again was another Mexican maduro wrapper with a restrained sweetness.
By the midsection, the Robusto had been excellent on all technical counts and the smoke had turned creamier. Hints of leather and coffee arrived, but the cigar was still mostly tart with a medium-plus strength. Shortly after that, the cigar began to open up and round out further. Notes of nutmeg appeared, and the finish lingered with a sharp cinnamon spiciness.
Moving into the final inches, the smoke was full-bodied and balanced, but earthier. With a mostly creamy mix of earth and spice at the nub, somehow, a razor thin hint of sweet tobacco was able to get through. More impressively—with one and three-quarter inches remaining—the smoke wasn’t bitter and everything remained balanced. I took it that this particular “octopus” was letting go and saying “so long” in the most neighborly way possible.
Was El Pulpo Weekend Worthy?
Based on my review of the Viva La Vida Box Pressed Toro, I was really looking forward to this El Pulpo Robusto Grande, especially since it had a Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper. Here again, I was expecting a sweeter smoke, but what I got was something more complex with an earthier and spicier flavor profile.
For my money, the El Pulpo Robusto Grande—AJF fans aside—is a natural for experienced cigar smokers either at the end of the day or after dinner with a good bourbon or whiskey-based cocktail. You don’t need to think about this cigar as you smoke it, either; it’ll remind you that it’s there on its own with some engaging twists and turns to the plot. That said, I feel the way to get the most from the El Pulpo Robusto Grande is to relax with it on any given weekend, either with friends or as a solo experience.
Please Note: Gary’s review was based on his experience, so your mileage may vary.