Artesano Del Tobacco Slates El Pulpo for February

After more than five years of development, Artesano Del Tobacco says its newest line, El Pulpo—Spanish for the octopus—should begin shipping to stores next month.

El Pulpo will use a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a binder and fillers from AJ Fernandez’s farms in Nicaragua. It will debut in three box-pressed sizes, each sold in boxes of 10 cigars:

• El Pulpo Robusto Grande (5 x 56) — $15 (Box of 10, $150)
• El Pulpo Toro Grande (6 x 56) — $16 (Box of 10, $160)
• El Pulpo Belicoso Grande (5 3/4 x 58) — $17 (Box of 10, $170)

While the company’s first line, Viva La Vida, is made at the AJ Fernandez factory in Estelí, the new line is made at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

“We wanted a blend that fits people palate the way an octopus fits in different shapes , spaces and becomes that shape , we wanted a blend that becomes hard for any smoker to putdown once they light up like an octopus that doesn’t let go of it’s pray, (sic),” said Billy and Gus Fakih, owners of Artesano Del Tobacco. “Once again AJ Fernandez has done an amazing job creating EL Pulpo Cigars. We couldn’t be more satisfied with the finished product and cannot wait for everyone to try it. As they say, ‘good things come to those who wait’ and this statement continues to ring true with the EL Pulpo Cigars.”

AJ Fernandez also distributes the company’s cigars. Artesano Del Tobacco says El Pulpo should begin heading to stores in mid-February.