Artesano Del Tobacco’s El Pulpo Heads to Stores

Last week, Artesano Del Tobacco began shipping its second line, El Pulpo, to retailers nationwide.

El Pulpo—Spanish for the octopus—uses a Mexican San Andrés wrapper over a binder and fillers from AJ Fernandez’s farms in Nicaragua. It is offered in three vitolas, all of which are box-pressed:

• 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)

“We wanted a blend that fits people’s palates the way an octopus fits in different shapes , spaces and becomes that shape, we wanted 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,” said Billy and Gus Fakih, owners of Artesano Del Tobacco, when the cigar was announced in February. “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.”

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. The company said it spent more than five years developing this blend.