Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Slated for January Release

Knuckle Sandwich, the cigar line created by Espinosa Premium Cigars and celebrity chef Guy Fieri, is getting a new version in the new year, as today the company announced the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut, which is scheduled to be released in January.

The cigar features an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and a Nicaraguan grown binder and filler. It is produced at AJ Fernandez’s San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, and  will be offered in three sizes:

• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Robusto J (5 x 52) — $12.50 (Box of 20, $250)
• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchill G (6 1/2 x 48) — $13 (Box of 20, $260)
• Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Toro H (6 x 54) — $13.50 (Box of 20, $270)

The letters that appear after the vitola names are nods to significant people in Fieri’s life.

The cigars will debut in January at Espinosa Lounges and select account nationwide, before being shown off at the 2023 Total Product Expo (TPE) in February, the trade show previously known as the Tobacco Plus Expo.

“In the last year, Guy has shown his enthusiasm and commitment to our industry and the Knuckle Sandwich line,” said Erik Espinosa in a press release. “He is excited about adding a Connecticut offering to the Knuckle Sandwich brand and providing yet another smoking option to its fans.”

The Knuckle Sandwich line debuted in February 2022 and was offered in two blends, the Knuckle Sandwich Habano, using an Ecuadorian habano wrapper, and the Knuckle Sandwich Maduro, which uses an Ecuadorian Sumatra maduro wrapper. Both cigars use a Nicaraguan binder and filler.

At the 2022 PCA Convention & Trade Show, a third and limited edition line was added, the Knuckle Sandwich Chef’s Special. That cigar, which was released over the summer, uses an Ecuadorian habano rosado wrapper atop a Nicaraguan binder and filler, and was presented in a 6 1/2 x 52 box-pressed figurado vitola.

Image courtesy of Espinosa Premium Cigars.

Patrick Lagreid

I strive to capture the essence of a cigar and the people behind them in my work – every cigar you light up is the culmination of the work of countless people and often represents generations of struggle and stories. For me, it’s about so much more than the cigar – it’s about the story behind it, the experience of enjoying the work of artisans and the way that a good cigar can bring people together. In addition to my work with halfwheel, I’m the public address announcer for the Colorado Rockies and Arizona Diamondbacks during spring training, as well as for the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League, the WNBA's Phoenix Mercury and the Arizona Rattlers of the Indoor Football League. I also work in a number of roles for MLB.com, plus I'm a voice over artist. I previously covered the Phoenix and national cigar scene for Examiner.com, and was an editor for Cigar Snob magazine.