23. Fratello Navetta Atlantis
Fratello
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos Joya de Nicaragua S.A.
- Wrapper: Ecuadorian Oscuro
- Binder: Dominican Republic
- Filler: Nicaragua
- Length: 6 1/4 Inches
- Ring Gauge: 52
- Vitola: Torpedo
- MSRP: $12.50 (Boxes of 20, $250)
- Release Date: October 2, 2017
- Number of Cigars Released: Regular Production
- Original Score: 92
Since the launch of Fratello Cigars roughly four years ago, it’s been well-known that Omar de Frias’ background was not in cigars, but in space. Well, NASA to be specific, where he worked as a project analyst for 12 years before leaving in 2017 to focus on his cigars full time. While his previous line of work wasn’t a secret, this year he merged the two with Navetta, whose name means shuttle in Italian and is offered in four sizes named for space shuttles. The line’s white and silver aesthetic further cements the connection, with a rocket icon on the large foot band.
The Atlantis shares The Boxer vitola, a 6 1/4 x 52 box-pressed torpedo., and starts with copious amounts of spice before picking up cocoa sweetness, espresso, wood, mixed nuts and pepper. It gains complexity seemingly with every puff as the burn line ascends, finishing so well that it begs to burn your fingers as you get every last puff out of it. If de Frias was waiting for the right time to separate from NASA, he found it with the launch of Navetta, as it is one of his best creations to date. — Patrick Lagreid.
