El Pulpo

El Pulpo, Spanish for “the octopus,” is the standout from Artesano del Tobacco, the company run by brothers Gus and Billy Fakih, former New York cigar retailers. They developed the blend with AJ Fernandez, who makes it at his San Lotano factory in Ocotál, Nicaragua, and it took years of work before they were happy with it. The centerpiece is a dark, toothy Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, aged well past the usual timeline, over Nicaraguan binder and filler. The result is a box-pressed, medium-full to full smoke rich with mocha, dark chocolate, coffee, leather, and a slow build of pepper. It earned a spot on Cigar Aficionado’s Top 25 of 2023. Bold and built to hold your attention, El Pulpo cigars don’t let go.