Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan, USA
Size: 6 x 50 Toro
Strength: Medium
Price: $15.00 (As little as $13.50 online)
My cigars have gotten 3 months of naked humidor time.
BACKGROUND:
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
From Fratello Cigars:
“The Lunar is Fratello Cigars first collaboration. We partnered with Intuitive Machines and crafted this limited series cigar, commemorating the United States’ return to the moon after 50 years.
“Fratello is making history by becoming the first cigar company in the world to have its logo fly to the moon.”
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The cigar needs a minor tune-up to loosen the cigar so I can puff on it like a normal guy. I gently slip my PerfecDraw into my colostomy bag for safe keeping. I hear a struggle.
Interesting and flavorful start. I am immediately impressed. Sassy notes of cola, creaminess, sweet potato, black pepper, espresso, wintergreen, vanilla, and molasses.
“Sloop John B.” Memorable bass riff. My bass guitar teacher, Carol Kaye taught it to me because she wrote it in the studio for Brian Wilson. I really had no idea that I was in the glare of greatness at the time. Lessons were $25. Or $210 in 2023 dollars. I took lessons in ’68 and ’69 when I started college. I made my dad pay for books.
Strength is a lovely medium. Spiciness is perfect. That peculiar kick we love as long as there is not too much. There ain’t too much.
Nuts appear in the fashion of sweet raw cashew and almonds. Macaroon shows itself nicely. The coconut surges into a dominant flavor. I wonder if you can bake naked in an apron and smoke this cigar.
There is a new breakthrough in recording and re-mixing music called Reverse Data Sequential Digitization (RDSD). Oh no. I have to buy the White Album again.
This cigar is quickly becoming a very unique blend. No shit. I smoked a couple along the road to here and I received none of the current flavors. Your palate becomes sophisticated the longer you imbibe in premium cigars. Working in a B&M, I found myself staring at guys that smoked a cigar right out of the humidor and liked it. I kept my mouth shut.
Cinnamon enters. Ices the roll. A slow one at that. I’m grasping.
Drummer Hal Blaine told me a story. Back in the day, he had quite the argument fest with Colonel Parker over if Hal’s name should top Elvis’ on the marquee at The International Hotel in Vegas. Hal played the gigs, but his name was below the star’s. Hal never did drugs. He watched us do them but never joined in.
Plumpy cigar. Nice heft. 1-1/2” in. 30 minutes. Still medium. But fatty boy body.
Iconic rock song, “Time of the Season” by The Zombies. The keys player does a solo and completely murder-lizes it. Can’t believe they left it in. Where is Huntz Hall now?
The cola becomes a very rich and creamy root beer. Sassafras to the rescue. The wintergreen is upfront. Can’t remember if I’ve ever tasted this before. Not like this.
I love the easy-going strength and accompanying body of flavors. Nothing mild about it. Sometimes a blender can really get medium perfectly. It is harder than medium/full.
Oh my. I didn’t expect a spectacular journey. This blend is nothing like I’ve smoked in a long time. There should be dozens of reviews praising this stick. Fratello nailed it.
The rockabilly sax player in my Eddie Munster music video is not a musician. He was a radio DJ on stations KNAC, KWST and KCBS in L.A. at the time. He was one of many clients I had as an artist manager. He later ended up at country station KFRG in San Bernardino. I had quite the list of folks whose careers I helped plummet.
Flavor bomb alert. I’m licking my chops like a dog with a box of Liva Snaps.
I saw my orthopod. I need two new knees. Fuck.
Smoked meat. How odd but yet melds faultlessly. Flavors continue to dart and change. Isabela Cigars had several blends that did this every ¾”. Very similar to today’s encounter.
The cigar exhibits serious aging techniques, but Fratello makes no mention of this. Just brilliant blending, I guess.
There was a memorable Death Speed Metal Punk band that liked to record at my Long Beach studio. They prided themselves that no song was longer than 30 seconds. They always booked a 3 hour tour on Sunday mornings at 10am. They went straight to 2 track. No mixing. And they were high as kites on meth. Good times.
The halfway point arrives at a little over an hour. Pure bliss so far. I can’t wait to see what the second half brings. Do I dare wish for a resounding sweet spot.
Construction is a marvel. The char line is dead nuts. Still a swinging dick medium strength. I’m kvelling.
After my live-in girlfriend dumped me, I found myself alone on Thanksgiving eating a Swanson’s turkey pie on a TV dinner tray in front of the television. I cried a lot. Love stinks. You used to laugh about. Everybody that was hangin’ out. Now you don’t talk so loud. Now you don’t seem so proud. About having to be scrounging…Your next meal.
The sweet spot arrives. Very complex now. Super rich. Divine compressed flavors.
This is what you call a very good time. Even if there are no naked women for miles.
I met Peter Tork of The Monkees in Chicago during a radio interview at WGN. His bandmates looked like KISS all in leather. He did nothing but whine and complain about The Monkees. He played at a club that evening in which Butch Patrick also appeared. Two sets. Out of the 10 songs he played, 9 were Monkees’ tunes. Go figure.
There is also a Connecticut blend that accompanies this release. Now I want to try it. And a third limited edition figurado that is a Dominican puro.
All three blends are limited but no numbers were released.
That same DSMP band booked our rehearsal studio next door. Their last time, they threw a party. Hundreds of fans showed up. With tri-colored spiked Mohawks. The guys too. They trashed the studio. Vomit everywhere. No one was shy about pissing on the couch in our lounge. Long Beach’s finest were called. As I said “Punk” to the 911 operator, 8 cop cars were there 60 seconds later. The band asked for their money back.
Flavors compress even more with 2” to go. Complexity is through the roof. Strength is now medium/full.
This is my favorite Fratello release. It is a towering achievement.
Please let your cigars rest for months.
The blending is consummate. The four-country cigar blend could not have been done better.
Final smoke time is 2+ hours. Enjoyed every second.
Happy Thanksgiving.
You can purchase these cigars from sponsor Atlantic Cigar.
RATING: 95
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
