This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Corona Gorda

Length: 5.5″

Ring Gauge: 46

Country of Origin: Nicaragua

Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano

Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Filler: Nicaraguan and Peruvian

Factory: Unknown

Blender: Omar de Frias

Number of reviewers: 5 —– Ron (shuckins) Sandeep (Djangos) Robert (NavyPiper) Milton (mjohnsoniii) Cindy (Ms_CindyLynn)

Price: $7.00

Release Date: July 2013

Contributed by: Fratello Cigars

Cigar Info

From Manufacturer – “Fratello is a life-long dream for industry newcomer de Frias, a cigar aficionado for more than 15 years who grew up next to a cigar retail shop in his hometown of Santo Domingo D.R. “ I would come into the shop and the manager Don Rafael would always kick me out since I was not of age. One day he brought me in to watch a torcedor (Cigar Roller) perform his art, when he finished the cigar, he gave it to me and said, “Kid welcome to the true gentlemen’s club.” “Fratello, has been my nickname since college, means brother in Italian and embodies the true nature of this industry, camaraderie, family and friendship,” said de Frias.

de Frias, is an ex-professional basketball player with a love for cigars. Originally from the Dominican Republic , de Frias has worked for NASA, Baxter Healthcare Corp, and earned an MBA from the University of Puerto Rico. He spent two years defining The Fratello Cigars line and perfecting its blend. He resides in Northern Virginia with his wife and two kids.

Fratello will be available for retail customers after the IPCPR show and will be sold in a box of 20 cigars. Fratello will debut in four sizes Corona, Robusto, Toro and the 6 x 60. Prices will range from 7 and 8 dollars. Produced in Esteli, Nicaragua Fratello is a full-flavored cigar with a medium to full-body profile that is layered and complex. For more information about the cigars, visit http://www.fratellocigar.com

Initial Impressions

Appearance: 90

“This one has a nice uniform color throughout with a couple of noticeable veins. It appears to be rolled well and looks pretty good.” –Milton (mjohnsoniii)

Aroma: 91

“The cigar has a sweet smell of leather, light coffee and cedary tobacco.” –Ron (shuckins)

Construction: 90

“The cigar was medium firm throughout the length. No soft spots were felt. Triple capped and ready to go!” –Sandeep (Djangos)

First Third

Flavor: 88

Strength: Medium

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“It’s a little peppery with a dry, hot tasting cedar, light coffee, and just a trace of leather on light up. The dryness of the cedar faded towards the end of the first third taking the heat with it and letting more coffee and leather flavors through.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The cigar starts off with a veritable blast of pepper. The pepper is initially prominent in the front of the mouth and on the tongue but within a few puffs coats the entire mouth including the palate. There is definitely a lot of spices in the mix including nutmeg which is the most prominent of them as well as some cinnamon. A bit of coffee aroma is drifting in and out as the third is progressing. The pepper is definitely not letting up even at the one inch mark. Usually I would find this a little bit distracting but the flavors are keeping me intrigued as they blend into one another. Towards the end, a slight hay and grass flavor is creeping in. The ash is very flaky and is falling off at the half inch mark. The burn is slightly uneven but definitely not distracting. There are volumes of white creamy smoke which are kind of collecting over my head, so thick that it is not dissipating.” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“Holy Manzo! Had a blast of pepper that dominated most of this third! Towards the end of this third, began getting some flavors of pretty strong tobacco and leather along with the pepper, which had backed way down.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Second Third

Flavor: 90

Strength: Medium-Strong

Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

“This cigar is still peppery with some cedar and coffee flavors. There is a taste of leather present, but not enough to produce the creaminess I usually get with leather. The tobacco has an earthy,woodsy after taste.” –Ron (shuckins)

“Leather was the main component throughout this third. The raisin flavors came in and out. The cigar had a strong earthy taste mixed with leather. It was quite nice.” –Cindy (Ms_CindyLynn)

Final Third

Flavor: 90

Strength: Medium-Strong

Body/Complexity: Medium

“The flavors entering the final third take a turn for more leather and tobacco. The pepper is beginning to ramp up once more and there is a mix of white and black pepper and is coating the entire mouth. The nutmeg and cinnamon flavors are still present but in the background. The strength is definitely increasing and I am confused whether this should be a full or medium full! Even though the flavors were mainly baking spices and pepper with some leather at the end, I am pleased with this cigar. The burn to the very end is a little crooked and the ash very flaky. There was no further issue with tar. The smoke is the star of this smoke, the amount and creaminess is incredible!” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“Throughout the last third, it consisted of leather and small hints of raisin at times. There was the earthy notes throughout the last third. The flavors seemed to be muted compared to the first third.” –Cindy (Ms_CindyLynn)

Overall Impressions

Draw: 88

“It had a pretty good draw with plenty of smoke, although it had a bit of heat at the beginning.” –Ron (shuckins)

Burn: 89

“While a little wavy at times, the burn was pretty good and consistent the whole time.” –Robert (NavyPiper)

Overall Strength: Medium-Strong

Overall Body/Complexity: Medium-Full

Overall Experience: 90

“This was an enjoyable cigar that I think given some time in the humidor, would have been even better.” –Ron (shuckins)

“The cigar was definitely something that I will go to again. It had great flavors mainly of baking spices, tobacco and leather. The pepper was very prominent in this stick and normally I would not like something like this however the flavors kept me intrigued. The only reason why this did not score beyond 90 was the fact that the flavors, even though great, did not change much throughout the cigar. The smoke on this one is worthy of special mention, it was so thick and voluminous that it seemed to just collect above my head and hang in the air without dissipation. The creamy character was just a bonus!” –Sandeep (Djangos)

“Overall, the cigar seemed to decrease in strength and complexity as time went by. I still rated it overall with a “very good” score, because there were many aspects of the cigar that I did enjoy.. the aroma was enjoyable, the burn/draw was great.. the flavors were great as well. I wish the strength and body would have followed throughout the entire smoke. I would recommend this cigar and would probably smoke it again if I get my hands on it.” –Cindy (Ms_CindyLynn)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 66

Total Score: 90 (Very Good)

To view the complete scores and notes, click here

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Blind Cigar Review: Fratello | Corona

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