Artesano Del Tobacco and AJ Fernandez are extremely excited and very proud to share the creation of El Pulpo by Artesano Del Tobacco. This cigar translates to “The Octopus” in English. The project began back in 2016 and has taken years to perfect. AJ Fernandez used various blending techniques, fermentation, and aging processes to create El Pulpo by Artesano Del Tobacco. Through a fusion of inherited techniques and patience, AJ has developed proprietary tobacco grown from the most prized seeds harvested exclusively on his family farms. El Pulpo cigars will be packaged in 10-count boxes. The cigars will come in box-pressed sizes: Robusto, Toro, and Belicoso.

El Pulpo debuted in 2023 with only three sizes: Robusto Grande, Toro Grande, and Belicoso Grande, which was named the No. 10 cigar of that same year by this magazine. Shortly after, Artesano added sizes like The Fry, which is quite short, and a culebra called Octo Ocho.

"We wanted a blend that fits people's palate the way an octopus fits in different shapes, spaces, and becomes that shape, we wanted a blend that becomes hard for any smoker to put down once they light up, like an octopus that doesn’t let go of its pray, once again AJ Fernandez has done an amazing job creating El Pulpo Cigars. We couldn’t be more satisfied with the finished product and cannot wait for everyone to try it. As they say, ‘good things come to those who wait,’ and this statement continues to ring true with the EL Pulpo Cigars. “- Billy & Gus of Artesano Del Tobacco.

The Eel measures 7 inches by 38 ring gauge, and like the rest of the line, it’s made of Nicaraguan tobacco under a dark, Mexican San Andrés wrapper. Although it shares the same dimensions as the culebra, this is not merely a straightened version of the twisty cigars. According to Fakih, the dark wrapper for The Eel was fermented differently to achieve more sweetness, so technically the blend is not identical to the rest of the El Pulpo brand.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: 7 x 38 Lancero

The Cold Draw :

The draw has notes of dried dark cherry, red rice, leather, adobo, orange concentrate, nettle, coca powder, birch, and Sichuan pepper.

Flavors

1st :

Initial puffs from this cigar have notes of citrus fruit like marionberry, lime, and blood orange. Earthy notes of soil, oyster sauce, oak, and coffee. Sweet notes of Graham cracker, cotton, and vanilla. There is a back note like soap, too.

2nd:

The second third brings more baking notes, like cinnamon, maple flakes, chocolate syrup, and pencil wood. Notes of alfalfa, cotton candy, and white pepper are also mixed in, along with fruity notes of blueberry, raspberry, Rainer cherry, and blue raspberry candy

3rd:

The last third has a warming spice finish with notes of cocoa powder, clove, oak, and black cardamom. Fruit notes of blood orange and blackberry are present along with black tea, puffed brown rice, and sassafras root to round out this cigar. There is a lingering back note like of Sichuan pepper.

The Draw :

I did a straight cut. The draw is constant and smooth, with no resistance, but I do purge a few times.

The Burn :

The burn is consistent and even, needing to be relit twice.

There is low- medium smoke output from this cigar

The Appearance :

The cigar itself is long and skinny, with a medium-brown wrapper and a small pigtail on the cap. It has one protruding vein on the cigar, and it does have a small amount of oil. In addition, the cigars feature round feet and have plenty of give.

The band is their standerd El Pulpo logo with another saying San Andreas under

Final Thoughts:

If you are looking for a Lancero to try or are missing them, this cigar is what you have been looking for. The change in flavors thrills the senses and yes its a harder smoke to have byt it is by far one you need to seek out and experance and posably the best in the El Pulpo line

Artesano Del Tobacco - El Pulpu EEL