In the running for "Best Strong Cigar of the Year" here at Klaro, comes El Pulpo by Artesano del Tobacco. Not to be confused with "The Fry" version of El Pulpo, which is fermented in a very different manner, the regular version of this dark maduro has caused quite the commotion in the cigar-smoking arena ever since its debut in May of 2023. 

When former cigar shop owners Billy and Gus Fakih founded Artesano a few years back, they had no idea that their blends would accumulate the level of popularity and praise that they have. El Pulpo has done particularly well for the boutique cigar brand, and has gone on to win both accolades and awards from critics and consumers alike. One of the biggest of these would be for the belicoso vitola that we stock, which secured a spot as #10 Cigar of the Year at Cigar Aficionado in 2023.

But now it's 2024, and Artesano del Tobacco's collaborative project with AJ Fernandez is no longer the new hotness. Yet even then, this Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapped line continues to grab cigar smokers and critics by their taste buds, pulling them down into the dark maduro depths.

Could it be that this heavily fermented wrapper from Mexico really is that insanely good? Or perhaps it is the Nicaraguan binder and long-fillers from AJ Fernandez's family farms that lurk beneath the surface that hold tightly to the key to this cigar's suction-cupped success? 

After smoking almost an entire box of this box-pressed beast, I have come to the conclusion that it is all of these things and more. I have also decided that it is high time that I offer my own personal assessment of this magnificent mollusk. And yes, it will grab onto you and pull you in, olfactory senses first. Let's hop into the deep for a bit of a salty swim, shall we?

[Buy 5-Pack]

Unlit Impressions 

What isn't there to like about the looks of this cigar? Never mind the vitola. That oily, box-pressed maduro wrapper, with all of its toothiness and rugged yet refined roughness, is a real treat. Plus, who doesn't dig the look of a golden octopus with a monocle and a top hat impersonating Mr. Monopole? 

Leather and licorice (both red and black) softly stroke your nose after getting beyond that build-up of familiar Mexican maduro mocha funk we all fall hard for time and time again. Deeper yet, are the smells of sweet cedar, milk pudding, and spiced Christmas cookies, all dusted with a shovel-full of Nicaraguan topsoil. 

Cold draws are sweet and spicy, allowing a malted milk mixture to meld with darker mocha maduro and turbinado sugar tastes. Black pepper and perhaps a rogue red pepper flake or two stand out as the only spicy tastes, as the blend remains more cake batter, baking spice, and bittersweet cocoa-oriented pre-light. Black forest cake anyone?

Initial Smoke 

Hold off on the heavy nostril exhales, and light-up will produce a surprisingly tame torching every time. Milky mocha and little strips of leather, blended with some of those milk pudding custard notes are your primary first puffs. Retrohales however are quite earthy and peppery, and pull from both the mixed peppercorn bin and add some dried Thai chili peppers to the scrum. 

1st Half   

By the time retrohales calm the hell down, you are already a good 5-to 10 minutes into the first third. It may take some time, but it does happen, and the gradual shift into what follows is a lot of fun for fans of stronger cigars. 

Horchata cinnamon milk spiced tea tastes, black forest cake studded with cherries and coated in cream frosting, and a bittersweet cacao nib bite are more than just delicious. They are utterly drool-worthy. This all occurs both in the first third and the second, where things gradually get meaty and umami-like on you.

Smoked hickory pit barbeque notes linger the deeper you dive into the first half, and they come complete with those fatty, meaty morsels that sometimes stick to the grates and slowly caramelize. Thus far, Mexican pork belly burnt ends have been the closest comparison I can come to for this analogy. It sounds weird, I know, but it really works.

2nd Half 

Although the center section of this stick does not offer any surprises (or major transitions come to think of it), it does do a damn good job of keeping that balance between bold and smooth on tap. This is where all of you mocha maduro zealots reading this are going to get all "inspirited" and may require a fresh pair of bombachas. We'll wait while you towel off...

Now, as for those final third finishers, allow me to explain this as precisely as humanly possible: This blend is gonna funk yo' ass up!

The tannin smells and tastes churning about in the blend thankfully mellow this funkiness out a bit, as too do the mocha notes. But there's still a good bit of heavily fermented (aka controlled composting) tobacco leaf taste inside the last leg of this journey that cannot be overlooked.

Aftertastes tend to be a mixture of oak tannins and semi-sweet dark chocolate, with an extremely long finish forcing your palate to appreciate the smoke minutes after each exhale. This is what full-bodied, full-flavored premium long-filler maduro cigar smoking is all about, and the only bad thing about the final third is the fact that the stick is almost finished.  

Parting Puffs 

Darker, spicier, funkier, and more tannin-directed than ever, parting puffs are meant only for those who can handle a bold finish. If there is any mocha or horchata left inside it is the dregs you find at the bottom of the cup, and will likely be a bit bitter for many of you. Respite and refreshment come in the form of sweet cedar hither and yon, and brighten the blend up just enough in the darkness of El Pulpo's final throes. 

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Ash drops are the primary structural complaint I have with this blend, and part of that could be due to the robusto's smaller size. It also burns a bit rapidly, despite being firmly box-pressed and properly filled. No touch-ups needed for any of the eight cigars I have smoked does tell you a ton though, as does the ability for the ash to build in a most immaculate fashion. 

Final Thoughts  

I am so grateful that this blend is readily available year-round. Sure, smoking an El Pulpo outdoors in the dead heat of summer may be a bit ill-advised, but outside of that, I see no reason why you wouldn't want to smoke this cigar at any opportunity. 

I have enjoyed this blend both with and without various forms of dark liquor, as well as with glasses of water, imperial stout, and even a homemade mocha first thing in the morning while gardening. All of these options are a superb choice for pairing with El Pulpo, and outside of developing a bit of a nicotine buzz at times, I haven't really found any indecencies or inconsistencies within this blend.

Whatever is going on behind the scenes with the aging and fermentation of that Mexican San Andrés wrapper continues to work extremely well. Additionally, the quality of the crops coming out of AJ Fernandez's farms down in Nicaragua, as well as the masterfully handcrafted cigars that roll out of his factories are just as exemplary. 

So while I may have found a minor flavor profile flaw here and there, and the blend does burn a bit quickly, my obsession with this cigar only grows stronger with each smoking session. Come to think of it, I haven't had an El Pulpo in a while. I might need to spark one this evening after supper...

 

Flavor, Aroma & Transitions

Depth & Complexity

Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal

Backstory & Branding

Overall Balance & Repeatability

Stogie Specs

Cigar	Artesano del Tobacco "El Pulpo"
Wrapper	San Andrés (Mexico)
Binder	Nicaragua
Filler	Nicaragua
Factory	Nicaragua
Size	56 x 5½ "Robusto"
Strength	Full
Pairing Drink	H2O
Rating	4.5/5