After two introductory blends back in 2013 and 2015, Omar de Frias – owner of Fratello Cigars, tried his hand at using an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper. In his own words during a 2016 press release, announcing the 3rd line Fratello Oro, de Frias stated:
“We wanted a mild to medium cigar with a creamy after taste but that it also embodies the true nature of our company which is full flavor cigars.”
The full blend of the Oro is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Connecticut
- Binder – Cameroon
- Filler – Nicaraguan and Dominican
Not only did he use a Connecticut Wrapper but also a Cameroon binder which he was able to get from his factory of choice for this cigar, La Aurora in the Dominican Republic. Omar explained:
“We decided to take this project back to my homeland the Dominican Republic and work with La Aurora, one of the oldest cigar factories in the country. I met last year with Guillermo Leon and Manuel Inoa and discussed some of my plans and interest in using some of the amazing tobaccos that factory has to offer.
They opened their doors to their tobacco and manufacturing facility giving me free rein to explore and blend with their amazing inventory.”
The Oro is expressed in 6 different vitolas each packaged in 20-count boxes except for the Fuoco which comes in a 30-count box:
- Corona (5 ½ x 47) – MSRP $9.40
- Robusto (5 x 50) – MSRP $9.70
- Robusto Extra (4 x 58) – MSRP $9.75
- Gordo (6 x 60) – MSRP $10.60
- The Boxer Oro (6 ¼ x 52) – MSRP $
- Fuoco (3 ½ x 50) – MSRP $7.75
- Toro (6 ¼ x 54) – MSRP $10.50
The Toro Vitola also comes packaged as part of a 5-count sampler of Fratello Cigars. It is this toro that is the focus of the today’s review, which I received from the company last month for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Fratello Oro has a nice golden tan wrapper with a light oily sheen to it. It was decently solid from head to foot with now serious soft spots along the barrel. The wrapper exhibited some noticeable veins, and the cigar is finished with a simple cap.
Two bands adorn the Fratello Oro. The primary band uses the same design as other Fratello cigars with the name “Fratello” printed diagonally across the band. The Oro uses a gold, white, and black motif. The Name Fratello Oro” is printed in white on a black background vertically on the side of the band. The footer uses the same motif with the name “ORO” printed in black on the gold background.
Running the Oro along the nose I picked up a slightly fermented leaf on barrel and a little natural sweetness off the foot.
I used my CigarMedics Baller Cutter to open the cap perfectly and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that graced the palate with notes of mild pepper and earth. A few more cold puffs and I noticed the pepper grew on the lips.
Using a lit cedar spill, I used the soft flame to warm the foot as I drew in the first puffs of nutty wood notes to begin the journey. Follow along as I burn the Oro to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Nut and wood notes begin the journey
- Light grey ash forms on top of a medium thick char line
- Natural sweetness builds with the early nut
- Mild wave in the burn
- Fruity aroma wafts off the foot
- A mild paper note offset the palate a bit
- Ash fell in a nice chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Earthiness begins to join the profile in the second third with a continued fruity aroma
- Touch of Spice notes grow in the final
- Aroma shifted to a nutty note
- Mild to Medium in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Fratello Oro was a decent Connecticut cigar that exhibited a mild to medium strength and mild body of flavor. The early nut notes were quite pleasant but faded quickly before returning in the aroma deep in the final. I also enjoyed the fruity aroma that stayed with the journey into the second third. There was however an off-putting paper note that lasted awhile before shifting to earth and spice. This may be one to grab a fiver of or grab the sampler and you will get one to try. It might pair well with a sweet cup of coffee in the morning to start the day. I rate this a 90
Point Deductions: (-1) Mild Wave in Burn; (-2) Papery Notes; (-1) Not Complex
