IPCPR 2019 Spotlight: Fratello Cigars

It’s hard to believe that it’s the seventh IPCPR Trade Show for Omar de Frias and Fratello Cigars. Back in 2013, Omar launched Fratello Cigars while still working full-time for NASA. That year he launched his initial Fratello Cigar and made a big impact when as a rookie brand owner he sponsored an FDA Seminar. Fast-forward to 2019, Omar is now doing Fratello Cigars full-time and continues to build an impressive portfolio. This year saw a mix of line off-shoots, regional releases, and beer! The result was one of the busiest IPCPR Trade Shows for Fratello to date.

Last year, saw the original Fratello cigar renamed to Fratello Classico – complete with new packaging. This year saw the unveiling of the Fratello Classico Piccolo. It’s a 4 x 34 offering that comes in 100-count boxes, but its not simply a line extension of Fratello Classico. The Piccolo replaces the Classico’s Nicaraguan Habano wrapper with an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper giving the cigar a new blend profile.

Fratello is known for its box-pressed “Boxer” vitolas across each of its lines. These vitolas are tweaked versions of the line they are a part of. The one line that didn’t have a Boxer vitola was the Fratello Navetta Inverso (a line that made its debut last year). This year saw the 6 1/4 x 52 Boxer vitola added to Navetta Inverso. Like the other Boxer vitolas, it uses a tweaked blend.

Fratello also introduced a new sampler pack known as the Space Fresh Pack. This sampler features four 6 x 50 Toro offerings – three of which are new cigars. There are two unreleased cigars known as Sorella and Arlequin. In addition, there is a never-before-released 6 x 50 version of the Fratello Classico. Finally, the Space Pack also includes the Fratello Bianco II cigar.

The past year has seen Fratello move into the world of regional releases. Late last year, the company launched the Fratello D.M.V, Series – an exclusive line for retailers in Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware. Fratello is also launching an exclusive to Texas known as The Texan which will come in a massive 7 1/8 x 58 vitola. Both of these lines come from La Aurora, who currently makes the Fratello Oro line.

Finally, there is a new collaborative Imperial Stout beer project called Terminal Descent that was on display. It’s a project that Fratello is doing with Adroit Brewery. The project was on display at the Fratello booth this year.