Cigar News: Fratello Cigars Announces The Lunar to Commemorate Upcoming Lunar Landing Project

Fratello Cigars has announced it is releasing a new series of cigars that will coincide with the upcoming Nova-C Lunar Landing project – known as The Lunar. The release is also coinciding with Fratello’s ten year anniversary. The Lunar is being done in collaboration with Steve Altemus, the former NASA Deputy Center Director for Johnson Space Center and founder of Intuitive Machines.

Altemus founded Intuitive Machines in 2013 and is a leading participant in NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, having been awarded contracts for three missions to date. Each mission requires Intuitive Machines to design, build, launch, and land the company’s Nova-C lunar lander, which aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon’s surface to help lay the foundation for human missions and a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. Intuitive Machines’ first mission called IM-1, is scheduled to launch later this year.

Fratello Cigars founder Omar de Frias spent many years working for NASA. In the past, he has incorporated space themes into his releases including the Navetta, Navetta Inverso, and Space Fresh Pack.

“I am incredibly honored to be part of this historic moment. When Steve approached me a few years ago to create a cigar to commemorate this momentous launch, I knew we were working on something truly special,” said Omar de Frias in a press release. “The fact that the Fratello Brand will be reaching the moon is a moment of triumph for Fratello fans around the world. During my 12 years at NASA, successful missions were always celebrated with a premium cigar. This year, that celebratory cigar will be The Lunar,” added de Frias.

“Capturing Intuitive Machines’ spirit of exploration in a brand on Earth is an exciting collaboration,” said Steve Altemus, President and CEO of Intuitive Machines. “This has been a unique and exciting experience, and Intuitive Machines is proud to be a part of creating a small piece of history.”

There will be three releases under The Lunar umbrella. First will be two limited production blends. The first blend features a Connecticut Shade wrapper, Mexican binder, and Dominican, Nicaragua, and Cameroon filler. This cigar will be available in one size – a 6 x 50 Robusto

The second blend features a Cameroon wrapper, Dominican binder, and Nicaragua and US filler. This cigar will also be available in one size – a 6x 50 Robusto.

Both the Connecticut and Cameroon blends come in commemorative 15-count packaging to commemorate the upcoming Nova-C launch. Pricing is set at $14.00 for the Connecticut blend and $15.00 for the Cameroon blend. Production comes from the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic.

In addition to the cigars, Fratello will also debut a Limited Edition 18 Count Lunar Humidor in June. The humidor will feature an all-Dominican puro available in one size – a 6 1/2 x 60 Figurado. A total of 175 humidors were produced with pricing set at $25.00 per cigar.

Fratello Cigars says there will be scheduled launches at ten select Fratello retailers.

At a glance, here is a look at the Fratello Lunar

Fratello Lunar Connecticut

Wrapper: Connecticut Shade
Binder: Mexican
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan, Cameroon
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Toro: 6 x 50