Fratello Goes Swiss With a Limited Cowbell Exclusive

Fratello Cigars is releasing a 4,000-cigar Swiss market exclusive on August 1 called Cowbell, and it is built on a recipe you do not see often: an Ecuadorian Connecticut-seed wrapper over a Cameroon binder, with Dominican and Nicaraguan fillers rolled at La Aurora's factory in the Dominican Republic. The vitola is a 5 x 50 robusto with a pigtail, priced at CHF 16.50 -- about $20.30 at current rates -- in 20-count boxes. Fratello founder Omar de Frias drew the name from his many trips to Switzerland and his relationship with distributor ImpCor GmbH. The Connecticut-over-Cameroon construction is a legitimate flavor call: Cameroon binder is known for adding a distinctive earthiness and spice that the lighter Connecticut wrapper keeps from going harsh. For collectors tracking Fratello's regional and limited work, this one will not make it to U.S. retail, which makes it the kind of cigar that changes hands at herf events for years.