There's something inherently fascinating about the arrival of cigars with unfamiliar bands. Last Thursday at The Oasis, our regular gathering received an unexpected treat when a couple of friends arrived bearing gifts—specifically, a handful of Fratello Arlequíns. The vibrant blue bands stood out immediately against the rich maduro wrappers, like sapphires set against dark velvet.

For the uninitiated, Fratello is the creation of Omar de Frias, a former NASA employee who traded the cosmos for clouds of a different nature. Founded in 2013, the brand has quickly established itself as a serious contender in the boutique cigar market. The Arlequín line, named after the colorful character from Italian commedia dell'arte, promised to be an interesting departure from our usual fare—and when friends bring cigars, they automatically become the evening's guest of honor.

The Setting

The Oasis was particularly lively that evening. The customary Thursday night crew had expanded slightly with the arrival of our cigar-bearing visitors, and the conversation flowed as freely as the bourbon. The humidor had been recently reorganized—a process that inevitably leads to the rediscovery of forgotten treasures and renewed appreciation for current favorites. With Eagles' "Hotel California" providing the soundtrack (because some classic rock anthems are immune to overplaying), we settled in to explore what these blue-banded offerings had to contribute to our collective experience.

The Presentation

The Fratello Arlequín arrives without the elaborate packaging of some premium offerings. Our friends had brought them in a simple ziplock bag—the universal transport container of cigar enthusiasts everywhere. Sometimes, the absence of pretension says more about confidence than the most elaborate presentation ever could.

The star of the show is undoubtedly the band—a striking royal blue with "ARLEQUÍN" prominently displayed in clean white lettering. The typeface manages to be both modern and timeless, like a well-designed wristwatch. The band is complemented by the Fratello logo and subtle design elements that communicate quality without shouting about it.

Appearance & Construction

The Arlequín robusto boasts a dark, oily Pennsylvania Broadleaf maduro wrapper that catches the light like well-polished leather. The color reminds me of dark chocolate with that perfect 85% cacao content—the kind that makes you feel sophisticated just for enjoying it. Small veins traverse the wrapper, adding character rather than detracting from the presentation.

The cigar feels substantial in hand—firm with minimal soft spots, suggesting proper aging and storage. The wrapper has a slightly toothy texture, like quality craft paper that still maintains evidence of its organic origins. Running these cigars beneath the nose reveals complex aromas of dark chocolate, barnyard, dried fruit, and subtle leather—a promising bouquet that had the gathered crew exchanging anticipatory glances.

Most impressive is the cap, applied with the precision of someone who takes genuine pride in their craft. The seams are nearly invisible, and the overall construction suggests attention to detail that's becoming increasingly rare in our world of mass production and corner-cutting.

The First Third

After a careful straight cut—performed with the evening's designated silver guillotine cutter that one of our regular attendees insists produces the perfect draw—the cold draw offers notes of cocoa, earth, and a subtle fruitiness that's difficult to pinpoint. The lighting ritual commences, with cedar spills rather than butane torches, because tradition still matters in some corners of the world.

The initial draws deliver a surprising smoothness that belies the wrapper's intimidating appearance. Bold notes of dark chocolate and espresso form the baseline, while hints of black cherry and leather dance around the edges. The retrohale introduces black pepper that stimulates rather than assaults the sinuses—like the ideal amount of spice in a gourmet meal.

The Arlequín's smoke production is impressive, creating thick, aromatic clouds that hover in The Oasis's atmosphere, drawing appreciative comments from everyone present. The texture is creamy and substantial—not the thin, ephemeral smoke of lesser cigars, but something you could practically cut with a knife.

The burn line establishes itself as impressively even from the outset, creating a sharp delineation between burned and unburned wrapper. The resulting ash is light gray with subtle striations, clinging tenaciously past the inch mark before reluctantly surrendering. The internal combustion creates a perfect cone, suggesting expert bunching of the filler tobaccos—a detail that never goes unnoticed by serious enthusiasts.

The Second Third

As the Arlequín transitions into its middle section, the flavor profile shifts with the subtlety of a well-orchestrated key change in a classic song. The initial chocolate and espresso notes deepen, now accompanied by a pronounced leather quality and hints of toasted nuts. A new dried fruit sweetness emerges—something between fig and raisin—adding complexity that keeps the palate engaged.

The retrohale evolves as well, maintaining the pepper but now introducing cedar and a subtle cinnamon note that complements the core flavors beautifully. The body increases slightly, moving from medium to medium-full, though never becoming overwhelming or unbalanced.

What's particularly impressive through this section is the construction quality. The burn line remains razor-sharp without requiring any touch-ups—a testament to proper rolling techniques and tobacco selection. The draw continues offering ideal resistance—enough to produce substantial smoke volume without requiring the facial gymnastics sometimes necessary with overly tight cigars.

One of our Thursday night regulars, notorious for his critical assessments of construction flaws, nodded silently in approval—possibly the highest compliment available from that particular quarter. The consensus around The Oasis was clear: the Arlequín was earning its place as a welcome addition to our rotation.

The Final Third

As the Fratello enters its final act, it delivers its most impressive performance. Rather than falling into the harshness that often plagues the final third of even premium cigars, the Arlequín maintains perfect balance while introducing new dimensions to the experience.

The flavor profile becomes richer and more concentrated, with dark chocolate and espresso intensifying. New notes of charred oak, black walnut, and a subtle molasses sweetness create a sophisticated complexity that commanded the silent appreciation of The Oasis gathering. The retrohale now offers a more pronounced spice mix—black pepper, cinnamon, and subtle clove—that stimulates without overwhelming.

Most impressively, despite the increasing intensity, the smoke remains cool even down to the final inch—like discovering your vehicle's air conditioning actually works better at highway speeds. The construction holds its integrity beautifully, with no unwrapping, tunneling, or canoeing—just consistent, reliable performance that makes you wonder why more cigars can't maintain this level of quality throughout the entire experience.

By the time reluctant fingers finally released the nub—having pushed well past the point of reasonable heat tolerance—the consensus around The Oasis was unanimous: our friends had introduced us to something special. The Arlequín had performed like a veteran headliner rather than a guest act.

Technical Performance

The technical performance of the Fratello Arlequín deserves special recognition:

• Burn: Exceptionally even throughout the entire smoking experience, requiring zero touch-ups or corrections. The burn line remained consistently thin and precise from first light to final puff, like a master barber's straight razor work.
• Draw: Perfect resistance level—8.5/10 on the unofficial scale we use at The Oasis. Each draw delivered substantial smoke without requiring effort, like finding that perfect gear ratio on a manual transmission.
• Ash: Formed solid light gray columns with appealing striations that held easily to the inch mark before cleanly breaking. The structure revealed perfect combustion dynamics within—a testament to proper bunching techniques.
• Smoke Output: Exceptional volume and density without becoming overwhelming. The smoke had substantial body and weight, lingering with purpose rather than dissipating immediately—like memories of your first concert versus memories of yesterday's commute.
• Construction: Zero wrapper issues throughout, with no cracking, peeling, or unraveling even as the burn line approached the band. The integrity remained intact to the final puff.
• Consistency: Our friends brought four of these cigars, and we smoked them in pairs over two consecutive Thursday gatherings. The consistency between examples was remarkable—suggesting stringent quality control measures at the factory.

Value Assessment

With a retail price of approximately $10-12 per stick (depending on your local tax situation), the Fratello Arlequín positions itself in the sweet spot between everyday smokes and special occasion indulgences. Is it worth it? Without question.

The combination of distinctive flavor profile, flawless construction, and memorable smoking experience places this cigar firmly in the "excellent value" category. Consider that we regularly spend similar amounts on forgettable appetizers or streaming subscriptions we barely use, and the price point suddenly seems like a bargain for 70+ minutes of evolving enjoyment.

What you're paying for extends beyond tobacco—it's expertise, craftsmanship, and quality control that ensures consistent performance. In an increasingly crowded market where hype often outpaces quality, the Arlequín delivers substance that justifies its price tag many times over.

Pairing Suggestions

Based on our collective experiences at The Oasis, these pairings complemented the Arlequín particularly well:

• Bourbon: The vanilla and caramel notes of a quality bourbon like Woodford Reserve or Four Roses Single Barrel create beautiful harmony with the cigar's chocolate and dried fruit qualities. The bourbon's sweetness balances the cigar's earth and leather notes perfectly.
• Rum: An aged dark rum like Zacapa 23 or Diplomatico Reserva Exclusiva offers complementary sweetness that enhances the cigar's natural chocolate notes while tempering its spicier elements.
• Coffee: For afternoon sessions, a rich espresso or dark roast coffee provides the ideal counterpoint, especially during the final third when the cigar's intensity peaks. The combination creates a synchronicity greater than either element alone.
• Porter or Stout: For beer enthusiasts, a robust porter or imperial stout with chocolate and coffee notes mirrors and amplifies the cigar's core flavor profile. The carbonation provides palate-cleansing refreshment between puffs.

Avoid high-acid wines and citrus-forward cocktails, which tend to clash with the cigar's earthy, chocolatey profile. Similarly, heavily peated scotches can overwhelm rather than complement the subtle complexity the Arlequín offers.

Comparisons to Similar Cigars

To provide context for where the Arlequín fits in the premium cigar landscape:

• Versus Drew Estate Liga Privada No. 9: Similar rich, dark chocolate and espresso notes, but the Arlequín offers more complexity in the middle and final thirds while coming in at a significantly lower price point. The Liga may have a slight edge in construction, but the value proposition strongly favors the Fratello.
• Compared to Padron 1964 Maduro: Both feature exceptional construction and deep, rich flavor profiles. The Padron offers more consistent flavor throughout, while the Arlequín provides more evolution and complexity. The price difference (nearly double for the Padron) makes the Fratello the clear value winner.
• Against My Father Le Bijou 1922: Similar intensity and pepper presence, but the Arlequín displays more balance and nuance in its flavor progression. Construction quality is comparable, with both offering exemplary performance.
• Versus Other Fratello Lines: The Arlequín shows more depth and complexity than the core Fratello line, with richer flavor development and more pronounced transitions between thirds. It represents a significant step up in the brand's portfolio.

Final Thoughts

The Fratello Arlequín delivers a masterclass in how a maduro-wrapped cigar can provide both approachability and sophistication. It manages to be bold without being overwhelming, complex without being confusing, and distinctive without being gimmicky—a rare trifecta in today's novelty-driven market.

What's particularly impressive is how the cigar balances intensity with nuance—providing enough strength to satisfy experienced smokers while maintaining enough refinement to welcome those with developing palates. The construction quality removes technical distractions, allowing complete focus on the flavor journey.

The Arlequín earns a well-deserved 92/100 on my scoring scale, placing it firmly among the most impressive cigars we've enjoyed at The Oasis in recent memory. Our friends' contribution to the Thursday gathering proved to be a highlight that will likely result in several of us seeking out boxes for our personal collections.

For those who appreciate complex, well-constructed maduro cigars without stratospheric price tags, the Fratello Arlequín deserves your immediate attention. It represents the best of what the boutique cigar industry can offer—distinctive character, meticulous craftsmanship, and exceptional value.

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For more cigar reviews, lifestyle content, and the occasional reminiscence about the days when "social media" meant passing notes in class, visit Brown's Life and Beyond the Humidor. Until next Thursday at The Oasis—where good cigars, great friends, and even better conversations are always on the menu—keep your cuts clean, your lights even, and your humidors properly maintained.