Felipe II Fat Boy Extra Cameroon

The Felipe Gregorio line of cigars is beloved worldwide. Born and raised in Switzerland, founder Philip Wynne worked a number of years in the Middle East selling helicopters before deciding to start his own cigar business in 1988. Because he grew up in Europe where Cuban cigars were legal, when he decided to get into the business the haunting flavors of all the Cuban cigars smoked in his youth were still a vivid memory. He wanted to produce cigars similar to the many Cuban brands he grew up with; in other words, strong. Created originally as a sample smoke for shop owners and merchants, the Fat Boy was Felipe Gregorio's initial line. Fortunately for stogie lovers, the cigar was such a huge hit that Philip Wynne decided it deserved wider exposure. Thirty years later, the Fat Boy has developed a large and loyal following. Now Wynne has taken his rotund stick and super-sized it, creating the Felipe II Fat-Boy Extra. Instead of 3.5x55, the Fat Boy Extra is a corpulent 4x60. The filler, binder, and wrapper include the Extra's toothy, oily Cameroon wrapper and Cuban-seed Nicaraguan long-fillers. These spicy, full-bodied cigars offer a powerhouse of a smoke. At just four inches long, they have a presence that rivals any larger cigar you'll find. They stand up to the finest Churchill for flavor – amazing for a thirty minute smoke! Because you can enjoy one in a rush doesn't mean they were produced in a hurry. Note the excellent construction – seamless and smooth with the perfect amount of oil in the wrapper. The draw is effortless and despite its small stature, the Fat Boy delivers huge billows of aromatic smoke. This spicy, full-bodied cigar is loaded with peppery, oaken notes. Enjoy on the run with your morning cup of coffee, or take your time with it and your favorite India Pale Ale.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.