Arlequín Connecticut Robusto

“Come one, come all, and behold the carnival of fools.” No, I’m not calling you a fool. Please don’t cancel me. I’m merely giving a theatrical introduction for the newest release from Fratello Cigars: Arlequín Connecticut.

The Arlequín line originally made its debut back in 2019 as part of a four-pack sampler of Fratello cigars that were experimental at the time, where consumers were encouraged to provide feedback. The Arlequín was released officially in 2020 in the US, with its four-pack partner—Sorella—being released in 2020 as well, though being geared for the European market.

While the original Arlequín sports a Mexican San Andrés wrapper and binder/filler tobaccos from Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Peru, the new Arlequín Connecticut shows us just how many personalities this mischievous little comic _[1] has—now wrapped in a golden-hued Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf that hides a blend of tobaccos from the same three countries as its OG counterpart.

In a press release, the man behind the brand, Omar de Frias, had this to say:

“I am thrilled to introduce our latest blend, which further enhances the renowned Arlequín series within our Italian collection. This new addition complements the already successful Arlequín line, aligning with our commitment to expanding our product offerings in one of our most successful lines.”

Arlequín Connecticut Robusto Breakdown

Appearance

Fratello has a unique style and flair when it comes to most of their branding, and the Arlequín Connecticut is no exception. Its cigar band has a golden-yellow-dominant color scheme, with the diamond-patterned reverse tying it to the original release. Usually, I see bright Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper being the focal point on a cigar of this genre, but in this case it seems that the bright yellow of the banding actually muddies the color of the wrapper leaf by comparison. That is not saying that the wrapper is of poor quality—quite the opposite. It is smooth and oily and has a clover honey hue. The cigar itself is well made, with tight, evenly placed seams and an appealing oval box-press. There is a slight hard spot in the middle of the cigar, but not enough that I’m overly concerned about it affecting performance.

Notes of dusty dried hay bales are easily noticeable from the foot of the cigar, mixed with a little white pepper tingle. As for the wrapper itself, big hay loft aromas swirl about in the profile. Think dust and barnyard with a floral hay sweetness and aged wood. It’s reminiscent of my summers on the farm stacking bales for the upcoming winter.

A clean straight cut to the head of the Arlequín Connecticut reveals creamy sweetness akin to a green tea with honey. There is also an almost bite-y black pepper that is tingling my tongue. The draw itself is an 8/10, giving just the right amount of resistance.

Smoking Experience

No heavy-handed toast needed here, as the Arlequín Connecticut almost leaps to life at the touch of the flame. Creamy cedar notes are the first thing I taste, followed by sweet floral hay. A light musk is present, like the smell of an old, familiar ball cap. Balancing all of this is a mild white pepper. Initial flavor is medium-plus, body is mild to medium, and strength is mild to medium as well. It’s a very traditional Connecticut Shade-wrapped cigar, and the flavors feel classic.

Now solidly past first-light impressions, a balanced mix of creamy cedar, musk, and floral hay sweetness continues. The smoke itself is coating and thick, which is enhancing the flavors by lingering between puffs. Retrohaling the smoke brings more of the white pepper to the front, turning the floral sweetness into more of a caramel. Touching the tobacco at the head of the cigar to my tongue, I find a light saltiness that I have always enjoyed on a cigar. The burn is slightly wavy, but that is to be expected on a box-pressed cigar. Flavor persists at medium-plus, body is mild to medium, and strength—again—is mild to medium.

The sharply sloped angle of the band requires me to remove it just after the mid-point of the smoking experience. The ash has held firm to this point on the robusto. Body has increased, and with that, flavor has as well—bringing a new brightness to the cedar notes and morphing the floral hay into a richer clover honey. This is where I begin to notice the flavor I have been looking for from the Peruvian tobacco. Banana runts candy. It’s very light but it’s there. This note is what made the original Arlequín so interesting to me, and I’m happy to find it again in the Connecticut. The white pepper on the retrohale is getting markedly sharper, and I find myself tempering how much smoke I push through my sinuses. The draw has not moved from an excellent 8/10. At this time, the slightly wavy burn has gotten too uneven to not require a touchup. The heat causes the delicate wrapper to split, but it doesn’t affect the smoking experience.

As I approach the close of the Arlequín Connecticut, the sweetness I have enjoyed throughout the smoking experience has all but faded away. Only creamy wood and pepper notes remain. The thick smoke has gone dry, and I find it falling back into the classic Connecticut profile. It’s not bad, but I was hoping for the complex uniqueness of this smoke to continue through the finish.

Final puffs of the Arlequín Connecticut are woody and dry, bringing the close to this robusto with little fanfare.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Absolutely I would, and I intend to. I was more than pleasantly surprised by the Arlequín Connecticut. When I started smoking the first cigar for the review, I felt it was a very run-of-the-mill Connecticut cigar. But I noticed the complex and nuanced flavors this cigar provided as the cigar progressed. I am always looking for a great lighter-bodied cigar to enjoy, and for the price point, the Arlequín Connecticut fits not only my palate, but my budget.

• We’ve previously detailed the origins behind the cigar’s name:
  

  The name is the Spanish translation of Harlequin, which is the name of a historical character from the 16th Century Italian comedy, Commedia dell’arte (also being the inspiration for the better-known Harley Quinn character of Batman canon). As Harlequin is characterized by his checkered costume, Fratello has incorporated this look throughout the cigar’s presentation.

• Currently, the Fratello Arlequín Connecticut ranks on Dojoverse as “100% Smokable,” placing in the bottom 54 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

Short Link: