Fratello’s Artful Arlequín Arrives at Retail
Retailers across the U.S. are starting to receive first shipments of Arlequín, the newest brand from Joya de Nicaragua factory, Arlequín is a box-pressed line of two cigars: Robusto, at 5 ½ inches by 52 ring gauge, and Toro at 6 ¼ by 54. They retail for $9.50 and $10.50, respectively, and come in 20-count boxes.
The four-country blend consists of a Ecuador Habano binder and filler from Nicaragua and Peru.
Spanish for “harlequin,” Arlequín cigars each wear a band decorated with harlequin print on the sides, a colorful diamond pattern worn by the Harlequin character of 16th century Italian comedy, or commedia dell’arte.
Arlequín was first introduced last year as part of a sampler pack, but after overwhelming consumer in favor of the Arlequín blend, brand owner Omar De Frias decided to turn it into a regular-production line.
“The intent was to have the consumer select which blend they enjoyed the most,” De Frias said of the sampler. “I was so impressed with the data, as different countries and demographics would favor one blend over the other. Arlequín was the clear winner in the U.S. market.”
