Atabey, Bandolero, and Byron are all brands produced by Selected Tobacco and owned and blended by Nelson Alfonso. Produced in Costa Rica at the Selected Tobacco factory, Atabey is manufactured in limited quantities and available in four vitolas: Divinos (4 1/2 by 50), Brujos (4 7/8 by 52), Delirios (5 3/4 by 55), and Ritos (6 1/8 by 55). Two additional sizes are available outside the U.S. market. While all three of Nelson’s brands are easily considered premium , the Bandolero falls at a more reasonable price point compared to the Atabey and Byron. Atabey cigars start around $20.00 for a single up to the low $30s for the largest size, the Ritos.  U.S. distribution is managed by United Cigar Group, owned by David Garofalo of Two Guys Smoke Shop.

Nelson Alfonso is most well known for his work on the Cohiba Behike branding. His Cuban influence transfers over to the the branding of Atabey, which is very Cubanesque and reminiscent of the Behike. But the most captivating aspect of the packaging is the Humitube the Atabey arrived in. United Cigar Group’s website explains the technology used:

Humitube® technology is the unique real and effective humidifier cigar tube in the world for its double chamber system that let the cigar receive a slow humidify thought the wall of the tube that make a balanced humidified cigar at all its length.

With this technique, called double chamber tube, the cigars receive a smoothly uniform humectation, and receive a complete equal humectation from top to the bottom of the cigar.

The other conventional cigar tubes of the market always destroy the cigar cause the humidify are supply are located only in the bottom of the tube, and this strong and direct humidity destroy the cigars cause the humidity is received direct to the “mouth” of the cigar, making an “trump shame cigar” that is over wet in the “month” of the cigar and total dry at the end of this.

The Facts

Samples Provided by United Cigar Group
Price: $33.00
Vitola: Ritos
Size: 6 1/8 by 55
Wrapper: Unknown
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Unknown
Smoke Time: 1 Hour and 25 Minutes
Drink: Water

Pre-light

The Atabey is dressed in a golden tan wrapper. Some wrinkles are seen, but hardly any veins are apparent until closer examination. Upon removing the cedar sleeve, I find a small tear in the wrapper running about a half inch starting at the foot of the cigar. The initial aroma triggers memories of walking into my first walk in humidor with the smell of Spanish cedar and tobacco in the air.

Quickly, the strong aroma of cedar fades and I am left with notes of hay and a very faint pungency. Spice instantly hit my sinuses causing quite the tingle. Much fuller notes are found on the foot beginning with cedar, deep red wine notes, graham cracker and some spices. Opting for a straight cut instead of using the cigar punch located on the Humitube, I find a perfect draw that brings forth notes of clove and rich cedar.

First Third

The flavors are much darker and fuller than expected. Diesel, coffee, and wet earth are on one end of the spectrum of the profile, being contrasted and complimented by some bright cedar notes on the other end.  The finish is short and is having drying effect on my palate making me once again think of wine, but this time a dry red. Only an inch in and a transition in the flavors has taken place with a light, refreshing fruitiness and sweetness joining in. The retrohale, one of the cleanest and smoothest I have come across, brings out the pepper. The Selected Tobacco Atabey is burning cool with a thick, crooked burn. A firm, light gray ash is holding strong.

Middle Third

The darker, heavier flavors from early on remain with some added black pepper and cocoa. However, the profile is in no way fatiguing to the palate. The retrohale remains very pleasant and a hint of the fruitiness and sweetness is found on the finish of the smoke. The Atabey continues to burn well.

Final Third

Pulling into the final third of the Atabey by Select Tobacco, some strength is finally making an appearance and the flavors are chugging along. After removing the band with ease, I find a clove flavor that quickly hits the palate then moves behind the more dominant flavor of diesel. Additionally, a syrupy sweetness has joined in and the finish develops a char taste with only a few minutes remaining. The draw has firmed up, but it still within the acceptable range.

Wrap-up

From the packaging to the experience itself, the Selected Tobacco Atabey is attractive, unique, and intriguing. Each third brought forth distinct flavors, while not losing site of its identity. The cigar centered around the earthy/diesel-like flavor, with transitions in more of subtle, background notes. The play between the char and syrupy-sweetness in the final third was the only off-putting part of the cigar. The flavor and body were in the medium/full range, while the strength crept up steadily through the cigar ending in the medium/full range as well.  The price may make the Atabey out of reach for some, but for those who have the cash, the Atabey is worth the buy as it does not disappoint.  The Atabey is definitely out of my price range, but it was a treat to smoke nonetheless.

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The Good Stuff:

Selected Tobacco has been around for a few years now but we have more recently been hearing the name thrown around as their U.S. Distributor (United Cigar Retailers) has announced that the tobacco restrains which once made their blends very limited has been overcome and the cigars would be much more widespread available. Selected Tobacco which is run by Nelson Alfonso has 3 unique blends under it’s belt, the Atabey, Byron, and Bandolero, all of which carry tightly kept secret blends. The only thing we do know is that the Bandolero and the Atabey are both made in Costa Rica. The Bandolero is offered in many sizes with the prices starting at $12 ranging into the upper $20/lower $30 range making it the more affordable offering out of the 3 Ultra-Premium brands under Selected Tobacco.

The Bandolero is sold is 3 different Packs as well as a gift set, all of which are said to be different blends. We’ll start with the Europe exclusives (Bandolero Pack I) which come in humidified canisters: Salvajes (4 x 50), Audaces (4 3/4 x 60), Osados (4 3/4 x 60), and the Sagaces (4 7/8 x 42).

Outside of the European exclusives we have Bandolero Pack II which also come in humidified canisters: Barbaros (4 3/8 x 70), Traviesos (5 x 50), Sorberios (5 1/2 x 50), Colosales (6 x 54).

Next is the Bandolero Pack II which also comes in humidified canisters: Tremendous (5 x 50), Picadors (5 1/2 x 50), Vanidosos (6 x 54), and the Pretenciosos (6 1/2 x 60).

Lastly, we have the Bandolero Premium pack which the format I am reviewing belongs too. The Premium pack carries 5 different formats, each packaged in their own humitube: The Magnificos (5 3/4 x 55), Bravos (5 1/4 x 52), Atrevidos (4 7/8 x 52), Ironicos (4 2/5 x 50), and the Intrepidos (4 x 50). It’s mind blowing how many different offerings the Bandolero comes in and I kindly thank Cigar Coop for all this information. Also, big thanks to Selected Tobacco for sending these samples are way.

Size: 5 1/4 x 52
Wrapper: Secret
Binder: Secret
Filler: Secret
Body: Medium/Full
Strength: Medium
Price: ~$32.00
Pairing: Deschutes Doppel Dinkel (Double Bock 10.5% ABV)

Prelight:

As I stated before this cigar comes from the Premium Pack which packages each cigar in their own humitube. Basically what this means is the cigar is packed into an aluminum tube with a clear window which showcases the cigar. While that’s common what you don’t normally see in your average tube is the bottom portion is actually a ventilated humidified chamber filled with a humidified sponge which will keep the cigar at optimum humidity levels for extended durations of time. It’s interesting to say the least and only adds to the “Ultra-Premiumness” of this cigar. Once removed from he tube the Bandolero’s foot is covered in a sheet of cedar with a “Selected Tobacco” band around it. Underneath this is a beautiful looking cigar. The wrapper is a consistent medium brown color with some lighter areas around the smaller veins which run through the body of the cigar, and some darker areas around the foot, and the natural webbing int he wrapper tobacco leaf. The Bandolero’s wrapper is very smooth and silky to the touch with a good amount of oils leading up to a stubby, round, triple cap. The cigar is very heavy, and very firm with absolutely no soft spots. The cigar is polished off with a double band. The first band is black in color with a red and gold “Tabacos Bandolero” crest on it while the second is mostly gold with red and black trim stating “Premium” across the front, just in case you didn’t already know that.

The wrapper on the Bandolero gives off some slight musk and grassiness while the foot of the cigar carries a lot of black pepper and natural tobacco aromas. The cap cut clean and easy using my double bladed Palio cutter. The cold draw produced a small amount of pepper, some oak, musk, and grain flavors.

First Third:

The Bandolero starts off with a nice amount of cayenne pepper, and sweet spice. Once the pepper starts to fade there is some nice oakiness, brown sugar, raisin, and lots of natural tobacco flavors. It’s a great mixture and starts off with more body that I expected it to. The draw is absolutely flawless, each little puff kicks out a massive cloud of thick, white smoke while producing a very minimal amount of stationary smoke as the cigar rests in my ashtray. The burn line on the Bandolero is razor thin, and dead even leaving behind a trail of compacted dark gray/black ash which held on for a bit over and inch before giving way.

Second Third:

Into the second third of the Selected Tobacco Bandolero and the flavors are still holding up quite nicely. The raisin and brown sugar are the more dominant flavors in the mixed backed by the oak, spice, and still a good amount of pepper which oddly enough doesn’t dominate the other flavors, it adds quite a bit to the cigar’s character. The retrohale is very smooth coating my nasal passage with some deep oak and spice. The burn line is still flawless as I close out the second third and I am feeling nothing in terms of nicotine.

Final Third:

The flavors have remained pretty consistent in the Bandolero. The pepper is finally completely gone while the brown sugar is still in there it’s the oak that’s now front and center backed by the raisin, spice, and natural tobacco. There’s also some interesting pine notes starting to sneak in as I close out the cigar. I smoked this bad boy down to the very nub and experience absolutely no harshness at all, in fact, the cigar finished incredibly creamy and smooth. I never once had to reach for my lighter in the 1.5 hours it took to take this guy down and it left me feeling almost nothing in the nicotine department.

Overview:

The Bandolero is definitely an interesting one. It’s hard to come into a market with new brands running upwards of $20 a stick, but they have to be doing something right cause I’m not the first one to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my experience. All in all it’s a good cigar. Life changing? No, but it’s bold flavors and unique profile made me really enjoy the time I spent with it. I couldn’t quite find an exact price for these cigars, but in all honesty, leave out the cost for the humitube and I’d probably carry quite a few of these on hand for those nights when I am craving something a bit different.

Pairing:

The Doppel Dinkel is a collaboration beer brewed by Deschutes Brewery in Bend, Oregon partnered with Distelhauser. This Double Bock comes in at a whopping 10.5% ABV and carried enough bold flavors to give the Bandolero a run for it’s money. The beer is actually a whole lot smoother than I imagined it being leading off with some soft sweetness, brown sugar and malt with a medium mouthfeel before finishing very crisp with a good amount of caramel, apple, and a splash of citrus. Despite the high ABV it’s relatively easy to drink and there isn’t a whole lot of booziness in there. The cigar would also pair wonderfully with a ruby port, some sweet bourbon, and a nice sweet stout.

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