Fratello Lunar Cameroon Toro (Box of 15 Cigars)

• Length: 152mm
• Gauge: 50
• Flavour: Medium to Full
• Dominican
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Cameroon
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Nicaraguan & US

Fratello Lunar Cameroon Toro – Full Box of 15 Cigars There are cigar boxes, and then there's the Fratello Lunar Cameroon. The first time one of these arrived at the shop, I spent a good few minutes examining the packaging before I even got to the cigars. It looks like something NASA might have left behind after a particularly successful mission.

Mind you, there's a reason for all this space business. Fratello was founded in 2013 by Omar de Frias, a chap who spent more than a decade working at NASA before deciding that making cigars was a better use of his talents. That's quite a career change. Most fellows settle for a different office.

His background has provided Fratello with some rather entertaining ideas, and the Lunar Cameroon is a fine example. The presentation box resembles a spacecraft or lunar landing module, complete with illustrated equipment panels, mechanical details and a striking black, white and yellow colour scheme.

Lift the upper section and the cigars appear inside, individually protected in cellophane. It's an ingenious bit of packaging, particularly if you're buying a complete box for somebody who appreciates unusual cigar presentations.

Of course, all the engineering in the world counts for little if the cigars themselves aren't up to scratch.

The Lunar Cameroon takes its name from its Cameroon wrapper, a tobacco prized for its distinctive aromatic character. Cameroon leaf is traditionally associated with a delicate natural sweetness, gentle spice and an appealing woody quality. It's an interesting choice for a cigar carrying such futuristic branding.

The Toro format gives the blend room to develop, allowing the character of the wrapper to mingle with the underlying tobaccos over the course of the smoke. Expect the sort of woody, earthy and gently spicy characteristics associated with Cameroon-wrapped cigars, although individual impressions will naturally vary.

This full presentation contains 15 handmade Toro cigars, making it an appealing addition to a well-stocked humidor or an unusual gift for somebody with a fondness for both cigars and clever design.

I've been selling cigars long enough to remember when a wooden box and a gold stamp were considered adventurous. Now we've got what appears to be a lunar landing craft sitting on the counter.

Still, I rather like it. And unlike most space missions, you needn't travel 238,000 miles to enjoy the contents.