The Red Meat Lovers line by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust has been a staple in cigar humidors since their release in 2019. The line was created in collaboration with the Red Meat Lovers Club, who, coincidentally, enjoy eating red meat. While this line has been a growing favorite by Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust, they are also known for other memorable blends, such as Mi Querida, Sin Compromiso, and Sobremesa. This is the review of the Red Meat Lovers Fritanga, the newest addition to the Red Meat Lovers line. Give the review a read, and consider smoking the Red Meat Lovers Fritanga the next time you have a hankering for a steak.
The Fritanga's appearance is very similar to the original Red Meat Lovers. It features the red, diamond shaped band, with "Red Meat Lovers" boldly printed on the front. The only major difference is that, instead of white lettering, the Fritanga uses gold lettering and accents on the band. The cigar itself is dark brown in color. The body of the cigar does show some veins, but none protrude out. The wrapper is toothy, and has a slight oily sheen to it. The cigar is a regular parejo with a pig tail on the cap.
The Fritanga is constructed with Nicaraguan and Pennsylvania Fillers, Mexican San Andres Negro Binder, and Connecticut Broadleaf Wrapper. The draw is smooth throughout the smoke, and the burn line is almost perfect. The ash is a light gray, and falls well into the second third of the cigar. There is also a very decent amount of smoke output, giving a nice surrounding aroma throughout the smoke.
The flavor profile of the Fritanga is where this cigar really shines. The cold draw may feature notes of dried fruit and dark chocolate. Notes of black pepper, dark chocolate, and leather strongly hit the palate on the first light.
The first third of the cigar may have front notes of dark chocolate and leather. These are accompanied by notes of walnut and black pepper. There is also a subtle earthiness, which is complimented by a nice meaty flavor which lingers on the palate. There may also be a subtle creaminess in the first third, but dissipates before the second third. The retrohale of the first third may have notes of black pepper, leather, and cedar.
The second third of the cigar may have strong notes of leather and meatiness, with the black pepper notes becoming more prominent. The dark chocolate notes fall to the backburner, but still remain prominent and blend well with undertones of walnut and nougat. There is still a subtle earthiness lingering on the palate as well. The retrohale of the second third may have notes of black pepper, dark chocolate, and leather.
The final third of the cigar may have upfront notes of black pepper, with dark chocolate coming back to the forefront of the palate. The earthy notes become more subtle as notes of walnut and leather linger a bit more prominently. There is still a subtle meatiness to the smoke, along with undertones of toast, which help balance out the flavor. The retrohale of the final third may have notes of black pepper, leather, and dark chocolate.
The Fritanga is priced well, with a single going for around $16.25, and a box of 10 going for around $162.50. With this cigar essentially being a toro size, it's note a bad price. The flavor profile alone is worth every penny. This cigar is perfect for those who have been smoking cigars for a few years. However, it may be a bit strong for the newer cigar smokers.
GC Rating: 93
Thanks to the Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop for sponsoring this review of the Dunbarton Tobacco & Trust Red Meat Lovers Fritanga. If you'd like to try the Fritanga, or anything else from the Dunbarton catalog, visit www.woodenindiantobacco.com, and use the coupon code for 10% off your order plus free shipping!
