El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande Review: The Octopus That Won't Let Go

The El Pulpo Toro Grande is a cigar with a name that tells you exactly what it intends to do. El Pulpo means “the octopus,” and the idea is that the smoke wraps around your palate and refuses to let go. After 105 minutes of dark chocolate, espresso, and brown sugar sweetness from this full-bodied maduro, I can tell you the name is well earned.

Table of Contents

Construction of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

The cigar arrives box-pressed with a matte, dark maduro wrapper. The build is firm and the box press has clean, crisp edges. It is a handsome, serious-looking cigar, and the construction is exactly what you would expect from the AJ Fernandez factory, with no soft spots before lighting.

Band Impression

The band, with its octopus, looks like something lifted straight out of a film. There is a cinematic quality to it, dramatic and a little mysterious, that sets the tone before you light up. It is one of the more memorable bands I have come across, and it fits the character of the cigar perfectly.

Size of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

Length: 6 inches (152 mm)
Ring Gauge: 56 (22.2 mm)
Format: Toro Grande, box-pressed

A box-pressed Toro Grande at 152 mm with a 56 ring gauge, smoked over approximately 105 minutes.

Blend of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

El Pulpo pairs an extra-aged Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper with Nicaraguan binder and filler grown on the AJ Fernandez family farms. It is a collaboration between Artesano del Tobacco and AJ Fernandez, handmade at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua, and it was named a Cigar Aficionado Top 25 cigar of 2023.

Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan

Scent and Cold Draw of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

Before lighting, the wrapper gave off the scent of farmyard. The foot offered hay.

The cold draw brought maltiness and fruitiness. Rich and inviting.

1/3 — Let’s Light Up the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

The first third opened with a rich, creamy, and lightly dry texture on the palate.

The flavors I felt in the first third were cacao, a brown sugar-like sweetness, leather, woodiness, hay, and espresso. Underneath came light dark berries, a very light nuttiness with a suggestion of cashew nuts, and a light grass.

The cigar arrives dark and rich from the first puff, exactly as a well-aged San Andrés maduro should. The cacao and espresso lead, the brown sugar keeps it sweet, and the leather gives it a serious, grounded backbone.

The retrohale in the first third had a light tickle, with woodiness. If you are not yet retrohaling, you are missing a good part of what a cigar like this offers, and our complete guide to retrohaling walks you through it.

2/3 — The El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande Builds

The texture became creamier in the second third. The profile broadened into its most complex stage.

The flavors I felt in the second third were a combination of grass and hay, cacao, chocolate, leather, espresso, herbs, spice, honey combined with a brown sugar-like sweetness, sweet liquorice, and white pepper. Underneath came a light earthiness, a light chocolate, a light raisin, and a light vanilla sugar.

This is the heart of the cigar. The chocolate and espresso deepen, the honey and brown sugar bring sweetness, and the sweet liquorice and white pepper add complexity and lift. There is a lot happening, and it all holds together.

The retrohale in the second third was smoother, with woodiness.

3/3 — Let’s See How the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande Finishes

The texture stayed creamy and rich in the final third.

The flavors I felt in the final third were dark chocolate, nougat chocolate combined with cacao, roasted nuts, hay combined with grass, leather, fresh herbs, earthiness, dark woodiness, and a soft pepperiness. Underneath came a light caffè latte, light brightly roasted coffee beans, saltiness, a salt combined with sweet liquorice, and a light brown sugar-like sweetness.

The final third is the richest and darkest of the smoke. The dark chocolate and nougat lead, the roasted nuts and leather give it depth, and that salt and sweet liquorice combination adds an intriguing savory-sweet edge. This is a full, satisfying close.

The retrohale in the final third was smooth. A dark woodiness.

Nub

The nub delivers a final rich note. Dark berries, cacao, and woodiness arrive together for a deep, fruity close. It is worth smoking this one down to reach it.

After Taste

The aftertaste lingered with dark chocolate and woodiness. A rich, satisfying close.

Smoke Time

Approximately 105 minutes from lighting to the final puffs. That is a long smoke, and it speaks to how densely this box-pressed cigar is packed.

Draw

Excellent throughout. The box press delivered an open, consistent draw across all three thirds.

Burn Quality

Even and steady. The burn line stayed clean throughout the smoke, and no touch-ups were needed.

Body of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

Full. This is a full-bodied cigar that builds a rich, substantial presence from the first third onward without turning harsh. The extra-aged San Andrés wrapper and Nicaraguan core give it real weight and depth. If you want to understand what body actually means and how it differs from strength, our guide to the body of a cigar breaks it down.

Price of the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande

The El Pulpo Toro Grande retails at around $16 per cigar, sold in boxes of 10. For a full-bodied, 105-minute smoke with this level of depth and a Cigar Aficionado Top 25 pedigree behind it, the price sits fairly where it should for a premium maduro.

Conclusion

The El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande is a full-bodied maduro that lives up to its name.

The first third opens dark and rich with cacao, espresso, brown sugar, and leather. The second third builds into chocolate, honey, sweet liquorice, and white pepper. The final third closes with dark chocolate, nougat, roasted nuts, and a savory salt and liquorice edge, before a fruity, cacao-rich nub. Across 105 minutes the full body never lets go, wrapping the palate exactly as the octopus name promises.

If I compare price versus taste versus quality, the El Pulpo Toro Grande sits where it should. At around $16 for this much depth, complexity, and smoke time, it earns its Cigar Aficionado recognition.

What makes it special is that it is complex without being demanding. The flavors step forward clearly enough that you do not need to give the cigar your full concentration to enjoy them. You can sit with it, let your mind wander, and the depth still comes through. That balance of complexity and ease is not something every cigar manages. A cigar well worth seeking out for anyone who loves a rich, dark, full-bodied San Andrés.

FAQ

Is the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande worth buying?

Yes. At around $16 per cigar it delivers a full-bodied, richly layered 105-minute smoke with a Cigar Aficionado Top 25 pedigree. For lovers of dark San Andrés maduros, it is easy to recommend.

What does the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande taste like?

It opens with cacao, brown sugar, leather, woodiness, hay, and espresso. The second third brings chocolate, honey, sweet liquorice, white pepper, raisin, and vanilla sugar. The final third closes with dark chocolate, nougat, roasted nuts, leather, caffè latte, and a salt and sweet liquorice combination. The nub delivers dark berries, cacao, and woodiness. The aftertaste lingers with dark chocolate and woodiness.

What does El Pulpo mean?

El Pulpo means “the octopus” in Spanish. The name reflects the idea that the smoke wraps around your palate like an octopus and does not let go.

Who is the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande for?

It suits full-bodied smokers and lovers of dark maduro cigars. Its weight and depth reward an experienced palate, while its smoothness keeps it from becoming overwhelming.

How strong is the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande?

Full-bodied. It builds a rich, substantial presence from the first third onward without becoming harsh.

How long does the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande smoke?

Approximately 105 minutes at a relaxed pace.

What tobacco is in the El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande?

An extra-aged Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler grown on the AJ Fernandez family farms, handmade at the San Lotano factory in Ocotal, Nicaragua.

The El Pulpo by AJ Fernandez Toro Grande was purchased independently. No compensation was received for this review. At VDG Cigars, no cigar is reviewed because of who makes it or who asked. Only because it deserves to be.

About the author: Peter Stefanic is the editor of VDG Cigars and a certified cigar sommelier. He has personally reviewed a wide range of cigars and conducted exclusive interviews with brand owners and master blenders across the industry. Every cigar he reviews is smoked in full and assessed on its own merits. Read more about him here.