Fratello Navetta Inverso cigars are a line of premium handmade cigars produced in small batches by Omar de Frias, who seems to be a jack of all trades and a master of them all. Savory flavors and dark, oily tobaccos make an indulgent stick that has something different to offer - and as we'll see below, the Inverso takes Fratello Navetta cigars and turns them on their head.
You can find out more about the construction, flavors, and overall experience of these small-batch premium cigars in my Fratello Navetta Inverso cigar review below. Or for a visual summary of the fast facts about this smoke, watch our Fratello Navetta Inverso video at the bottom of the page.
A little on Fratello cigars
After a career in professional basketball and space engineering, most people might feel they had accomplished enough. Omar de Frias wanted to try something else, and Fratello cigars is the result. Navetta - the Italian word for 'shuttle' - is a nod to his work at NASA, with cigars named after the space shuttles of 1981-2011.
In this Fratello Navetta Inverso review, I look specifically at the Fratello Navetta Inverso Toro Grande. This is not just a Navetta vitola, but a variety in its own right.
That's because de Frias took the Navetta and 'inverted' it, flipping the tobaccos inside out to give the Inverso a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, and fillers from Ecuador and the Dominican Republic. There are also two other vitolas available: the Fratello Navetta Inverso Robusto and the Fratello Navetta Inverso Corona Gorda.
Cigar Specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Factory: Fabrica de Tabacos de Joya de Nicaragua S.A. (Esteli, Nicaragua)
- Wrapper: Nicaragua Habano
- Binder: Ecuador
- Filler: Dominican Republic, Ecuador
- Sizes available:
- Fratello Navetta Inverso Toro Grande (6.25 x 54)
- Fratello Navetta Inverso Robusto (5.5 x 54)
How is the Navetta Inverso constructed?
As mentioned above, the construction of Navetta Inverso is flipped, compared with the other cigars in the Fratello Navetta range. Nicaraguan wrapper, Ecuadorian binder, Ecuador, and Dominican Republic fillers. It's both new and familiar, and a great alternative if you're already a fan of Fratello Navetta cigars.
The hand-rolled cigar is firm and careful, the seams flat and smooth, and any overlaps are expertly embossed for maximum adhesion. Each stick is finished with a cap constructed with typical artisan excellence. Navetta Inverso is a joy just to look at, but of course, it longs to be lit up.
Notes I got from the cold draw
A smooth cold draw delivers the first real hint of the savory flavors in Inverso, with an aroma reminiscent of steak sauce. There are nutty scents too, although these are more apparent from the foot of the cigar, and they will emerge during the smoke too.
Flavors enjoyed from the Navetta Inverso
Rich and rounded flavors are the order of the day. There are characteristic black pepper and tobacco leather tastes, along with those nutty elements mentioned above, but the style is savory overall and the nuts taste toasted. Keep a cold drink by your side for this one - a glass of well-chilled white wine makes an excellent companion for Navetta Inverso.
First third
The Navetta Inverso starts out a little leathery, with white pepper. The flavor profile builds toward the end, so in the first third take your time and enjoy the retro-hale for a more complex blend of aromas.
Second third
Into the middle of this slow-burning cigar, those toasted nuts start to shine through, combined with cocoa and dark chocolate.
Final third
After dessert comes to the main course, which makes perfect sense for an inverted cigar. The final third delivers BBQ scents, closing the loop back to the steak sauce on the cold draw. It's an intriguing journey overall but one with plenty of merits, and the Navetta Inverso is one you'll likely want to revisit again and again.
How strong is the cigar?
Inverso is toward the upper end of the scale, with medium body and medium-full strength. But it's the depth of flavor that really hits home. There are more savory notes and tobacco oiliness than in your average stick, which makes Inverso a true cigar lover's cigar.
Final thoughts
Taking an already popular cigar and turning its construction inside out is a bold move, but de Frias has always embraced a challenge. In this small-batch boutique cigar, he has created something old yet new, with deep, dark flavors that deliver a sensual experience right down to the last draw.
Buy now in boxes of 20 and you'll always have a Fratello Navetta Inverso in your humidor, just waiting to light up and blast your senses into outer space.