Fratello Cigars has announced, The Lunar, a collaboration with the former NASA Deputy Center Director for Johnson Space Center and founder of Intuitive Machines, Steve Altemus, as part of Fratello's 10th anniversary celebration.
Steve founded Intuitive Machines in 2013 and is a leading participant in NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative, having been awarded contracts for three missions to date. Each mission requires Intuitive Machines to design, build, launch, and land the company's Nova-C lunar lander, which aims to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon's surface to help lay the foundation for human missions and a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface. Intuitive Machines' first mission called IM-1, is scheduled to launch later this year.
I am incredibly honored to be part of this historic moment. When Steve approached me a few years ago to create a cigar to commemorate this momentous launch, I knew we were working on something truly special. The fact that the Fratello Brand will be reaching the moon is a moment of triumph for Fratello fans around the world. During my 12 years at NASA, successful missions were always celebrated with a premium cigar. This year, that celebratory cigar will be The Lunar.
Omar de Frias, Founder of Fratello Cigars
Capturing Intuitive Machines' spirit of exploration in a brand on Earth is an exciting collaboration. This has been a unique and exciting experience, and Intuitive Machines is proud to be a part of creating a small piece of history.
Stephen Altemus, CEO of Intuitive Machines
The Lunar comes in two blends, both limited production. The first blend uses a Connecticut Shade wrapper, Mexican binder, and Dominican, Nicaragua, and Cameroon filler. The second blend has a Cameroon wrapper, Dominican binder, and Nicaragua and US filler. Both will come in 15-count commemorative packaging to celebrate the Nova-C launch later this year. The MSRP per cigar is set at $14.00 for the Connecticut blend and $15.00 for the Cameroon blend. The cigars are rolled at the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic.
In addition to the cigars, Fratello will also debut a Limited Edition 18 Count Lunar Humidor in June. The humidor will include another new blend featuring all Dominican Puro with 6-year-old aged tobaccos, will be available in limited quantities to retailers and customers worldwide. Only 175 humidors were produced for this exclusive release, with an MSRP set at $25.00 per cigar.
The Lunar will have scheduled launches limited to 10 select Fratello retailers, continuing Fratello's tradition of paying homage to the space program thru their NASA Inspired Exclusives, following the success of Navetta and Navetta Inverso blends.