Knuckle Sandwich

Knuckle Sandwich represents a bold collaboration between celebrity chef Guy Fieri, renowned cigar maker Erik Espinosa, and master blender A.J. Fernandez, bringing the trademark boldness of 'Flavortown' directly to the premium cigar market. This unique brand combines culinary-inspired naming and marketing with expertly crafted Nicaraguan cigars that deliver complex, satisfying flavors across multiple wrapper options. The brand stands out in the premium cigar segment by successfully merging celebrity appeal with genuine craftsmanship and quality tobacco blending. Knuckle Sandwich offers cigar enthusiasts a range of accessible yet sophisticated smoking experiences that reflect both Guy Fieri's bold personality and Espinosa's cigar-making expertise. The brand has gained recognition for delivering authentic premium cigar quality rather than relying solely on celebrity endorsement.

Background

For 18 months, Erik Espinosa and Guy Fieri collaborated with legendary master blender A.J. Fernandez to perfect the recipes for the Knuckle Sandwich line, which launched in 2020. While Guy Fieri is widely known for his culinary and television fame, his passion for handmade cigars and exploration of cigar lounges across the country made this collaboration a natural extension of his lifestyle interests. The name 'Knuckle Sandwich' derives from Guy Fieri's famous catchphrase, making it the perfect choice for his first cigar collaboration. The cigars are crafted at A.J. Fernandez's prestigious San Lotano factory in Nicaragua, ensuring the highest production standards. The brand concept draws parallels between sandwich construction and cigar making, with both featuring carefully chosen outer layers and complex inner ingredients. The line generated significant industry hype upon its 2022 market introduction, largely due to Guy Fieri's close involvement and the quality of the final product.

History

Erik Espinosa began his cigar career in the late 1990s as a broker for famous makers like Rocky Patel and Drew Estate, then partnered with Eddie Ortega in 2004 to form EO Brands, producing iconic lines like 601 and Murcielago before establishing his own brand and factory in 2012. The Knuckle Sandwich collaboration began in 2020 when Guy Fieri and Erik Espinosa spent 18 months working with A.J. Fernandez to perfect the blend recipes. The line achieved significant market recognition and industry attention upon its 2022 release. The brand launched with the Habano variant in four sizes: Corona Gorda, Robusto, Toro, and Gordo, followed by additional wrapper options and limited editions.

Reputation

Industry reviews emphasize that Knuckle Sandwich is not merely a 'gimmick' cigar with a celebrity name, but delivers genuine quality with thick smoke and plenty of spice. The brand is recognized for delivering comfort food-style reliability with personality, executing traditional flavor profiles very capably. Customer reviews consistently praise the cigars as 'excellent' collaborations that are 'medium to full yet smooth' and worthy of regular rotation. The line generated substantial industry hype and recognition, with Cigar Aficionado noting the significant attention surrounding the brand due to both Guy Fieri's involvement and the product quality.