Bandolero Firecracker

The Bandolero Firecracker brings the ultra-premium character of Nelson Alfonso's Selected Tobacco portfolio to the unmistakable Firecracker format. Originally released in 2022 through a collaboration between Selected Tobacco and United Cigars, this compact cigar measures just 3 1/2 x 50 and features the signature elongated pigtail or “fuse” that gives the Firecracker series its distinctive appearance.

Handcrafted at Tabacos de Costa Rica, the original Bandolero Firecracker combines a dark Ecuadorian wrapper with an Ecuadorian binder and long-filler tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and additional undisclosed origins. Its blend is derived from Bandolero's Clandestino Series C, while the darker wrapper is normally associated with the Aventureros Series A.

Cigar Information

• Brand: Bandolero
• Collection: Firecracker
• Manufacturer: Selected Tobacco
• Vitola: Firecracker / Short Robusto
• Size: 3 1/2 x 50
• Shape: Short Robusto with Fuse-Style Pigtail
• Country of Origin: Costa Rica
• Factory: Tabacos de Costa Rica
• Wrapper: Dark Ecuadorian
• Binder: Ecuadorian
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & Undisclosed Tobaccos
• Strength: Medium
• Construction: Handmade / Long Filler
• Production: Limited Edition
• Packaging: Box of 20 Cigars

Flavor Profile

Don't let its compact dimensions fool you. The Bandolero Firecracker delivers a surprisingly developed smoking experience with prominent flavors of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, hay, and black pepper. A restrained underlying sweetness helps balance the cigar's earthier and spicier characteristics.

The profile begins with natural tobacco, earth, and cedar before the sweeter tobacco character moves toward the foreground. Black pepper becomes increasingly noticeable through the retrohale, while cedar, hay, and earth provide a savory foundation.

Despite measuring only 3 1/2 inches, the dense construction and extensive aging associated with Bandolero allow this Firecracker to smoke remarkably slowly. Cigar Coop recorded an average smoking time of approximately 68 minutes during its review. 

Professional Ratings & Recognition

The exact Bandolero Firecracker 3 1/2 x 50 earned an impressive 92-point rating from halfwheel. The publication praised its balance between strength and flavor, as well as its construction, and recorded an average smoking time of approximately one hour and 35 minutes across its samples.

92 Points – halfwheel
Read the halfwheel Review

The same cigar received 90 points from Cigar Coop, earning the publication's Standard of Excellence designation. Cigar Coop highlighted natural tobacco, earth, cedar, hay, and black pepper as its key flavors and rated both the burn and draw as excellent. 

90 Points – Cigar Coop / Standard of Excellence
Read the Cigar Coop Review

The Bandolero Firecracker also earned the #16 position on Cigar Coop's 2022 Cigar of the Year list, adding another significant recognition for this limited-production release. 

Highlights

• Limited-edition Bandolero Firecracker by Selected Tobacco.
• Signature 3 1/2 x 50 Short Robusto format.
• Distinctive long pigtail “fuse” cap.
• Dark Ecuadorian wrapper.
• Ecuadorian binder.
• Dominican, Nicaraguan & undisclosed long-filler tobaccos.
• Blend derived from Bandolero Clandestino Series C.
• Wrapper associated with Bandolero Aventureros Series A.
• Handcrafted at Tabacos de Costa Rica.
• Made in Costa Rica.
• Medium strength with substantial flavor.
• Notes of natural tobacco, earth, cedar, hay, sweetness, and black pepper.
• Extensively aged tobacco and post-roll maturation.
• Presented in boxes of 20 cigars.
• 92 Points – halfwheel.
• 90 Points – Cigar Coop.
• Cigar Coop Standard of Excellence.
• #16 – Cigar Coop 2022 Cigar of the Year.

2026 Return

Following its earlier releases, Bandolero Firecracker is returning again in 2026. The new production retains the classic 3 1/2 x 50 format, Ecuadorian binder, and dark Ecuadorian wrapper, but the disclosed filler composition now specifies tobaccos from the Dominican Republic, Nicaragua, and Peru. The wrapper is identified more specifically as a fifth-priming Ecuadorian Habano Maduro.

The 2026 cigars receive two years of post-roll aging and will again be presented in cedar boxes of 20. Because the filler disclosure differs from the original 2022 release, retailers should identify which production year they have before using the 2026 specifications for inventory.

About Bandolero & Selected Tobacco

Bandolero is part of the Selected Tobacco portfolio created by Nelson Alfonso. The brand is known for extensive tobacco aging and post-roll maturation, with production taking place at Tabacos de Costa Rica.

Selected Tobacco's premium portfolio is distributed in the United States by United Cigars, whose relationship with Selected Tobacco also made the Bandolero edition of the Firecracker series possible.