Knuckle Sandwich Cigars – Behind the Fieri & Espinosa Collaboration

In the world of  premium cigars, few brands have made as impactful a debut as Knuckle Sandwich. Born from a collaboration between celebrity chef Guy Fieri and renowned cigar maker Erik Espinosa, this brand combines Fieri's larger-than-life personality and passion with Espinosa's deep-rooted expertise and respect for the craft. 

Since its inception, Knuckle Sandwich has offered a range of cigars that brings quality and craftmanship through exceptional flavor. From its first bold releases to its special edition lines, Knuckle Sandwich has quickly become a notable name in the cigar world, celebrating milestones and blending distinguished profiles for aficionados and novices alike.

Guy Fieri - from the kitchen to the cigar shop

Guy Fieri’s rise to fame began in 2006 when he competed in the second season of The Next Food Network Star. Not only did he win, but, as recognized by the New York Times in 2010, he became the face the Food Network. However, looking back, that victory was just the starting point for a career that extends far beyond the kitchen.

Known for his trademark bleached hair and high-energy personality, Fieri quickly became a household name, thanks in part to his wildly successful show, Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. This reality series, where Fieri highlights hidden gems of American comfort food, solidified his position as one of the country’s most recognizable food personalities.

Knuckle Sandwich Maduro Robusto

Over the years, he’s launched several successful restaurant ventures and expanded his entrepreneurial reach. But Fieri's interests extend beyond the culinary world. In 2019, he ventured into the spirits industry with Santo Tequila, a collaboration with Sammy Hagar of Van Halen. And now, he’s bringing his passion for cigars to life through Knuckle Sandwich.

Introducing a premium cigar was a project Fieri had wanted to pursue for some time, but the idea was met with apprehension when floated to his agents. Fieri’s style may be alternative, but as one of if not the most recognizable celebrity chef, his success is certainly mainstream. The idea of Fieri venturing into cigars gave pause to his team due to the stigma on all things tobacco. But for Fieri, it’s not about finding the product that sells and attaching to it, it’s about a hands on endeavor with something he’s passionate about. Thus, he persisted, and in 2020, Fieri met with the lauded cigar maker Erik Espinosa, proposing what would become Knuckle Sandwich Cigars.

Erik Espinosa - a leader in cigars

Born in Havana, Cuba, Erik Espinosa immigrated to the United States with his family when he was just three months old. His introduction to the world of cigars came early, influenced by his father, who was deeply rooted in the cigar industry. Over time, Erik built an impressive resume, working as a broker for some of the biggest names in the business, including  Drew Estate and Alec Bradley. His first significant venture into cigar production came in 2003 when he co-founded E/O Brands-United Tobacco with Eddie Ortega, a brand that was eventually acquired by Rocky Patel.

Knuckle Sandwich Habano Robusto

Espinosa’s entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. He went on to establish  Espinosa Cigars and opened the renowned La Zona factory in Estelí, Nicaragua. As the years passed, his star continued to rise within the cigar industry, earning him a place among the modern cigar elite. Espinosa’s success isn’t just due to his deep knowledge of tobacco and the art of cigar-making; it’s also a reflection of his integrity and reverence for the craft. For him, cigars aren’t merely a business—they’re a tradition, a passion, and a heritage passed down through generations. Given this ethos, he isn't one to take on a pet project of a celebrity just to throw a name on a product—but such a cigar was ever part of Fieri's vision.

Development of Knuckle Sandwich cigars

It’s this respect that made Espinosa apprehensive about developing a cigar with Fieri. He respected Fieri for his work in the food industry and as an ambassador for cigars in the mainstream. He just didn’t think celebrity cigar's work, because too often, it’s about putting one's name on something, diversifying or spreading a personal brand. Absent is the passion for the product or drive to promote. It isn't enough to do some social media posts and a photo op or two, one needs to be involved in the industry, attending events, talking to real people, showing them that passion. But Fieri leveled with Espinosa.

“I did my research on you, but apparently you didn’t do your research on me,” says Espinosa in an  interview with Eat Drink Smoke, recalling Fieri's rebuttal to his concerns. “[Fieri] said, I don’t do nothing half ass, if I don’t do it the right way, I don’t do it at all.”

Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut Short Churchill

True to his word, Fieri attended the trade shows, showed his ambassadorship for not just the brand, but cigars in general. Even before joining the industry, Fieri never made an effort to hide his love for a good smoke, often seen with cigar in hand. He is a member of Cigar Rights of America, and does promotional events while on the road filming his shows.

Fieri’s sincerity in this venture is not just reflected in his promotion of it, he was also hands on in the development of the Knuckle Sandwich blends. The first two blends that would launch the series were developed over 18 months, during which Fieri would smoke through samples, offering his own feedback. If the ambassadorship weren't enough, it was through this process that Espinosa also came to respect and trust in Fieri's taste for cigars, maybe not so much a surprise for the mayor of Flavortown. 

The Knuckle Sandwich throws its first punch

Knuckle Sandwich core line

The Knuckle Sandwich brand made a memorable debut at the 2022 Great Smoke event, introducing their blend in two wrappers—habano (Ecuador Havana) and maduro (Ecuador Sumatra). Both cigars share a Nicaraguan binder and filler, offering a rich smoking experience rooted in rich flavor. These cigars were initially released in three sizes: Corona Gorda (5 ⅝ x 46), robusto (5 x 52), and toro (6 x 54). In August 2023, a larger gordo (6 x 60) size was added to the lineup, expanding the choices for fans of these two flagship blends.

Not long after, the Knuckle Sandwich range grew further with the addition of the Connecticut line. Wrapped in an Ecuadorian Connecticut leaf, this cigar features a Nicaraguan Jalapa binder and Nicaraguan filler, offering a smoother, milder profile compared to its bolder counterparts. Launched at the Tobacco Plus Expo in February 2023, the Knuckle Sandwich Connecticut is available in robusto (5 x 50), box-pressed short churchill (6 ½ x 48), and toro (6 x 54).

The Chef's Special

Knuckle Sandwich Chef's Special 2024 Toro

Before the release of the Connecticut line, Knuckle Sandwich saw its first special edition with the introduction of the Chef’s Special. Debuting at the 2022 PCA Show, the Chef Special made an impact with its unique 6 ½ x 52 figurado shape. This limited-edition cigar featured Nicaraguan binder and filler, wrapped in a striking habano rosado leaf from Ecuador.

In 2023, the Chef’s Special returned, this time with a slight name change— Chef’s Special—alongside a modified wrapper. The new version kept the figurado vitola but swapped the wrapper for an Ecuadorian Sumatra, offering a new spin on the blend while maintaining the brand’s commitment to exceptional flavor.

For 2024, the label returned again, but with an entirely new presentation: a 6 x 54 toro oval. This time, the cigar featured a Connecticut broadleaf maduro wrapper, adding a darker and more intense flavor profile to the evolving Chef’s Special series.

Fifty-Five and Fifty-Six

Knuckle Sandwich 56 Toro Oval

In February 2023, Knuckle Sandwich launched its next special edition release: the Knuckle Sandwich Fifty-Five. This cigar was crafted to celebrate Guy Fieri’s birthday, and was seen as an opportunity to honor one year of the Knuckle Sandwich brand.

The cigar’s unique robusto oval shape—pressed into a 5 ⅕ x 55 size—stood out for its distinctive form, marking it as a special addition to the Knuckle Sandwich lineup.

In 2024, the brand followed up with the Fifty-Six, a larger version measuring 6 x 56. While the vitola changed, the blend remained the same, offering cigar enthusiasts the same experience in a new format, with the larger size adding another dimension to the smoking experience.

2023 Prix Fixe sampler

Knuckle Sandwich 2023 Prix Fixe

The 2023 PCA Trade Show saw the debut of another limited-edition release from Knuckle Sandwich—the Prix Fixe Sampler. This unique offering provided a special take on the brand’s core blends, presenting three cigars in a 5 x 58 Salomon vitola. The sampler included one cigar each wrapped in the maduro, habano, and Connecticut leaves, allowing enthusiasts to experience all three blends in a limited-edition figurado format. This release offered a refined way to explore the full range of Knuckle Sandwich’s regular production cigars, packaged together for a premium experience.

Knuckle Sandwich has established itself as a remarkable player in the premium cigar market, merging celebrity influence from an authentic champion of cigars with genuine craftsmanship. With each release, from the foundational habano and maduro blends to the refined Connecticut and special editions, the brand has demonstrated a commitment to eschew gimmick and pursue the flavor and quality that Fieri and Espinosa look for in a premium cigar. As the partners continue to innovate and expand their offerings, Knuckle Sandwich stands as a testament to the exciting possibilities that arise when passion meets expertise in the world of cigars.