Anyone hearing the name El Gaucho will probably think of Argentina first. However, the origins of this cigar brand lead to Indonesia. In Jember, in eastern Java, Besuki Raya Cigars produces hand-rolled long-filler cigars that combine local craftsmanship with international tobacco blends. The South American cattle herder serves merely as a symbolic inspiration.
Besuki Tobacco: Indonesia's Cigar-Making Tradition
The region has a long history of tobacco cultivation. Besuki tobacco in particular has played an important role here since the 19th century. The Besuki Na-Oogst variety is internationally sought after for wrappers and binders. However, many of these leaves leave Indonesia as raw tobacco, while the finished cigars are produced elsewhere. The manufacturer aims to change precisely that.
Behind Besuki Raya Cigars is the family-owned company PT Mangli Djaya Raya, whose history dates back to 1960. Initially, the company focused on trading and exporting Indonesian tobacco. In 2009, it established its own cigar division. When a small factory in Jember closed, the company took on experienced cigar rollers and acquired some of its equipment. The employees contributed their craftsmanship and trained younger colleagues.
El Gaucho Cigars: Brand Launch and InterTabac Debut
In 2020, these activities led to the establishment of the independent subsidiary PT Besuki Raya Cigar, headed by Christian Adi Njoto Njoo. Two years later, El Gaucho was launched as a premium cigar brand with the Premium and Fantastico lines. At InterTabac in Dortmund, the manufacturer presented its cigars to an international audience of industry professionals.
Tobacco Blends and Production of El Gaucho Long-Filler Cigars
Although production takes place in Indonesia, the tobaccos are not sourced exclusively from local growers. Both Premium and Fantastico feature a filler blend of Dominican, Cuban and Indonesian tobaccos, complemented by a Dominican binder and an Ecuadorian wrapper. All available varieties are entirely handmade long-filler cigars using whole tobacco leaves.
El Gaucho Premium: Mild Cigars with Creamy Aromas
The red El Gaucho Premium represents the milder, more restrained side of the brand. Its profile combines gentle woody notes with subtle sweetness and pleasant spice, creamy nuances and hints of roasted nuts, coffee, chocolate and cinnamon. Rather than focusing on strength, the emphasis is on a well-balanced interplay of aromas.
Fantastico: Spicier El Gaucho Cigars with Roasted Notes
The blue El Gaucho Fantastico offers a slightly fuller flavour profile. Cigarworld describes more pronounced aromas with delicate spice, gentle roasted notes and subtle sweetness. Chocolate, coffee and floral notes shape the overall flavour. Despite its more intense character, the line remains mild and approachable. The difference compared with Premium therefore lies primarily in its aromatic character rather than a significant increase in strength.
According to the story, the Chiquitos originated from a winter business trip to Japan. Christian Njoto Njoo had to go outside to smoke and realised that he simply lacked the patience for a large cigar in the cold. The idea was to create a small long-filler cigar that could be enjoyed in around 15 to 20 minutes. In 2024, Besuki Raya Cigars introduced the Chiquitos at InterTabac. The compact format is therefore more than just a smaller version of an existing cigar: it was developed in response to a very practical situation.
Conclusion: El Gaucho Premium or Fantastico?
El Gaucho combines Indonesian cigar-making craftsmanship with tobaccos from several countries of origin. The brand offers two distinct lines: the gentler Premium and the more aromatic Fantastico. Both are available as full-sized Toros and compact Chiquitos – depending on how much time the gaucho has before he needs to get back in the saddle.
