Initial Smoke 

Massive amounts of mineral and soil hit the tongue once the foot is lit, and while not unpleasant, it is a bit unexpected, and in a way, overpowering. The winning mixture of espresso beans, dark chocolate, and milk cocoa comes into the situation swiftly, though, and before long, the blend opens up. While black pepper and leather certainly are notable, they too are smoothed by a sweet licorice note.

1st Half

As the leather and black pepper grow meaty, a whiff of hickory smoke swings in, and the cigar flavor profile becomes venison jerky-like in character. As the sweet licorice does not climb to the top, in comes more of that port wine, but this time it is even more spiced. Like a mulled wine without the sugary hangover risk.

Still mineral-heavy and espresso strong, the first third flows into the second with a full body that is only matched by the blend's bold, late-night inspired flavors. By now, hickory is almost all retrohale related, whereas the tongue primarily detects espresso, along with a little bit of vanilla and a funky wet wood flavor. This combo continues for much of the cigar, and does not stray from these core characteristics. 

2nd Half

Although the second third has gone almost unchanged, the shift into the final third does offer some transitional moments of enjoyment. 

It all starts with dark chocolate and a tease of those tart acai berries from unlit impressions. This is joined by a roasted nuttiness that is milky and mighty fine, and a spicy finish that makes me think that the red pepper flake isn't done with my taste buds just yet. But this is all secondary to the intense espresso taste and bitterness that continues to build, so quite a bit of searching had to be done on my end.

Parting Puffs

Heavy leather and charred wood overturn any chance of enjoying parting puffs. A pity, as this could have been an area that provided additional points to the cigar's overall score.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

An overfilled portion of the barrel, right near the band, caused my review cigar to struggle both in smoke flow and burn. Although my sample cigar did have some construction issues and did require a poke to get going, it was nowhere nearly as tough as the review stick. 

When it was flowing properly, the smoke that formed was full-bodied and lush, so I can see how a properly constructed stick would be absolutely awe-inspiring when smoked.

Final Thoughts

Halfway through the first third, I already knew this blend was destined for a redux review in a year or two. Plugged cigars are frustrating and have the ability to ruin the entire experience, and while my review cigar wasn't a total dud, it definitely required some additional care. Additionally, this hampered smoke production and caused the blend to burn hot when puffed hard, so I am hell-bent on reviewing another stick when the time seems right.

The reason why I am so adamant about revisiting this blend is that I see what Aladino is gunning for with this night smoke. It truly is an after-dinner espresso cigar in the boldest sense, and I think that when aged a bit (my sample stick was entirely too bold at times), this cigar could be one of the greatest ways to close out a long day. It also looks badass, has some of the best family-farmed Honduran tobacco on the planet in every section, and smells downright divine prelight and while burning. 

Hopefully, this shines a little light on the situation, and gives you enough cause to snag up a 5-pack to try the cigar out for yourself. I get the feeling that my review cigar was the one fluke in the box, and the next Fuma Noche I fire up will burn just as cleanly as the sensational Aladino Limited Edition Cameroon I smoked in the spring.