Before Artesano del Tobacco's eight-legged octopus ensnared our senses with El Pulpo and pulled us down into the darkest of the maduro cigar depths, there was an equally intense cigar. A very different blend from the boutique premium cigar brand that was just as memorable and delicious, thus earning it too a spot on Cigar Aficionado's "Top 25 Cigars of the Year."

Still full in every imaginable way, but favoring a far more playful approach to producing flavors and aromatics, Viva La Vida by Artesano del Tobacco caters to those who favor baking spices, toffee, and that much-loved mixture of corojo and criollo leaf.

It's a lively, heavy-handed smoke that has quickly become one of my go-to smokes when I want a premium cigar blend that tastes and smells like it sits somewhere between an oily mata fina, a light sun-grown San Andrés, and a spicy Sumatran, without containing any of these tobacco varietals. 

[Buy 5-Pack]

Unlit Impressions 

Oilier than Ron Jeremy's hair in a 1980s "action flick," the outside of this cigar shines in any light. Classified as a habano oscuro, but rocking a reddish hue that reminds me of an Irish pub ale rather than a dark stout, this outer leaf comes chocked with aromas of cocoa nibs, fermented hay, and burnt toast. 

Black pepper may force a sneeze or two, but once you get past that part the foot opens up with all kinds of tantalizingly rich aromatics. Mineral-rich and rolling in both red and black licorice, this dark, spicy, fruit cake-like foot offers a complex sniffing experience. 

Expertly rolled by AJ Fernandez, this cigar feels just as powerful in hand as it does under nose. Firmly filled, near perfectly wrapped and capped, with a larger gauge than the average robusto, this hearty serving of Nicaraguan puro power makes an impressive presence. Double banded, embossed, glossed, colorful, and cartoon accented, the marketing side of this stick may look deceptively  lighthearted to the novice cigar smoker. 

But take a tug off that cut cap and things get super serious real quick. Earthy, spicy, oily, and itching for action, this leather-heavy unlit impression hits you in the kisser with big-ass mallet and then laughs at you.

Initial Smoke 

Typical AJ Fernandez strength and flavor intensity touch off before settling into a more leisurely tasting session. Bold in spice, with nutmeg, clove, cinnamon, and a hint of wet hay leading the way, the blend burns onward toward a caramel-coated cookie crumble before settling into a more mellow aftertaste of light leather and licorice.

1st Half   

Toasted whole grain cereal and maple granola get in on the action before too long. Since many of the baking spice tastes stay intact from light, this makes for a feisty first half. Body and strength are in the mid-range right now, and this makes the intensity of the cigar flavor profile feel lighter than it actually is, all the way up until you retrohale. 

Peppery, and packed out with criollo earthiness, the finish on this blend lingers for a very long time. The deeper into the cigar you go, the longer it becomes too, with corojo spice and oscuro malts making a sweet and spicy mix for the senses.

2nd Half 

Deeper yet is the second half, which makes me realize that the red and black theme on this cigar is but merely a visual representation of the two types of licorice flavors I am tasting. Strong and dry at times, but still very retrohale-worthy, the darker sides of this cigar start to form in the second half. 

Chewy and creamy, this section of this creative concoction reminds me a lot of a Sumatran, making it an ideal pairing option for rum drinkers or those who are into chai tea. Fruitiness can be associated with caramelized sugars and the apples they coat prior to going into a pie, with those hints of clove and cinnamon sealing the proverbial deal. Body, strength, flavor, and finish are all full at this moment, and do not allow you any room for respite. It's not like you needed a break from this blend, but bowsers is this one bold smoke... 

Parting Puffs 

Darkest of all is parting puffs, where corojo spice and citrus meld with criollo earth and umami for a final tonsil tango. While not something I would refer to as "refined," this last section of the cigar is very enjoyable, and ends on a high note thanks to the lasting finish that manages to hold on to some of those fruity caramel flavors from earlier on.

Ash / Burn / Smoke / Draw

Although two of the three cigars smoked burned fairly well and built an ash worthy of AJ Fernandez, they did require the random touch-up at times. Worse yet was my review cigar, which required three large touch-ups, each of which was soon followed by a dropped ash.  

Final Thoughts  

This Nicaraguan puro is a tropical mixed bag filled with fruits, exotic sugars, and familiar spices. Bold by every account, but clean and fairly controlled for much of the cigar, Viva La Vida loads you up with one winning retrohale after another. 

While points were shelved for construction and burn obstacles along the way, I still enjoyed much of what this blend had to offer. It may not be as complex as its darker, El Pulpo cousin, and does seem a little repetitive at times, but none of these considerations could ever prevent me from suggesting this cigar to strong stogie smokers. 

Flavor, Aroma & Transitions

Depth & Complexity

Construction, Burn & Physical Appeal

Backstory & Branding

Overall Balance & Repeatability

Stogie Specs

Cigar	Artesano del Tobacco "Viva La Vida"
Wrapper	Habano Oscuro (Nicaragua)
Binder	Corojo '99 (Nicaragua)
Filler	Criollo '98 (Nicaragua)
Factory	Nicaragua
Size	56 x 5 "Robusto"
Strength	Full
Pairing Drink	Homemade Iced Mocha Chai Latte
Rating	4.3/5