Viva La Vida

Viva La Vida

Viva La Vida is a boutique Nicaraguan cigar crafted by A J Fernandez that delivers medium to full bodied character through an oily Nicaraguan Habano Maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan Corojo binder and Criollo ’98 filler. Built by Artesano Del Tobacco, the brand founded by former New York Cigar Inn owners who partnered with Fernandez in Esteli, this cigar showcases the richness and complexity that comes from blending premium Nicaraguan tobaccos into a layered, dynamic smoke that lives up to its vivacious name.

• Handcrafted by A J Fernandez in Nicaragua with signature attention to flavor development and construction quality.
• Uses Nicaraguan Habano Maduro wrapper with reddish, oily appearance that delivers dark earth, leather, and natural sweetness.
• Nicaraguan Corojo binder adds spice, structure, and peppery kick that complements the maduro wrapper.
• Criollo ’98 filler tobaccos provide complexity, depth, and refined Nicaraguan intensity throughout the smoke.
• Available in Toro 20 count boxes, Jester 5 count packs, and Diademas 10 count boxes to match different occasions and commitment levels.
• Medium to full bodied strength with pronounced black pepper, rich leather, earth, and subtle sweetness that develops through every draw.

Artesano Del Tobacco created Viva La Vida as part of their evolution from retail into manufacturing, leveraging 25 years of customer knowledge from New York Cigar Inn to inform blend development. When the founders sold their shop to Casa De Montecristo in 2015 and visited Nicaragua, they connected with A J Fernandez to build cigars that reflect what experienced retailers know smokers want. The Viva La Vida represents that vision, blending premium Nicaraguan leaf into a cigar with vibrancy, character, and the kind of peppery richness that satisfies seasoned enthusiasts.

The Nicaraguan Habano Maduro wrapper is central to the cigar’s identity. This wrapper shows a distinctive reddish, oily surface with visible sheen that indicates proper fermentation and aging. Habano Maduro wrappers from Nicaragua tend to deliver earthy depth, leather tones, and natural sweetness with less chocolate focus than Mexican San Andres maduros, creating a profile that emphasizes spice and terroir over dessert like richness. The wrapper’s oil content helps it burn smoothly and contributes to the overall complexity of the smoke.

The Nicaraguan Corojo binder adds structure and peppery spice. Corojo is a traditional Cuban seed varietal grown in Nicaragua that produces tobaccos known for sharp black pepper, cedar, and robust flavor. As a binder, it strengthens the cigar’s core and ensures the filler tobaccos interact with the wrapper effectively, creating a cohesive profile where no single element dominates. The Criollo ’98 filler represents modern Nicaraguan seed development, producing leaf with refined complexity, natural sweetness, and the kind of depth that keeps the cigar interesting from first light to final puff.

In the smoking experience, Viva La Vida typically opens with black pepper and earth from the Corojo binder and maduro wrapper, quickly joined by leather and cedar from the Criollo ’98 filler. As the cigar progresses, subtle sweetness emerges, balancing the peppery intensity and adding dimension to the earth and leather core. Retrohale tends to show concentrated black pepper and baking spices, with the maduro wrapper tempering the sharpness. Strength builds from medium to medium full, with body sitting firmly in the full range, creating a robust smoke that demands attention without overwhelming experienced palates.

Construction quality reflects A J Fernandez’s reputation for precision rolling and consistent manufacturing. The wrapper application is clean, with tight seams and minimal veins. Draw resistance is typically firm but open, allowing steady smoke production without excessive effort. Burn lines stay even with minimal corrections, and ash holds well, often reaching an inch or more before dropping. These construction characteristics separate factory made boutique cigars from inconsistent small batch experiments, ensuring reliable performance across boxes.

Summary

• Box Count: 20 (Toro), 5 (Jester), 10 (Diademas)
• Region: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium to Full
• Binder: Nicaraguan Corojo
• Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Maduro
• Filler: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98

How does Viva La Vida differ from the Connecticut version?

The Connecticut version uses Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper for smooth, creamy, mild to medium character with toast and light sweetness. This Habano Maduro version delivers medium to full strength with pronounced black pepper, earth, leather, and richer, spicier character. The wrapper choice creates completely different smoking experiences despite sharing the Viva La Vida name.

What is Criollo ’98 filler?

Criollo ’98 is a Nicaraguan seed varietal developed for refined complexity, natural sweetness, and depth. It produces filler tobaccos that add dimension and balance to blends without overwhelming other components, making it popular in premium Nicaraguan cigars where complexity matters as much as strength.

Is Viva La Vida suitable for newer cigar smokers?

Viva La Vida sits at medium to full strength with full body and pronounced pepper, which makes it better suited for smokers with some experience. Newer enthusiasts who already enjoy medium-bodied Nicaraguan cigars can handle it comfortably, but those still exploring milder blends may find the peppery intensity more challenging.

What flavors should I expect?

Early puffs typically show black pepper and earth from the Corojo binder and Habano Maduro wrapper, joined by leather and cedar from the Criollo ’98 filler. As the cigar progresses, subtle sweetness emerges to balance the pepper, while retrohale brings concentrated black pepper and baking spices tempered by the maduro wrapper.

How does Nicaraguan Habano Maduro differ from Mexican San Andres Maduro?

Nicaraguan Habano Maduro emphasizes earthy depth, leather, and spice with natural sweetness, often showing a reddish, oily appearance. Mexican San Andres maduro leans toward dark chocolate, espresso, and dessert-like richness with a darker color. Both are premium maduro wrappers but deliver distinctly different flavor profiles.

What drinks pair well with Viva La Vida?

The black pepper and earth notes pair beautifully with espresso, dark roasted coffee, or strong black coffee. The leather and spice work exceptionally well with aged rum, bourbon, or rye whiskey. Full bodied red wines like Malbec or Cabernet Sauvignon also complement the earthy character, while porter or stout beers match the maduro richness.

Which size should I choose?

The 20-count box provides the best value for regular smoking and allows you to track how the cigar ages over time. The Jester 5 count lets you sample the blend without committing to a full box. The Diademas 10 count offers a larger vitola for extended smoking sessions and special occasions.

Does Viva La Vida age well?

Medium to full bodied Nicaraguan cigars with maduro wrappers age exceptionally well with proper storage. The black pepper mellows, the earth and leather integrate more smoothly, and subtle sweetness becomes more pronounced. Six months to a year of rest can significantly improve Viva La Vida, with continued development for those patient enough to wait longer.