Smoked: Artesano Del Tobacco Viva La Vida by AJ Fernandez

Smoked at: Fairfield, Ohio

Artesano Del Tobacco AJ Fernandez Viva La Vida Toro is a Nicaraguan puro with a slightly toothy Habano Oscuro wrapper.

A blast of tingly pepper for openers that expands in a few minutes into an array of kitchen cabinet spices, along with wood, earth, creaminess, raisins, and eventually a hint of dark chocolate. I think I tasted one puff of licorice at some point during the second third. If only the chocolate would have lingered and were joined by some coffee notes, it could have rounded out the flavor balance more.

The burn line was even until the final third when it needed a couple of touchups. The smoke output was never quite to my satisfaction. I like my cigar belching smoke like a steel mill chimney in the 1950s. The draw was a tad tight, but one toothpick poke opened it up.

The draw was slightly on the tight side but nominally open. An even burn line until the final third when it went off-kilter needing several touchups. White ash was flaky, but held reasonably well. It fell off twice at about the ¾-inch mark.

The Artesano Del Tobacco Viva La Vida by AJ Fernandez – the cigar name seems akin to “The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: formerly the California Angels” - is a decent cigar. I seem to be stuck in that decent, OK, average, Cigar World 3 rating range lately. I do have a couple of Dunbartons simmering in the humidor. It may be time to fire one up and end this cold streak – I hope.