Tasting Note

In 2019, brothers and former New York City cigar retailers Billy and Gus Fakih founded their own cigar company called Artesano del Tobacco. The preliminary release was Viva La Vida, an all-Nicaraguan line made in collaboration with A.J. Fernandez, who also grew the tobacco. The plump Jester was added to the line later that year, though only offered in five-packs wrapped in paper. Its powerful range of leather, spice and earth notes settles down for warmer elements of raisin toast before a nutty finish. This marks the company’s third-ever Top 25 placement, and the second time the Jester has been on the list—an impressive feat for a company only half a decade old.