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The Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary Club 500 Sabroso is a 5 1/4 x 56 box-pressed Nicaraguan cigar from Artesano del Tobacco and AJ Fernandez, wrapped in a Habano-seed maduro leaf from Connecticut, with Nicaraguan binder and filler. It is one of two sizes made for Viva La Vida’s fifth anniversary, and we sell it as singles.
28 in stock
Description
The Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary Club 500 Sabroso is a 5 1/4 x 56 box-pressed cigar that AJ Fernandez makes in Nicaragua for Artesano del Tobacco, finished in a Habano-seed maduro leaf from Connecticut, with Nicaraguan binder and filler.
What It Tastes Like
The maker lists raisin, earth and dark chocolate, plus coffee bean, lemon peel, honey and leather. halfwheel’s unscored review of three samples found pepper, earth and toast crowding out everything else in one, while the other two added notes such as lemon, cream and herbs; strength sat mostly at medium, reaching medium-full in one sample, and felt strongest in the first third. Stogie Press scored the sister Jester size 95 (May 2024); that score is for the Jester only.
Who It’s For
- Box-press fans who want a stubby, double-tapered shape instead of a straight parejo.
- Viva La Vida regulars curious how the familiar Nicaraguan core tastes under a Connecticut maduro leaf.
- Maduro lovers who want a thick 56 ring in a shorter length.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Regular-production size, per halfwheel, not a one-time release
- Its Connecticut maduro wrapper, shared only with the Jester, separates it from the Habano Oscuro core blend
Cons
- We found no dated critic score for the Sabroso itself
- halfwheel found one of three samples less layered
About the Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary
Billy and Gus Fakih, who previously ran Manhattan’s two Cigar Inn shops with a third brother, brought Viva La Vida to the U.S. market in March 2019, per Artesano del Tobacco. Five years on, they debuted this size and the Jester at the 2024 PCA trade show in Las Vegas (Cigar Coop, March 2024).
Compare Similar Cigars
- Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary Jester Belicoso: this blend as a 5 1/2 x 56 flat-headed belicoso.
- Viva La Vida Gran Toro: the original Habano Oscuro blend in a 6 x 60, per Artesano del Tobacco.
- Viva La Vida Toro: the core Habano Oscuro recipe as a round 6 x 54 (Artesano del Tobacco).
Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary Club 500 Sabroso FAQ
How strong is the Viva La Vida 5th Anniversary Club 500 Sabroso?
Sources differ: Neptune Cigar lists it as full and the maker’s page calls it a robust smoke, while halfwheel’s review found it mostly medium. We list it as full.
Is the Club 500 Sabroso box-pressed?
Yes. Artesano del Tobacco and halfwheel call it box-pressed, and Cigar Aficionado notes it tapers at both ends.
What ring gauge is the Club 500 Sabroso?
Most sources, including Cigar Aficionado and halfwheel, give 5 1/4 x 56; the maker’s page shows 58.
How is it different from the original Viva La Vida?
The wrapper. Cigar Aficionado says the Nicaraguan interior matches the core line, and Artesano del Tobacco lists a Habano Oscuro wrapper on that core blend rather than Connecticut maduro.
Browse other Fakih-brothers blends on our Artesano del Tobacco cigars page.
Additional information
| Packaging Type | Single |
|---|---|
| Origin | |
| Strength | Full |
| Wrapper | Connecticut Havana |
| Binder | Nicaraguan |
| Filler | Nicaraguan |
| Length | 5 1/4" |
| Gauge | 56 |
