Crowned Heads–Four Kicks
Tuesday, December 13th, 2011Headed by Jon Huber, this cigar was highly anticipated by smokers all over the blogosphere. After leaving CAO we were curious what he’d come out with. Four Kicks is the first blend offered by Crowned Heads. It is made by Ernesto Perezz Carrillo in the Dominican. I admit I was looking forward to trying this cigar as well. They are limited in availability, which tends to peak interest with many.
Thanks to John G. for picking up a couple and sending them to me. I was sent the Corona Gorda and Robusto sizes. With a glass of water, I reviewed the Robusto.
Wrapper: Habano Ecuador
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Size: Robusto 5 x 50
Price: Around $7.50
Pre-Smoke & Construction:
The wrapper had a nice velvety appearance, with minimal veins or flaws. The smell of the wrapper was a bit earthy and leathery. The cigar was pretty evenly packed, with a slight tightness towards the head. The pre-light draw had a little resistance, and had a woody and earthy flavor.
The ash held for about an inch, and the burn required one minor touch up.
Flavor:
The first third had a smooth earthy flavor with a nutty component. As I progressed further, woody notes came into the picture. Through the noes there was almost no spice at all. Simple but nice.
The second third developed into a richer flavor profile. The woody flavor became more hearty and thicker feeling, and the earthiness took a back seat. Passing smoke through the nose revealed an easy spicy pepper. The woody aftertaste had a tangy zing that made the lips tingle. The smoke feel was crisp, but felt thick and hearty at the same time.
The last third basically had the same flavors as before, but they became fuller and stronger. Very nice…
Conclusion:
This was a good, solid, slow burning medium bodied cigar. It had a nice build up to a rich flavor profile. Construction was good, the draw was good, and it burned well. There is really nothing bad I can say about this cigar. Does it live up to the hype? I don’t know… While I liked this cigar, I can’t say that I was wowed by it. But it was good. You’ll have to try it for yourself and see what you think. If I ran across these at a local shop, sure I’d smoke them again.