Four Kicks Limited Edition 2018 Review

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Four Kicks Mule Kick Limited Edition 2018 Review

Up for review today is the Four Kicks Limited Edition 2018 Maduro by Crowned Heads. For those reading who don’t know, Crowned Heads is a boutique cigar company that has released other popular blends like Headley Grange, Jericho Hill, and J.D. Howard Reserve.

I’ll cut right to the chase and just mention that this is definitely a cigar to investigate, some minor construction issues aside. The cigar is priced at $10.95 with a total production of 30,000 cigars (that means pick it up while you can).

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Four Kicks Mule Kick Limited Edition 2018
  • Wrapper: Connecticut Habano
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: 5 7/8 x 52

Note: the cigar uses the same binder and filler as the original Four Kicks line, though with a Connecticut habano instead of an Ecuadorian habano wrapper.

Appearance & Construction

The Four Kicks Limited Edition 2018 features a deep, rich brown Connecticut Habano wrapper which has a few small knots and imperfections, a touch of toothiness and has a nice layer of oil. The cigar isn’t quite constructed evenly, just looking at it from the side reveals some waviness to its overall shape. But it is packed evenly. The branding is a nice touch as well, using a red and gold Four Kicks upper band and a black and gold LE band that is popular on many cuban cigars (as well as their knock offs).

I used a straight cut on this cigar, and the draw is ideal, about a 6/10 in terms of restrictiveness. The cold draw reveals notes of granola, baking spices (cinnamon), pepper, some cocoa and a bit of bread.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2018 opens with a dominant combination of cream, cocoa, and a strange tangy fruitiness. There’s also a heavy charred wood and white pepper which enters fairly aggressively after about the first five minutes of puffing on the cigar. The texture of the smoke is very earthy, but still quite smooth. Smoke production is excellent, and the strength seems to be dead centered on medium. All of this amounts to a lot of flavor, a good deal of strength, and ample reason to get the salivary glands going. The burn is mostly alright, but once or twice it goes a bit sideways forcing me to touch it up.

Burning into the second third, the earthiness of the texture morphs into something more akin to cream, pairing well with the chocolate and dark berry notes. On the other hand, many of the sharper notes in the first third (earth, wood, pepper) have toned down or entirely disappeared, and the body which was medium earlier is now a touch below. I’m a bit torn on whether I’m happy about that. The rougher notes provided a nice balance to the creamier flavors. Construction wise, the burn continues to wave one way and then another, but thankfully doesn’t affect the draw, smoke production, or flavor.

The last third of the Four Kicks LE 2018 sees a reduction in creaminess and leans more toward something akin to dry wood. There’s a hefty amount of granola, as well as leather, along with some nice salted nuts. It’s an enjoyable profile, and it’s augmented from time to time by a freshly baked bread note that adds to the enjoyment. Construction is never quite perfect on this cigar, and the burn continues to need attention even in the last inch and a half.

Conclusion

I’ve been disappointed by many limited edition annual released from other companies. Thankfully, the Four Kicks Mule Kick Limited Edition 2018 is a solid offering. It’s a bit of an enigma at times, with the flavors and balance shifting almost without end at times. I also think it could do with a bit more strength as it never really passed above the medium mark. Overall though, the cigar puts forward a great flavor profile that’s easy to recommend and return to. On the pairing side, this cigar pairs well sherry-influenced scotches. I’ve paired this cigar with the Glendronach 12 Year with great results.

Final Score: 88

Joya de Nicaragua Clásico Señorita Review

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Joya de Nicaragua Clasico Review 2

Up for review today is a 2018 release from Joya de Nicaragua. Though a new release, the Clásico line actually dates back to 1968—it was JdN’s core line. According to Cigar Aficionado, who covered the re-launch of Clásico ,

“The original Joya de Nicaragua was renamed Clásico in 2001 when the company released Antaño 1970, its first major brand extension since Dr. Alejandro Martínez-Cuenca purchased Joya de Nicaragua in 1998. The Nicaraguan cigar company, which is still owned by Martínez-Cuenca, is re-releasing Clásico in celebration of its 50th anniversary. The cigars began shipping this month and are sold exclusively through Casa de Montecristo and JR Cigars. According to Juan Martínez, executive president of Joya de Nicaragua, Clásico is the company’s best-selling cigar in Europe and South America.”

With that backdrop, let’s get to the review.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Joya de Nicaragua Clásico
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
  • Binder: Nicaragua
  • Filler: Nicaragua
  • Size: Señorita (5 1/2 x 42)

Joya de Nicaragua Clasico Review

Appearance & Construction

The Joya de Nicaragua Clásico is a very well presented cigar. The gold, white, and green band strikes the balance well between being understated but still having personality. The outer wrapper is very smooth, with no imperfections and a carefully applied triple cap. The cigar seems packed well, with no uneven soft spots. After cutting the cigar with a straight cut, I test the draw, which is about a 7/10 in terms of total restrictiveness. Just right.

The cold draw carries some spice and wood, and off the foot I pick up some wood and sweet malt flavors.

Flavor & Smoke Characteristics

The Joya de Nicaragua Clásico opens all the way down at mild bodied. Is hard to discern exactly what is going on because of how mild it is. There’s a bit of a wet paper note seated next to a cedar and salted peanut combination. I’m surprised to find that the retrohale has no strength at all. The lack of strength wouldn’t normally be an issue, but smoke production is at or even a touch below average so I don’t feel like I’m getting a true experience of the blend. Overall, not an encouraging start to this cigar.

At a inch in, the burn is great and the salt and pepper ash is still holding on. Body and strength are still at the bottom end of mild, which is beginning to get a bit frustrating. Flavors on the palate are mostly unchanged, though a very subtle vanilla note is hanging around that I really like, rounding out the woodsy notes.

As the cigar burns into the second third, the salted peanut that dominated initially has also drawn down a bit, making more space for other flavors to emerge. There are hints of spices here and there which are augmented by a nice creaminess in the texture, but they never step forward enough to claim their space in the overall profile.

In the final third, the cigar finally starts to hit its stride, with smoke production increasing, along with the strength of flavor. Gentle wood notes make a solid foundation for supporting flavors of creamy coffee and nuttiness. Construction in this section of the cigar is flawless. Nice overall, but a bit perplexing.

Conclusion

I enjoyed the Joya de Nicaragua Clásico, but find myself a bit disappointed at the end. Though the cigar performs very well in terms of construction and has some nice flavors, I was expecting a bit more in terms of strength. For that reason, it probably isn’t a cigar I’d return to outside of an early morning smoke.

I have considered the possibility though that this is exactly what JdN is going for in this blend: i.e. an extremely smooth, easygoing smoke that I can’t imagine would offend anyone’s palate. The company reported that the Clásico line is its best selling product in Europe. This makes sense given that the European market is saturated with more Old World Cuban products that tend to be less forceful than Nicaraguan cigars. So the gentler experience is likely what the company was going for. Whether it will be successful in the American market is less clear.

In any case, this is a solid product, and if you are in a mild cigar phase, I’d suggest giving the Joya de Nicaragua Clásico a try.

Final Score: 86

John Drew Brixton Mash Destroyer Review

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John Drew Brixton Mash Destroyer Review

If you’re a cigar smoker reading this review,  you’re probably here because you heard that Jonathan Drew of Drew Estate has gone into the spirits business and you want to know what he’s up to. For non cigar smokers reading this review, Jonathan Drew revolutionized the cigar world in recent decades, first with his Acid infused cigars and later with hugely popular premium blends like Liga Privada, Undercrown, and a host of others. He is a man that knows tobacco, but perhaps most of all knows the art of branding and marketing.

Brixton Mash Destroyer is the first release from John Drew Brands, and it’s everything you would expect from a man who made a name by being a bit of a heretic in the luxury world. It’s a blend of Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey and Florida rum (hence “Mash Destroyer”). It’s quite an interesting dram, but more on that in the review below.

Brixton Mash Destroyer Review

Product Specifics

  • Product Reviewed: Brixton Mash Destroyer by John Drew Brands
  • Mashbill: undisclosed. Blend of Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey and Florida Rum
  • Age: undisclosed
  • ABV: 45% / 90 proof

Brixton Mash Destroyer

Appearance

The branding on this bottle has everything you’d expect from anything created by John Drew: vibrant colors, big shapes, and overall ballsy design. For a company that is introducing its first products to market, this is a smart play. In the glass, the liquid is pale gold (a big lighter than what you see in the photo).

Nose

One whiff and you can tell this is a mix of rum and bourbon, though I’d say the rum wins out in terms of strength. The nose is a mix of butter, molasses, faint caramel, hay, peanuts, and some very light oak and pepperiness. A lot going on, but it’s pretty muddled.

Palate

Again, the mix of bourbon and rum is obvious. It’s also quite enjoyable. The bourbon plays a larger upfront role, with bright caramel, oak, and some butter on entry. As the flavor develops, I pick up some rye spiciness, a touch of mint and a bit of the molasses from the rum.

Finish

Brixton Mash Destroyer is almost completely defined by the rum as far as finish is concerned. Long, lingering cane sugar sweetness, banana, and a bit of salty molasses.

Conclusion

Brixton Mash Destroyer by John Drew Brands is not an overly complex drink. It doesn’t weave bourbon and rum together perfectly. At times it’s positively muddled. But I have to say after half a bottle of this and a few cigar pairings, it is an extremely drinkable and pairs well with a number of cigars (the last being the CAO Italia which was a great pairing).

My suspicion is that John Drew Brands has achieved exactly what they wanted to achieve: launch a solid product that elbows into an over saturated market with aggressive branding and a gutsy mix of ingredients. Take our rating on this one with a grain of salt—there isn’t exactly a category for a rum/bourbon combo. But whatever this spirit is, it’s good.

Final Score: 89

Spirits for review were provided by John Drew Brands.

Davidoff 702 Series Aniversario Special T Review

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Davidoff 702 Series Aniversario Special T Review

Up for review today is the Davidoff 702 Series Aniversario Special T. It’s a bit of a new take on the classic Davidoff Special T, and augments the blend most significantly with the Ecuadorian Habano 702 wrapper. Anyone reading this site knows I’m a fan of Davidoff, with their cigars winning some of my top ratings of all time (the Davidoff Millennium Blend Short Robusto scored a rare 94 rating).

It’s a double-edged sword though, as I also hold Davidoff to a very high standard of quality, and some of their cigars just haven’t lived up to it. Let’s find out how the Davidoff 702 Special T fares.

Product Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Davidoff 702 Series Aniversario Special T
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano 702
  • Binder: Dominican Republic
  • Filler: Dominican Republic
  • Size: 6″ x 52

Davidoff 702 Series Aniversario Special T Review Closeup

Appearance and Construction

The Davidoff 702 Series Special T is about as attractive as they come, with the standard white and gold Davidoff band with an additional white and gold secondary band denoting the 702 series. The outer 702 Habano Ecuador wrapper is the color of marbled dark chocolate and fairly smooth to the touch. When squeezed, the cigar has a moderate amount of give, and seems packed mostly consistently though it gets a bit denser near the cap. This is obviously no surprise given the torpedo format.

After using a straight cut, I test the draw. It’s just about perfect, maybe a touch restrictive. The cold draw brings forth notes of sweet earth, and I pick up aromas of dry cedar, earth, and some mild spices off of the foot.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The 702 Special T kicks off with mild bodied, mild strength smoke. A twinge of spice on the tip of the tongue, that famous Davidoff mustiness, barnyard, dry paper, and some light black pepper and coffee notes. The profile overall straddles right between sweetness savory, making for an interesting start. Smoke production is good, and the cigar had no trouble staying lit.

At half an inch in, I’m beginning to worry that this cigar will be essentially a redo of the regular Davidoff Anniversario Special T, which to me lacked much character or complexity. Thankfully, I soon pick up some subtle shifts in the profile, including a subtle floral note (which I’m a sucker for) and a bit of salt.

An inch in, the burn is straight and the cigar has developed an almost completely white ash. Flavors have finally settled into something straightforwardly enjoyable: the salt has morphed into something resembling buttered popcorn, the wood is a bit less dry, and the floral notes I sensed earlier are now a consistent part of the profile.

Now we’re talking.

Heading in to the second third, the burn is still completely straight, with the white ash dropping at one inch intervals. Strength wise, the cigar has climbed into medium territory, with spice, Oak, and cinnamon bread making up the bulk of the profile. At this point, I’m impressed by the complexity, though I’m not yet impressed by the bouquet of flavors, which is often out of balance (some flavors not complementing others).

The cigar progresses more or less in the same way until the final third, where the strength and concentration of flavors increases slightly, likely the result of the vitola’s tapering. The spiciness from earlier is replaced by strong black pepper, and the coffee note shifts to espresso. All of this over a foundation of dried wood.

Conclusion

The experience between this and other cigars like the Millennium Blend is clear. Like most Davidoff cigars, the Davidoff 702 Series Special T presents a fairly complex, enjoyable bouquet of flavors, along with flawless construction. Still, it’s fair to say that roughly half of the cigar struggled with an imbalanced profile. Since it was such a consistent issue, in my mind the $30 price range isn’t justified for this cigar.

Final Score: 88

Regius Exclusivo U.S.A. Pressed Perfecto Review

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Regius Exclusivo U.S.A. Pressed Perfecto Review

Regius Cigars is a UK based company that I admittedly had little experience with.  Their initial distribution began in Europe and now they have come to the States. The Regius Exclusivo U.S.A. Pressed Perfecto from Regius is exclusive to the U.S. As I learned each size in the line is blended with that particular vitola in mind. That is not always the case as some cigar makers create a blend and roll several sizes without tweaking it for that specific size. A cigar’s size affects the way it burns, how your palate interacts with the smoke to mouth ratio and the level of intensity it can yield.  When a cigar maker blends for each size you are getting the best example of that blend in each vitola. I was fortunate enough to sample the perfecto size and it certainly delivered. Enjoy!

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Regius Exclusivo U.S.A. Pressed Perfecto
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan
  • Binder: Nicaraguan
  • Filler: Nicaraguan
  • Size: 6 1/2 x 54 Pressed Perfecto

Regius Exclusivo U.S.A. Pressed Perfecto Review 2

Appearance and Construction

The Regius Exclusivo has a regal band with a silver and red label. The secondary band notes “Exclusivo U.S.A” designating its single country availability. The cigar has minimal veins with a milk chocolate colored wrapper. No noticeable soft spots were detected and the cigar was packed full of tobacco. Interestingly the foot is closed on both ends which is intended to have the cigar age slower over time with no air coming through the cigar. Obviously before lighting you need to clip the foot. The cigar is expertly rolled and crafted.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The Regius Exclusivo begins with toasty notes along with some sugary sweetness. Cocoa and a bit of spice hit the palate and the retrohale delivers the same.  Some earthiness and toast interplay upfront while the spice lingers on the back end. The Regius goes through several flavors within the first part of this cigar.

In the second half hay and earth take shape with a touch of mineralty. The burn is uneven at this point however it has not yet affected the flavor in a negative way. Some serious nuttiness comes through and cashew flavors dominate. The progression of this cigar continues to surprise and entice with spice and hay engulfing the mouthfeel. At present the body is medium to full with lush flavors constantly hitting you.

The final third delivers sweetness and cedar that stimulates the senses. The burn at this point corrects itself and emits a flaky ash. More earth and mineral characters build up and coat the mouth. The flavor of earth is rich and spice builds up on the retrohale. As the Regius comes to an end the palate lingers with earth, nuttiness and cedar. A delicious cigar.

Conclusion

Having little experience with Regius cigars, only smoking a few I can say this is a reason to try even more. The European market generally gravites to more mild to medium bodied smokes with more nuanced flavors. The U.S. market seems to prefer more bold smokes along with fuller flavors. The Regius Exclusivo has done an excellent job of creating a blend that offers rich flavor with enough medium to full bodied intensity to grab the market it was created for. I recommend trying the perfecto or grabbing a box as I am looking forward to smoking the rest of the line.

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