Blind Review: Crowned Heads las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2022

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Dias de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, is a holiday that traditionally celebrates the remembrance of deceased friends and families. This holiday is widely celebrated in Mexico and among people of Mexican heritage. Unlike his usual music theme cigars, Jon Huber, the co-founder of Crowned Heads Cigars, started a series based on this holiday: Las Calaveras. 

In 2014, Las Calaveras got released to the world. The name translates to “the Skull,”: which is one of the main components of Dias de los Muertos (the other two components are ofrendas (alter) and marigold flowers). And this cigar is meant to commemorate the memories of the people who had passed away the year before. 

Like its predecessor, the 2022 release has four different vitolas, three of which come in a box of 24. And you can only obtain the 4th vitola, a petite lancero, in their exclusive sampler pack that includes one of each size. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Crowned Heads las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2022 
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Corojo 99
  • Binder: Nicaraguan 
  • Filler: Nicaraguan 
  • Size: LC52 (5″x52)

Appearance & Construction

This cigar has a color tone of light roast coffee beans. The wrapper feels like the back side of leather: soft and lumpy. I see two veins spreading themselves throughout the cigar. I slightly squeeze the cigar between my fingers, and it’s proportionally filled from cap to foot. So far, I am very impressed with the construction.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper gives off a familiar scent of vanilla and sunflower seeds. On the foot of the cigar, I get sweet hay and a hint of spice. I used my Xikar XO cutter to slice off the cap and continued with a cold draw. I get mint, herbs, and slight bitterness. The cold draw reminds me of a Chinese herbal shop in Chinatown.

I take out my trusty Visol Dual-jet light to light the cigar. I take my first puff as soon as the foot becomes bright red. Unlike the scent I got from the wrapper and the cold draw, the flavors are bland with creamy oats, oak, and red pepper spice. Thank god I did not give up on this; half an inch in, I get simple syrup sweetness which carries onto the finish alongside pepper spice. I retrohale the next puff, and it is simple yet delightful with hints of sweet hay, cedarwood, and ample white pepper spice. 

Overlooking the first few puffs, I am enjoying this cigar. The construction is on point as well. The burn line is straight, and the airflow is 7 out of 10, which is perfect restrictiveness for me. It produces a plethora of smoke. And the ash held on past the one-inch mark.

There isn’t much change in the second-third portion of the cigar. I still get creamy oats, oakwood, simple syrup, and pepper spice. With the next retrohale the intensity of white pepper spice increased and made me sneeze several times. Those who know me know that I usually look for the complexity and nuances in flavor notes; yet for this cigar, I find comfort and enjoyment in the consistency. However, one thing I want to point out is that this cigar is drying my mouth out. 

As if the cigar heard what I was thinking, there was a shift in the profile, and it gave me a jolt of excitement. The smoke is silky, and I taste roasted peanuts, syrup, and cedarwood. The spice is completely gone on the palate. On the retrohale, I get maple syrup, hay, and red pepper spice. My final note is that this cigar produces an abundance of smoke to my final puff. 

Conclusion

The lesson for today is to never judge a book by its cover. Or, in my case, never judge a cigar by its initial puffs. The Crowned Heads las Calaveras 2022 was a breath of fresh air compared to the profiles I usually seek out. I was enveloped in sweet syrup, creamy oats, oakwood, and pepper spice. The constant warm and earthy profile was my anchor to this reality while slowly drifting off into a meditative state. Yes, I was THAT relaxed. 

I was pleasantly surprised by Las Calaveras 2022. Because I tried this cigar when it first came out around the end of Summer, and it was a different experience. And this is the perfect example of giving a cigar another chance, and if it wasn’t for the blind review, who knows if I would ever pick up another one of the 2022 releases.

Final Rating: 89

Blind Review: The Blueprint by The Burn Down Podcast

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The Burn Down Podcast launched its first podcast on July 11, 2019. Since then, it has provided weekly entertainment for cigar enthusiasts, commuters, and anyone else listening. They have featured many guest stars, from local celebrities to professional athletes, singers to comedians, and veterans within the cigar industry. Justin Heisig and Eric Josefson Jr. founded the podcast with one goal in mind: educate, inspire, and uplift their viewers, and they accomplished that over one of the greatest equalizers, a cigar!

The Burn Down created the Blueprint by teaming up with Black Bird Cigar. Per Justin and Eric, “the Blueprint symbolizes a ‘mental blueprint’ we have in our mind of who we are and what we represent, and ultimately, a roadmap to success.” 

For more information, please visit The Burn Down Podcast website to learn about their podcast and where you can find The Blueprint.

Blend Specifics

Cigar Reviewed: The Blueprint by The Burn Down Podcast

Wrapper: Mexican San Andres

Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra

Filler: Nicaraguan Esteli, Pennsylvania Corojo & Criollo ’98

Size: 5″ x 54 (Robusto Gordo)

Blind Review: The Blueprint by The Burn Down Podcast

Appearance & Construction

This cigar is toothy, and the longer I hold it between my fingers, the oilier my fingers get. Its color reminds me of a nitro cold brew: muddled oaky brown with a yellowish hue. I can barely see the seam on the wrapper. Overall, the construction is near perfect. 

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

I get brown sugar off the wrapper and cedar wood off the foot. So far, this cigar is straightforward. After slicing through the cap, I did a cold draw and got musty old books and fresh apricot, followed by pepper spice tingling at the tip of my tongue. 

I light the cigar with my Visol dual torch lighter and taste freshly baked bread instantly. Past that, I can taste coffee, oakwood, roasted peanuts, creamy oats, and a hint of red pepper spice all around my palate. I retrohale the following puff, and black pepper spice floods my nasal passage. The intensity was on the borderline of overkill, but just when I’m about to yell uncle, the spices dissipated, and I got bitter coffee with roasted walnut shell. My reward for surviving the intense retrohale is the delectable aftertaste of creamy sunflower seeds. 

So far, this cigar produces a plethora of smoke. The burn line is semi-wavy but even. The draw restrictiveness is about 6 out of 10, which means it is pretty open, but the smoke is nice and cool. I have to reiterate how well this cigar was made; the ash held on 1.5 inches before it fell. 

I arrive at the second third, and the profile becomes more floral. I get raw pine nuts, roasted peanut shells, and bitter espresso beans. The spice on the palate is completely gone. I then retrohale and was still surprised by the intense pepper spice with toffee and cedarwood. 

As I approached the nub, the profile got creamy and silky. I taste roasted peanut shells, oats, and cedarwood. And like the “carrot and stick” analogy, the pepper spice on the retrohale calmed down a lot, and I got rewarded with creamy peanut, caramel, and cedarwood. This lasted until the very last puff. 

Conclusion

The Blueprint by The Burn Down Podcast is an example of what I prefer in the flavor profile. This cigar has great complexity that kept me guessing what the next puff might bring me, but it is also well-balanced with each shift in taste. After being abruptly woken up by the initial pepper spice, the taste of freshly baked bread, roasted peanuts, and creamy oats is pure harmony. The only thing missing for me was a sweet component, whether on the palate or retrohale, which I believe will perfect this cigar. Overall, this is a fun smoke, and I enjoyed it to the last puff. 

Final Rating: 91

Artesano Del Tobacco to Release El Pulpo Cigars in February

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Miami, FL, January 23rd, 2023– Artesano Del Tobacco and co are so excited and proud to share with you the creation of EL Pulpo Cigars which means “The octopus” in english. This project began back in 2016. After working on this project we contact AJ Fernandez to help us create the EL Pulpo cigars. AJ Fernandez used different blending techniques, fermentation ,and aging process that led to the creation of the EL Pulpo cigars . EL Pulpo cigars will be Packaged in Ten-count boxes the cigars will come in box-pressed sizes: Robusto, Toro, and Belicoso.

We will start shipping EL Pulpo Cigars to Cigar Lounges in Mid February 2023. “We wanted a blend that fits people palate the way an octopus fits in different shapes, spaces and becomes that shape , we wanted a blend that becomes hard for any smoker to putdown once they light up like an octopus that doesn’t let go of it’s pray, once again AJ Fernandez has done an amazing job creating EL Pulpo Cigars We couldn’t be more satisfied with the finished product and cannot wait for everyone to try it. As they say, ‘good things come to those who wait’ and this statement continues to ring true with the EL Pulpo Cigars. “- Billy & Gus of Artesano Del Tobacco

As with all Artesano Del Tobacco cigars, The El Pulpo cigars is exclusively manufactured and distributed by AJ Fernandez Company

Blend and origin:
Wrapper: Mexican San Andreas Maduro
Binder: Nicaraguan (AJ Fernandez farms)
Filler: Nicaraguan ( AJ Fernandez farms)
Factory: San Lotano

Vitolas Retail Price
Robusto Grande: 5 X 56 $15.00
Toro Grande: 6 X 56 $16.00
Belicoso Grande: 5.75 X 58. $17.00

Through a fusion of inherited techniques and patience, AJ has developed proprietary tobacco grown from the most prized seeds harvested exclusively on his family farms. Perhaps the most essential quality of an AJ Fernandez cigar is not tangible. It is passion and discipline that motivates AJ to produce world renown premium cigars. The motivation that flows and radiates from AJ are contagious and palatable throughout all the artisans who hone their craft and skills under his hands-on tutelage throughout Nicaragua. All these attributes stem from humble beginnings in San Luis, Pinar del Rio, Cuba where the Fernandez family heritage began.

If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Frank Santos at 786.800.5329 or email frankie@AJFcigars.com. artesanobilly@gmail.com info@ajfcigars.com

Blind Review: AJ Fernandez New World Dorado Figurado

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In June 2022, AJ Fernandez teased a new version of New World featuring a golden-colored wrapper. Later in the year, he introduces the Nicaraguan puro blend as New World Dorado. The majority of the tobacco for this new blend is from AJ Fernandez’s new Dorado Farm. It is also to showcase the first yield from his new farm. 

Per AJ, the soil in his Dorado farm has a golden hue, which is unusual; combining that with the name of his new farm and the literal meaning in Spanish for “golden” birth Dorado. 

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: AJ Fernandez: New World Dorado
  • Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano Sun Grown
  • Binder: Nicaraguan Criollo ’98
  • Filler: Nicaraguan 
  • Size: Figurado (6″x56)

Appearance & Construction

This box-pressed figurado shaped cigar has a dark maple syrup color wrapper, which becomes lighter when I place it right underneath the light, almost mustard yellow. The wrapper is smooth, with very few visible veins. It’s soft and grainy to the touch, almost like soft leather. The tobacco under the wrapper feels lumpy as if it’s the Devil’s Snare (nodding at my Harry Potters fan out there).

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

There is a sweet and tart scene off the wrapper. And since it’s in a figurado shape, I don’t get anything off the foot of the cigar. I then use my Xikar XO cutter and make a small triangle by cutting off the cap. To my surprise, the draw is pretty loose, and I get raisins. 

Figurado is one of the cigar shapes where it tests everyone’s patience when it comes to lighting. Because if I rush this process, I might risk canoeing, if not worse. Luckily, I’ve had my fair share of figurados and did not have any issue lighting. 

The initial flavor is grassy with roasted chestnut and damp wood. With a little delay, white pepper spice makes its presence known at the back of my tongue. Half an inch in, when the burn line expanded to the widest part of the cigar, the smoke becomes creamy with roasted chestnut, oakwood, bitter espresso beans, and white pepper spice. I follow up with a retrohale and instantly regret it. My nasal path flooded with an overwhelming amount of white pepper spice, which lingers for a while. After the spice dissipates, I can taste maple syrup and cedarwood.

This cigar has a long finish with a flavor of roasted peanuts and a constant spice around my tongue. The construction of this cigar is on point. The burn line is even, the airflow is perfect at 7 out of 10 restrictiveness, and the layer of ashes continues to stack with each passing puff.

I arrive at the second third, and the ash is still attached! The cigar becomes sweeter at this point: the maple syrup and roasted chestnut shine here, with cedarwood and white pepper spice supporting in the background. The retrohale is just as sweet with syrup, roasted peanuts shell, and white pepper spice. 

As I approach the final third, the ash finally decides to let go, making a thud as it hits the ashtray.

The cigar keeps smoking great. It is earthier than before, with cedarwood, honey, leather, and only a hint of spice. The retrohale also has a similar shift to the profile: cedarwood, leather, and white pepper spice. The last couple of puffs is creamy with roasted peanuts, which remind me of peanut butter. 

Conclusion

The New World Dorado is a great addition to AJ’s portfolio. The cigar has a nice build-up that prepares my palate for each following puff. The first third set the stage with a tease of the flavors, minus the retrohale. Once my palate got acquainted with the profiles, it then intensified. The creamy and sweet roasted chestnut leads the way with a satisfying amount of spice on the retrohale. The flavor is well-balanced, but what impressed me was the progression in the nuance. There is a slight shift in flavors every other puff. It kept me at the edge of my seat, guessing where the next puff might take me, and kept me going back for more.

Final Rating: 90

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Blind Review: Crowned Heads: The Lost Angel TAA 2022

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The Tobacconists’ Association of America, better known as TAA, is a group of high-end cigar shops in the US, with about 80 retail stores and 34 manufacturers. The club was established for shop owners and manufacturers to get acquainted and get to know one another. They would host meet-ups and herfs around the country. Since then, the purpose has evolved into more business-oriented ventures. There is a yearly meeting similar to PCA to share ideas, give feedback, and have the opportunity to carry the TAA exclusive series. And to be considered a candidate to be a part of this exclusive club, the retail shop has to be at least three years old and be recommended by other members. 

Since 2014, Crowned Heads released their exclusive limited edition TAA cigar named The Angel’s Anvil. The concept is based on a story of a fallen angel finding his way back to heaven. Fast forward to 2020, Crowned Heads revised their exclusive release for it to come out with The Lost Angels, aspiring to be the prequel to its predecessor.  Due to COVID, the release was delayed, and it didn’t hit the shelves until 2021. As a result of the success of that release, Jon Huber, the co-founder of Crowned Heads, decided to bring back The Lost Angels to Tobacalera Pichardo.

Blend Specifics

  • Cigar Reviewed: Crowned Heads: The Lost Angel TAA 2022
  • Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
  • Binder: Mexican San Andres
  • Filler: Dominican & Nicaraguan
  • Size: Robusto Extra (5 3/4″ x 52)

Appearance & Construction

The dark espresso bean color cigar has a silky-smooth surface. There are few visible veins, but it hardly takes away from the smoothness of it. The cigar is filled to the brim, and there are no soft spots, but at the same time, it feels light in my hand.

Flavor and Smoke Characteristics

The wrapper gives off a faint sweetness, and I get barnyard hay and pepper spice on the foot of the cigar. After slicing off the cap with my Xikar XO cutter, I get a unique minty taste on the cold draw. On top of that, I get the flavor of oats. I don’t get any spice from the cold draw, but my lips tingle from the wrapper. 

I use my Visol duel-jet torch to set the foot ablaze and start my smoking experience. The first few puffs are a little bitter, the smoke is creamy, and I get the taste of oatmeal, sunflower seeds, and raw sugar. Initially, I’m disappointed because I don’t get any spice from the puffs, but it creeps up on me 5 to 10 seconds later. The retrohale gives me an abundance of black pepper spice. After my senses came from the shock, I get toffee, cedarwood, and sunflower seeds. 

The bitterness in the smoke disappears as the ash falls after about an inch. The smoke profile becomes even creamier. At this point, I wish I’d eaten before smoking this cigar; I can feel the nicotine slowly make its way down to the pit of my stomach. The construction of this cigar is as good as it can be. The burn line is straight, and the draw is 8 out of 10, which is a bit tight for my liking, but it produces ample smoke. 

Arriving at the second third, I predominately taste sunflower seeds with a hint of cedarwood in the background. I wish the pepper spice would stick around longer but it leaves as quickly as it came. Black pepper spice still dominates the retrohale, along with roasted nuts and honey. 

The accumulation of nicotine in my stomach makes me a bit queasy, but I soldier through and make it to the final third. The profile mellows, and I can taste more than sunflower seeds: roasted peanuts, charcoal, oakwood, and honey. Similar on the palate, the spice is manageable with roasted nuts and honey. Each puff becomes sweeter as it gets closer to the nub, which gives me the perfect sweet ending as I take my last puff.

Conclusion

The Lost Angel 2022 had a unique start, from the minty cold draw to the mouth numbing spice. The overall flavor was good. I really liked the combination of sweet honey and sunflower seeds throughout the smoke. The construction on this cigar was solid, and the airflow opened towards the end. The one negative is the amount of nicotine it produces. This is not a cigar for newcomers or anyone with a weak heart. Unfortunately, I was even overwhelmed with the nicotine level.

Final Rating: 86

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