Crowned Heads Four Kicks "Black Belt Buckle"

This evening we have the Crowned Heads Four Kicks "Black Belt Buckle".  This cigar has a dark brown outer wrapper with a few visible veins and no visible seems.  It comes in at 5 5/8 X 46.  After lighting, the draw is firm.  Its putting out adequate smoke output.  On the draw there is a deep black pepper flavor and tingle sensation, especially through the retro-hale.  A cedar note is also present on the draw.  The finish continues with the cedar and adds in dark tobacco and earth notes.  The body is at a medium and stays on the palate till the next draw.  The burn line through the first inch is razor sharp and construction is perfect so far.

Two inches down and the draw remains a bit firm but smoke output has increased.  The draw has some sweet earth and cedar.  The retro-hale continues to have a bold black pepper tingle sensation and flavor.  The finish has added in a roasted coffee note to go along with the sweet cedar and earthiness.  The body is still at a medium to full and the flavors last on the palate long into the next draw.  The burn remains razor sharp and has not needed any touch ups.

Three inches down the cigar and the cigar has almost completely changed into another cigar.  The draw has gotten richer and sweeter, earth is the main flavor there.  The retro-hale has seen the black pepper flavor and tingle sensation come down a little bit. The finish is a rich bakers chocolate, earth, and leather combo.  The cedar and coffee have completely dropped off and are no longer present on the draw or finish at all.  I would now categorize the cigar as full bodied and the flavors stay on the palate till the next draw.  The burn did require a small touch up but evened out pretty quickly afterward.

with one and a half inches left the cigar flavors have turned warm.  Chard tobacco and leather are all that remain on the draw and finish.  A harsh black pepper has come in on the retro-hale.  I sat the cigar down at the 1 hour and 12 minute mark, which is an excellent burn time for such a small ring gauge. Overall, I am a huge fan of the original Four Kicks.  This cigar did not disappoint and is exactly what I hoped a maduro Four Kicks would taste like.

Please Visit crownedheads.com for more information on their other lines and cool products.

Price: $7.85

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 18/20

Flavor:  18/20

Complexity: 19/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  92 / Great Cigar

La Aurora 107 Toro

Today we have the La Aurora 107 in Toro.  This cigar has an oily milk chocolate colored wrapper with a few visible veins spanning the entire length of the cigar and has invisible seems.  It comes in at 5 1/2 X 54.  After lighting, the draw is slightly snug bur producing good smoke output.  The draw flavors are fairly bold black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  The retro-hale sees some black pepper tingle sensation and sweet cedar notes come through.  The finish is dried fruit, cedar, a smoked wood note.  The black pepper flavor comes in late on the finish.  The body is at a medium and the flavors stay on the palate into the next draw. The burn line is even and construction is excellent so far.

Two inches in and things stay the same with some slight differences.  The draw is still producing good smoke out put.  The retro-hale has stayed the same.  The draw flavors have seen the black pepper die down as far as the tingle sensation although the flavor is still lingering.  The dried fruit is still on the finish, as well as some cedar.  Earth has come in now and is a main flavor on the finish.  A leather note shows up every now and then but earth is the remaining flavor.  The body is at a medium to full and the flavor are staying on the palate longer.  The burn is still even and no construction issues so far.

Three inches have passed.  The cigar is starting to change a bit.  The draw continues with good smoke output.  The draw has now seen a sweet cedar and tobacco notes move to the forefront.  The finish has earth, cedar, leather, and now a sweet caramel note comes in and out every few puffs.  The cigar is much more complex than I originally thought it was going to be.  The body is at a medium to full. The burn is still even.

With just under two inches left to go, the cigar is getting warm and mushy.  All that remain is a chard tobacco and leather note.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 20 minute mark.  A great smoke time for a 5 1/2 inch toro.

Thanks to cigarscity.com for sending in this cigar for review.  Check them out for ALL your cigar needs!

Price: $7.50

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 19/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 17/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  90 / Good Cigar

Crowned Heads Las Mareas

Today we have a new cigar from Crowned Heads. The Las mareas.  This cigar has a light tan wrapper, is a bit rustic looking featuring a few veins and visible seems.  It comes in at 5 1/2 X 52.  After lighting, the draw is near perfect! Its producing lots of smoke.  The initial draw flavors are earth and cedar with a bit of black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  The retro-hale has more black pepper with some baking spices mixed in.  The finish flavors are earth, coco, and spices.  Its an interesting mix.  The flavors are rich and stay on the palate long into the next draw.  The body is at a medium.  The burn through the first inch is razor sharp.

Now, a little farther into the first third and some more flavors come into play.  The draw remains perfect, smoke continues to pour out like a chimney.  The draw hits early with the earth and baking spices.  The finish flavors still have the earth, coco, and spices.  A nice graham cracker note has come in and takes over the finish every few puffs. The finish flavors are becoming richer and thicker in the mouth.  The body is now at a medium to full.  The burn remains good but has gone slightly wavy.

Just over two and a half inches down and the cigar seems to be taking on some different flavors.  The earth and spices remain on the draw, with a little more black pepper coming in.  The finish sees the earth, and coco combining for a sweet coffee flavor.  The graham cracker still comes in and out every few puffs or so but for now the sweet coffee is the winning note. The flavors continue to become richer and smoother as the cigar smokes.

With two inches left, the cigar is starting to get warm. A cashew note is starting to creep in as well as some leather notes. The earth and a light coco are all that remain from the for mentioned flavor's.  I sat the cigar down at the 1 hour and 28 minute mark, a very good time for a robusto.  Overall, this cigar had some flavor changes that kept it interesting and kept my attention.  Its not my favorite cigar from Crowned Heads, but it is a welcome addition to an excellent line up of products.

Thanks to Jon Huber for sending me this cigar via a twitter contest!

Please be sure to head over to crownedheads.com for more information on their great cigars!

Price: $9.75

Appearance: 8/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 19/20

Flavor:  18/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  93 / Great Cigar

LH Premium Maduro Robusto

This afternoon I'm smoking the LH Premium Maduro Robusto.  This cigar has a dark brown maduro wraper. It has a closed foot, a few visible veins and invisible seems.  It comes in at 5 X 52.  After lighting, the draw is snug but producing adequate smoke output.  The draw flavors consist of a bitter dark tobacco and earth with a hint of black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  The finish continues the fairly bitter dark tobacco flavor with some earth notes taking over near the end of the finish.  The black pepper flavor and tingle sensation is most noted during the retro hale.  The body is at a medium.  The burn through the first inch is slightly wavy but not an issue.

On to the second third of the cigar and not much has changed.  The draw still remains snug.  The draw flavors are still slightly bitter and have the dark tobacco, earth, and black pepper.  The retro-hale still crushes the senses with black pepper.  The finish did get slightly sweet continuing the earth and a light coco note coming in but fading quickly. The body is at a medium to full.  The burn continues to be wavy and has had to touched up a few times.

With two inches left, the draw and finish flavors remain unchanged.  The only difference is is that the flavors are getting warmer and richer.  The earth has taken over the finish, however the coco has been coming in more often than in the last third.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 18 minute mark, which is a good time for a robusto size cigar.

Thanks to cigarscity.com for sending this cigar in for review.  Check them out for all of your cigar purchases!

Price: $7.80

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 16/20

Burn: 15/20

Flavor:  16/20

Complexity: 16/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  82 / Enjoyable Cigar

Ave Maria Divinia

Tonight we have the Ave Maria Divinia.  This cigar comes in at 6 X 54 and has a medium brown wrapper with invisible veins and seems.  The cigar is boxed pressed.  After lighting, the draw is slightly snug but is producing good smoke output.  The first draw flavors are a semi sweet tobacco and black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  The finish continues with the draw flavors but adds in a earthiness at the tail end of the finish.  The cigar is at a medium body so far.  The burn is not razor sharp so far but is not burning poorly either.

Two inches down and the cigar is burning rather slowly.  Some flavor shifts start to happen.  The black pepper flavor and tingle sensation have tailed off on the draw but the sweet tobacco and earth are still there.  The finish has added in a slight bit of coffee and a light milky chocolate.  The flavors are all very sweet.  The coffee and chocolate are fighting for who comes out more on the finish, usually its the coffee that wins.  A sweet earth bounces back in on the finish every few draws as well.  The cigar has evened out as far as the burn is concerned and is now burning slightly above average.  The body is at a solid medium.

Three inches down and a full transition happens.  The draw has added back some of the black pepper flavor and tingle sensation on the draw accompanied by a sweet earth.  The finish sees the slight coffee and milky coco completely tail off.  The finish now has a leather and almond taste.  It lasts throughout the finish.  No other flavors come in on the finish but the leather and almond.  The flavors do however remain sweet.  The burn is still slightly above average and the body is still at a medium.

With two inches to go the cigar has gone slightly mushy and warm.  A chard tobacco and leather note is all the remain on the palate.  I sat the cigar down at the 1 hour and 34 minute mark, which is a fairly impressive smoke time.  Overall, this cigar had decent flavor and one large transition that was a very interesting twist half way through the experience.  I would definitely smoke it again!

This cigar was supplied by Cigarscity.com   Be sure to check them out for all of you cigar needs!

Price: $15.00

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 17/20

Burn: 17/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  89 / Good Cigar