Crowned Heads Angels Anvil TAA 2016

Today we have the Crowed Heads Angels Anvil TAA 2016.  This cigar has a very dark brown wrapper.  It is boxed pressed.  It has very even invisible seems and no large veins on the wrapper.  It comes in at 5.5 X 54.  At first light, the draw is slightly snug and output is at a minimum.  The draw has a spicy note to it.  There is no spicy or black pepper tingle sensation, just a spicy flavor.  A sweet creamy earth is also present on the draw.  The finish adds in some cedar but the earth and spicy component dominate the finish for the first third.  The body is at a medium.  The burn through the first inch is razor sharp.

As soon as I hit the second third of the cigar some transitions take place.  The draw has opened up and is now producing adequate smoke output.  The draw still has the spicy earth and cedar flavors initially.  The finish transforms into dark chocolate and sweet tobacco.  The earth is still present but is in the back ground to the dark chocolate.  A leather note comes in every few puffs as well.  The body is at a medium to full and the burn continues to be razor sharp.

Two and a half inches down and the draw flavors remain the same.  On the finish the spicy flavor is coming back to the forefront.  I would call it a sweet jalapeno flavor.  The sweet dark chocolate and earthiness are fighting the jalapeno for dominance.  Every other puff is a toss up on which flavors dominate the finish.  The body is still medium to full.  The burn is still razor sharp.

With just over two inches left the spicy jalapeno, cedar, and earth are still the initial draw flavors.  The finish now has a light coffee come in with the dark chocolate and earth.  The leather note is starting to come back in on the finish as well, although it usually left fairly quickly.  A little strength starts to come in at this point as well.  Its not much strength, its mild but it did give me a little head rush.  The body is still medium to full and the burn throughout the entire cigar was razor sharp.

With just over one inch remaining the cigar started to get warm and all the flavors were washed out by a chard tobacco flavor.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 18 minute mark, which is an excellent time for a robusto.  Overall, this cigar was the most full bodied out of the annual Angels Anvil release, in my opinion.  There were lots of different flavors going on and the jalapeno was an interesting addition throughout the entire cigar.  Another excellent cigar by Crowned Heads and E.P. Carrillo. 

Price: $10.50

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor:  18/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  94 / Great Cigar

Black Label Trading Company Last Rites

Today we have the Black Label Trading Company Last Rites.  This cigar has a dark brown wrapper with invisible veins and seems.  It comes in at 5 X 54.  After lighting, the draw is perfect  producing a above average amount of smoke output.  The draw flavors start off with a earthiness and a bold black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  On the finish, the pepper dominates.  The earth is present, as is a faint creamy cedar.  The body is up to a medium to full and the flavors stay on the palate long into the next draw.  The burn line through the first inch was razor sharp.

One and a half inches down and some flavor shifts start to happen.  The draw still has a fairly punishing pepper, especially through the retro-hale.  The finish has creamy textured earthiness followed by a bold black coffee.  The black coffee is the main note on the finish.  The body is up to a full and the flavors stay on  the palate long into the next draw.  The burn remains razor sharp.

Two inches down and some more flavor shifts occur.  The draw has seen the black pepper come down a few notches and a sweet and rich cedar is the main note on the draw.  The finish starts out with the earthiness but then sees the black coffee come back into play.  After a few puffs a dark bakers chocolate mixes with the coffee and black pepper for a spicy mocha note.  Its quite unique and delicious.  The cigar is still at a full body and some strength is starting to come in as well.  The strength is at a medium but is giving me quite the head rush.  The burn did go slightly wavy and require a minor touch up.

With just over and inch and a half left of the cigar the flavors are being washed out by a warm chard tobacco and leather taste.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 7 minute mark, a pretty good time for a robusto.   Overall, this cigar was a tiny powerhouse with good flavor and nice complexity.  Head on over to Black Label Trading.com for more information on their other lines!

Price: $11.00

Appearance: 10/10

Draw: 20/20

Burn: 17/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  92 / Great Cigar

Crowned Heads Jericho Hill 12 Honest Men

Today we have the Crowned Heads Jericho Hill 12 honest men.  This cigar has a dark chocolate colored wrapper with invisible seems and a few visible veins through the entire length of the cigar.  Its very rustic looking.  It measures in at 7 1/2 X 38.  After lighting, the draw is snug and is giving off limited smoke output.  The initial draw flavors are black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  A sweet cedar is also present.  The finish has more black pepper and continues with the sweet cedar.  A gritty earth is also present on the finish.  The body is at a mild to medium and the flavors leave the palate fairly quickly.  The burn line is razor sharp.

Two inches down and the same flavors are present on both the draw and the finish.  The draw remains snug and smoke output is still limited.  I gave the end another clip with my cutter and I have started to roll the cigar around a little bit in hopes to get more smoke to come out.  The body is still at a mild to medium and the burn continues to be razor sharp.

Three and a half inches down and 30 minutes in. WOW! The draw has completely opened up and smoke output is now above average.  The profile has almost completely changed.  The draw still has some nice black pepper flavor and tingle sensation along with a gritty earth.  The finish has a sweet vanilla note, followed by earth and leather.  The body is up to a medium to medium full.  The flavors stay on the palate long into the next draw.  The burn remains razor sharp!

Four inches down and more flavors have started to come out.  The draw still has the black pepper flavor and tingle on every puff.  The finish is a dark earth with some black coffee and coco notes.  A leather comes back in every few draws.  A dark chocolate note has started to pop up every few draws as well.  The cigar is starting to impress!  I loved the OBS size and was very excited to see what the lancero version would produce, so far is right on point with the OBS but the flavors seem to be more intensified.  The body is at a medium to full and the burn is still perfect.


Four and a half inches down and the only change is that a natural sweetness has started to come back in on the finish.  The dark chocolate and coffee notes are still present and the leather has started to tail off.  The draw continues to put off good smoke output and the burn is still excellent.

With just over two inches left and 1 hour and 35 minutes in I sat the cigar down for the last time.  Sometimes you get a plugged draw with cigars.  It just happens.  Its a handmade product and sometimes you have to expect draw issues to occur.  Luckily for me it opened up and produced great flavors!  My hats off to the team at Crowned Heads and My Father Cigars for coming up with another great smoke.

Price: $9.75

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 16/20

Burn: 20/20

Flavor:  18/20

Complexity: 18/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  91 / Great Cigar

Arturo Fuente Chateau Sun Grown Robusto

Today we have the Arturo Fuente Chateau Sun Grown Robusto.  This dark brown cigar has no visible seems and a few veins that stretch out the entire length of the cigar.  It comes in at 4 1/2 X 50.  After lighting, the draw is producing adequate smoke output.  The draw flavors are a fairly bold black pepper flavor and tingle sensation on the palate.  A cedar and dark tobacco note is also present.  The finish continues with the black pepper flavor and tingle sensation.  The cedar comes back in at the tail end of the finish.  The flavors do not last very long on the finish and the cigar is at a medium body. The burn line is razor sharp.

One inch down and little has changed.  The cigars flavors on the draw and the finish remain the exact same but do have a natural sweetness that has come in.  The sweetness is there on the draw but dominant on the finish, going nicely with the cedar and black pepper.  The body is still at a medium and the burn continues to be razor sharp.

Almost two inches down and some new flavors come into play.  The cedar and pepper are still present on the draw.  The finish has seen the sweetness mix with the cedar and form a sweet tea note.  Its very obvious and is quite tasty.  This new flavor dominates the finish and sees a leather creep in every few draws or so.  The body is still at a medium and the burn is still razor sharp.

With just over an inch to go I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 52 minute mark.  This cigar was a little different from many Arturo Fuentes I have had in recent years.  I quite enjoyed the sweetness and tea flavors.  I recommend this cigar to new smokers because of the easy to taste and medium body flavors.

Price: $5.49

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 19/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 14/20

Burn Time: 8/10

Overall Score:  85 / Enjoyable Cigar

New World Belicoso

Today we have the AJ Fernandez New World in belicoso.  This cigar has a dark brown maduro wrapper.  It has a few visible veins and seems spanning the entire length of the cigar.  It comes in at 5.5 X 55.  After lighting, the draw is firm but is putting out good smoke output.  The first flavors on the draw are black pepper and dark tobacco flavor.  The black pepper is deep and is quite spicy.  The finish continues with the spice and dark tobacco flavor but is quickly overshadowed by a sweet earth.  The body is at a medium to full.  The burn is slightly wavy but not an issue so far.

One inch in and the flavors have stayed the same but have are starting to become more intensified.  The dark tobacco and pepper are still the main notes on the draw.  The finish is taken over by the sweet earth and a coco note has started to come in as well.  The flavors have come up in body.  The cigar is not at a solid full in body.  The burn evened out and is now burning slightly above average.

Three inches down and some flavor shifts start to occur.  The pepper has died off on the draw but the dark tobacco note stays.  The finish sees the black pepper flavor but not the tingle sensation come up.  The sweet earth has died down.  The coco note is now being accompanied by a light coffee bean note every few draws.  The body is still full.  The burn continues to be slightly above average.

With just over two inches remaining the cigar started to get warm and extremely mushy. A chard tobacco and earth were all the remained of the flavors.  I sat the cigar in the ashtray for the last time at the 1 hour and 20 minute mark which is an exceptional time for a 5.5 X 55 stick.  Overall, this cigar was a very enjoyable experience for a bargain price!

Price: $5.25

Appearance: 9/10

Draw: 18/20

Burn: 18/20

Flavor:  17/20

Complexity: 16/20

Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score:  88 / Good Cigar