Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2018

Today we have the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2018.  This cigar has a dark reddish brown oily wrapper with visible veins and seems.  The cigar is rustic in appearance.  It comes in at       5 7/8 X 52.  After lighting, the draw is perfect with just the right amount of resistance and is producing large smoke output. The draw has a floral note with some earth and black pepper.  The retro hale has a black pepper flavor and burn that's at a medium heat.  The finish continue the floral notes and the earthiness.  The black pepper drops off half way through the finish.  The flavors stay on the palate fairly long and the body is at a medium.  The burn is wavy but not an issue

A half inch down and some changes happen.  The draw still has the earth and floral notes.  The floral however is fading.  The black pepper burn through the retro hale has intensified to a medium to full in intensity.  A leather note also comes out through the retro hale.  The finish continues the earth and black pepper.  A sweet milk chocolate note starts to come in at the tail end of the finish and is quite tasty.  The finish flavors are sticking around longer and the body is up to a medium to full.  The burn did require a minor touch up.

Three inches down and some more changes occur.  The draw has changed flavors completely.  A cashew and oak combo plus some earth are the new flavors.  The retro hale still sees the black pepper intensity at a medium to full and still has a leather note.  The finish sees the sweet milk chocolate starting to tail off.  The earth is still present and the floral notes are starting to come back in.  A coffee note comes in at the tail end of the finish.  The cigar is quite complex and there are several flavor changes.  Usually the earth, black pepper, and light coffee are the main notes I am picking out.  The body is still at a medium to full.  The burn has evened out considerably and has not been an issue.

With just over an inch left the cigar is starting to get warm and mushy.  The flavors have been washed out by a warm chard tobacco note.  I sat the cigar down for the last time at the 1 hour and 37 minute mark.  Last year the Mule Kick was my Cigar of the Year.  This years version features a new wrapper then the previous year.  I Have to say that I wasn't a fan of the floral notes.  I did pick out a lot of similar flavors from last years version.  However, the big change was the floral, oak, and cashew nuttiness.  This cigar was very enjoyable but feel just short of last years cigar in my opinion. Overall it was still one tasty cigar that requires a high score!

My review of the 2017 Mule Kick
Follow Jon Huber on Twitter: @TheCrownedHeads
Follow co-founder Mike Conder on twitter: @MikeConder
Crowned Heads Website LINK


Price: $10.99

Appearance: 9/10
Draw: 20/20
Burn: 18/20
Flavor: 18/20
Complexity: 18/20
Burn Time: 10/10

Overall Score: 93 / Great Cigar