Crowned Heads Cigars

November 16, 2018 by Andrew Wike in Cigar Certified

Crowned Heads is a small, boutique cigar manufacturer based in Nashville, TN that has attracted enormous attention since 2010, when Jon Huber and several colleagues left CAO to launch their own adventure. Fueled by a rebellious spirit and a desire to make their own rules, they soon introduced a line of hand-crafted cigars inspired by the lyrics of Kings of Leon: Four Kicks.

Made by the famed Ernesto Perez-Carillo in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Four Kicks propelled Crowned Heads to the top of industry charts, and it continues its popularity now, consistently scoring 90 or above on all major reviews. The team continued to push the boundaries, introducing exciting lines like Jericho Hill (inspired by Johnny Cash's "Cocaine Blues"), La Imperiosa (a Cuban brand from the early 1900s that Jon revived), as well as the annual limited edition Las Calaveras series.

Below you can find an overview of some of Crowned Heads most recent releases, as well as some of our favorite sticks from the boutique blender.

Las Calaveras Edicion Limitada 2018

Inspired by the Dias de los Muertos holiday, the first limited edition Las Calaveras was released in 2014 to honor the Crowned Heads team's lost loved ones. Marking the fifth anniversary of the line, the 2018 edition returns to that inspiration with a Mexican San Andres maduro wrapper around a complex Nicaraguan binder and filler blend. On the palate, it's a full, complex smoke, with sweet spices and bright floral notes highlighted on a background of pepper and earthiness. Die-hard fans maintain it's the best edition to date! Available in two sizes, the LC50 Robusto and the LC46 Corona Gorda. Only 1,700 boxes were produced.

Four Kicks Maduro Lancero Limited Edition 2018

The first new vitola in the Four Kicks Maduro line since it debuted last year, the Four Kicks Maduro Lancero LE 2018 is a 7.5" x 38 stick that lifts the rich Connecticut habano wrapper to the forefront, complemented by a Nicaraguan binder and filler blend. Previously exclusive to the Tobacconist's Association of America retailers, this extremely limited release is made in the Tabacalera La Alianza factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic, under the supervision of master blender Ernesto Perez-Carillo. The smoke is rich and complex, offering notes of freshly baked bread, creamy oak, and leathery spice with brighter highlights on the floral side. Only 1,500 boxes were produced.

Four Kicks Mule Kick Limited Edition 2018

The limited-edition Mule Kick began as a happy accident, when Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, who produces the regular Four Kicks line, set aside some Ecuador-Habano wrapper because it was too dark for standard production. The team decided to add some stronger ligero and rolled it into a new shape, resulting in the very first Four Kicks Mule Kick in 2012. While the second Mule Kick, which launched in 2017, featured the same binder and filler with a Ecuadorian habano wrapper, the 2018 edition provides an even darker Connecticut habano wrapper, developing even more dimension and flavor. Nuanced notes of lemongrass, raisins, and herbs shine against its base of rich leathery earth and slight nuttiness. Only 3,000 boxes were produced.