Las Calaveras EL 2018 LC54 (6 x 54)

Video review HERE.

(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)

For the fifth year in a row, Crowned Heads will have a release of its annual limited edition cigar Las Calaveras. The Crowned Heads Las Calaveras EL 2018 will once again feature a new blend, this time with a San Andres wrapper. The cigars are scheduled to reach retailers this June.

Las Calaveras was introduced in 2014 as Crowned Heads’ limited edition line. The line pays homage to those who have passed away over the past year. As opposed to being a mournful symbol, it is intended to be a celebration of those lives and remembrances of those who are no longer with us. The line is produced by the Garcia family at My Father Cigars. Each year the blend has featured a different wrapper the Garcias are known for working with.

Las Calaveras EL 2014: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro

Las Calaveras EL 2015: Ecuadorian Habano Rosado

Las Calaveras EL 2016: Connecticut Broadleaf

Las Calaveras EL 2017: Ecuadorian Maduro

Las Calaveras EL 2018: San Andres Mexican

In addition to the San Andres wrapper, the Las Calaveras EL 2018 features a 100% Nicaraguan binder and filler. The cigars will be available in three sizes (5 5/8 x 46, 5 x 50, and 6 x 54) – each presented in 24-count boxes. A total of 1,700 boxes per size will be produced.

Crowned Heads is also producing a four cigar sampler. It will contain one of each of the three sizes of the Las Calaveras EL 2018 as well as a bonus fourth size (5 1/2 x 56) that will only be available in the sampler. A total of 3,000 samplers will be made available.

“As 2018 marks the five-year anniversary of the Las Calaveras marca, we felt it apropos to utilize a Mexican San Andres (maduro) wrapper, which finishes a 100% Nicaraguan binder and filler blend. We also drew heavy packaging inspiration from the vibrant colors of the Dia le los Muertos holiday,” commented Crowned Heads co-founder Jon Huber in a press release.

Blend Profile

Wrapper: San Andres Maduro

Binder: Nicaraguan

Filler: Nicaraguan

Country of Origin: Nicaragua (My Father Cigars SA)

Vitolas Available

LC46: 5 5/8 x 46 (SRP $9.95)

LC50: 5 x 50 (SRP $10.95)

LC54: 6 x 54 (SRP $11.95) REVIEWED TODAY

The four cigar sampler will have an SRP of $42.95

The cigar is nice looking and very dark brown. It is well made and has an oily wrapper. It has a nice, dense feel in the hand.

The test draw after cutting the cap was very good. The initial flavors at light up were a tangy, dry cedar, brown sugar, tingly cinnamon, leather, and black coffee. There was black pepper which I rated at a 7. The front end flavors when mixed together give the flavor of a tart, sweet green apple. Strange, I know but you definitely get that type of flavor. About 1/4 inch in you get chocolate notes. They are sweet and a straight chocolate flavor. The leather is rather light but the cigar is somewhat leathery.




The first quarter (22 minutes) my initial assessment is confirmed. The flavors I initially described are still in tact and going along nicely. The tart, sweet green apple-type flavor when all the flavors are combined is still going strong. You have tangy, dry cedar, chocolate, brown sugar, cinnamon, light leather, and black coffee. The cigar is burning fairly evenly. At this point I am rating the cigar a 93.






At the midpoint (45 minutes) there are a lot more chocolate notes and they are a dark chocolate with no sweetness. There are also a lot more black coffee notes. The other notes are still in play but the dark notes have equaled and slightly surpassed those. There are also nutmeg notes that are quite noticeable. The cigar has turned dark. The dark notes along with the nutmeg have taken away quite a bit of the initial sweetness. The cigar is medium to full bodied. With the uptick in dark notes I am lowering the midpoint score to a 91. 

The cigar ended at 1 hour 26 minutes. The cigar continued to turn darker and darker. There was not need to come back at the 3/4 point since nothing significant had changed. The dark chocolate and black coffee notes were prominent. There were also quite a bit of nutmeg notes. There was light leather and a touch of brown sugar. The nice, tart and sweet notes are gone. The cigar is full bodied. The finish is unchanged. From the start the cigar changed. It went from very sweet and tangy to dark and unsweetened. I would have preferred the cigar stay as it started through the first quarter. Since the cigar turned so dark noted I am lowering the second half score to an 88. You can try these cigars by going HERE. If you would like to try a 5 pack go HERE.

Overall Score: 91