JC Newman

February 15, 2020

Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII Full Court Press (5 7/8 x 52)












Video review HERE.



(Description taken from Cigar-Coop.com website)
Crowned Heads has a announced a new limited production line extension to its Court Reserve XVIII line. The new vitola is a 5 7/8 x 52 box-pressed vitola known as “Full Court Press.”

I reviewed the Sublime vitola (6 x 54) back on 11/17/18. It scored a raw score of 92.67.

“The idea came to me last May during the NBA playoffs, said Jon Huber, co-founder/owner of Crowned Heads in a press release. “Initially, I tossed the name out there somewhat as a corny double entendre, but the more I thought about it the more I liked the idea of releasing a box-pressed expression of CHC Reserve. Once I smoked the sample it was a no-brainer to go to production.”

A total of 1,700 twelve-count boxes will be produced. Production will be handled out of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr’s Tabacalera La Alianza factory, which produces the other sizes in the line. Pricing is set at $11.95 per cigar.


Blend and Origin
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza


Vitolas Offered
Full Court Press: 5 7/8 x 52 (Box Pressed Toro) REVIEWED TODAY
Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46
Robusto: 5 x 50
Sublime: 6 x 54 (REVIEWED 11/17/18)



The cigar is a dark brown with a somewhat slightly pointed, yet dull cap. The cigar has an average feel in the hand.





The test draw after cutting the cap was effortless. The initial flavors at light up were cedar, a little brown sugar and some cinnamon, quite a bit of a doughy nutmeg, sweet chocolate, and a dark roasted black coffee. There was a nice amount of black pepper rated at 7 1/2 to 8. 




At the first third (29 minutes) some of the doughy nutmeg has toned down. The black coffee notes are more in the forefront. There is still some cedar but it's decreased, some brown sugar, and some cinnamon. The nutmeg is now more of a normal nutmeg. The chocolate notes have decreased while the coffee notes have increased. Lots of percentage changes of flavors. The finish is sweet cream, nutmeg, and a drop or two of chocolate. There is a nice amount of lingering black pepper. The cigar is medium bodied at this point. The cigar is good but different from the start. I rated the first third at 92.




As I moved through the second third (54 minutes) the cigar turned darker. The chocolate is now an unsweetened dark chocolate. There remains a lot of black coffee. There are very little cedar notes and even less brown sugar and cinnamon notes. The nutmeg notes are still in abundance. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is much more nutmeg and some dark chocolate. The lingering black pepper remains good. The cigar turned darker and the sweeter notes decreased. Therefore I lowered the second third score to 90.




The cigar lasted 1 hour 11 minutes. In the final third the cigar went even darker. There are an abundance of unsweetened dark chocolate notes and dark roasted black coffee. There are very little cedar notes and I believe the brown sugar and cinnamon notes have disappeared. Even the nutmeg decreased. At this point the cigar is straight up dark. The finish is unchanged. The cigar is still medium to full bodied. With the cigar turning darker I lowered the final third score to 89. The first third was pretty good but it went very dark by the end.


Overall Score: 90.33

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