Video review HERE.
(Description taken from Cigar-coop.com website)
Crowned Heads has announced its latest extension to its Four Kicks brand. This time it is a Sumatra-wrapped offering called the Four Kicks Capa Especial. It’s a project that goes back to the time when Crowned Heads was first getting their company off the ground.
When Crowned Heads launched in 2011, they made a decision to work with Ernesto Perez-Carrillo Jr. and his Tabacalera La Alianza factory in the Dominican Republic. The Four Kicks was the first project released by Crowned Heads. At the time they were finalizing blend selection, there were three options available. Two of the blends favored by Crowned Heads had an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The third option was favored by Perez-Carrillo and it featured an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper with a slightly tweaked filler. Ultimately Crowned Heads selected one of the Habano blends.
Nine years later, Crowned Heads decided to revisit Perez-Carrillo’s preferred blend and thus the Four Kicks Capa Especial was born. The Four Kicks Capa Especial consists of an Ecuadorian Sumatra wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler. It is packaged in 24-count cabinet boxes in three sizes: Corona Gorda (5 5/8 x 46), Robusto (5 x 50), and Sublime (6 x 54).
The Four Kicks Capa Especial joins the original Four Kicks, Four Kicks Maduro, and the limited edition Mule Kick as offerings under Crowned Heads Four Kicks line.
Blend and Origin
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza
Vitolas Offered
Corona Gorda: 5 5/8 x 46 REVIEWED TODAY
Robusto: 5 x 50
Sublime: 6 x 54
I chose this size hoping it would yield the best flavors. The cigar has an average feel in the hand.
The test draw after cutting the cap was good with a touch of firmness. The initial flavors at light up were a cedar with some citrus influence, a lot of brown sugar, a little cinnamon, a thick, pasty nutmeg, and a black coffee base. There was black pepper rated at 7 1/2.
At the first third (23 minutes) the black coffee is very earthy. There also seems to be an element of light leather now. So, I'd describe it as an earthy, leathery black coffee. The nutmeg is not as pronounced as before. The lead flavor is now more of a cedar and there are still nice brown sugar and cinnamon notes. The finish is a leathery nutmeg with average to below lingering black pepper. The flavors in the first third are pretty good. I rated it at 92.
As I moved through the second third (41 minutes) things changed a lot. After having several of these cigars I noticed a massive change in this segment. The sweet notes seem to have moved out of town. The slightly leathery, very earthy black coffee continued to rise. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish is leathery nutmeg with a hint of brown sugar. The lingering black pepper continues to lag. At this stage the flavors consist of earthy black coffee and nutmeg for the most part. A huge change. I rated the second third 84.
The cigar lasted 1 hour 3 minutes. In the final third the sweeter notes tried very hard to come back and to a minimal amount they did. It wasn't hard since there were so few in the second third. The cigar is medium to full bodied. The finish also has a little sweetness; brown sugar and nutmeg. The lingering black pepper is also improved. The final third was a little better than the second third so I raised the score to 85. This cigar didn't impress me, as well as the Four Kicks Mule Kick 2020. The Las Calaveras for this year was actually pretty good. So, for me it wasn't a banner year for Crowned Heads. There's always next year!
No comments:
Post a Comment