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Cigar Review: Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda

29 Nov 2011

New cigars from new cigar companies are rarely as anticipated as the Crowned Heads innaugural release, Four Kicks. Perhaps that’s because the new company has many familiar faces.

Crowned Heads was Founded by longtime employees of CAO (including Jon Huber and Mike Conder). They stayed in Nashville, Tennessee, after CAO completed its merger with General Cigar and moved into General’s headquarters in Richmond, Virgina.

Their new cigar is also made by a familiar face, Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, who worked for many years with General Cigar after selling his El Credito company (La Gloria Cubana, El Rico Habano). The cigar is the first Carrillo has made since leaving Geneal that isn’t for his own E.P. Carrillo brand. However, when he first went out on his own, his original plan had been to base his business on making cigars on contract for others.

The name “Four Kicks” comes from the Kings of Leon song of the same name. Huber explains why that was chosen on the company blog (part of a welcome, informative, and up-to-date cigar website—something far too rare in the industry).

The blend, made in Carrillo’s Dominican factory, uses an oily, reddish Ecuadorian Habano wrapper around Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. The cigar comes in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 50), Sublime (6 x 54), Piramide (6.1 x 52), and a Corona Gorda (5.6 x 46). For this review I picked up a six-pack of the Corona Gordas from Emerson’s Cigars where they cost $6.95 each.

Four Kicks is a medium-bodied smoke. I found a notably chewy aspect to it, with meaty and leathery flavors. As it develops, sweet cinnamon and nutmeg spice are revealed before the strength fades a bit and the sweetness comes to the front of the palate. Construction is perfect.

It’s a well-balanced, very savory cigar that’s completely distinct from Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s other creations. It pairs up equally well with a cup of coffee, an IPA, or an after-dinner bourbon, and could be an everyday smoke or one you save for a special occasion.

In an already crowded market of well-made cigars, it takes a lot for a new one to stand out. Crowned Heads’ first offering does that, and I’m looking forward to what they plan on creating next. With it’s medium-bodied, well-balanced, savory flavors and a reasonable price, the Four Kicks Corona Gorda earns four and a half stogies out of five.

[To read more StogieGuys.com cigar reviews, please click here.]

Patrick S

photo credit: Stogie Guys

2 Responses to “Cigar Review: Crowned Heads Four Kicks Corona Gorda”

  1. Jenkins Tuesday, November 29, 2011 at 12:07 pm #

    I have to agree with every word of this review. Really like this smoke. Congrats to Jon Huber et al, and welcome back to the industry.

    Maybe Crowned Heads' next line can be called "Four Sticks" after the Led Zeppelin song.

  2. Jonathan Drew Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at 11:40 am #

    Congrads to Huber and EPC for a great Collabo …!
    Best,
    JD