The genesis and inspiration of the company named “Crowned Heads” was a far cry from anything “royal;” however, over the years the Crowned Heads legion of supporters have been quietly and reverently refered to as their “Court.” By literal definition, a court is an extended royal household, which in some cases would be composed of thousands of individuals.
It is in that spirit Crowned Heads brings to you the Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII. The CHC Reserve XVIII is hand-crafted at Tabacalera La Alianza, S.A along with industry icon, Ernest Perez-Carrillo. It is limited to a one-time yield of 150,000 total cigars that according to the company, will never be replicated again.
Cigar Review: Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII
Wrapper: Mexico (San Andres)
Binder: Ecuador
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5 5/8″
Ring Gauge: 46
Size: Corona Gorda
The Look: The cigars come packaged in a 20 count high gloss black wooden box with a bright red cliche along with the Crowned Heads Court (CHC) logo. Inside the cigars are laid out in two rows of ten cigars and feature a dual band system. The primary band matches the cliche on the box with colors of red, black and gold while a secondary band uses the same colors and denotes XVIII. As far as the cigars, they are covered in a gritty feeling San Andress wrapper with minimal veins. In the hand, the cigar is firm, although it feels a bit light in the hand.
The Notes: The cold draw of the CHC Reserve XVIII has a cherry like sweetness to it almost like a dried fruit in a pastry. It’s wonderfully intoxicating as is the bouquet of the cigar which offers up a similar sweetness along with a subtle chocolate. Once the cigar is lit, there is a dark raspberry note with a subtle pepper.
Moving into the first third of the Corona Gorda the experience of the cold draw carries over to the cigar sweet notes reminiscent of raspberry. Just as the first third begins to come to a close some notes of walnuts emerge with a touch of leather on the retrohale.
The second third sees the walnut notes become dominant with raspberry remaining in the background. Around the halfway point of the cigar some chocolate notes begin to emerge with a hint of graham cracker. The leather experience on the retrohale makes it to the finish of the cigar which becomes longer as the cigar progresses.
As we close the experience known as the Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII, the notes of raspberry, chocolate, walnuts and graham remain but they slide into the background as the cigar sees leather notes become dominant with some sweetness on the retrohale.
The Finish: After the 2018 IPCPR people asked me what samples I smoked that I liked and I told them one stood out. That cigar wass the CHC Reserve XVIII. It’s one of the most complex cigars I’ve ever smoked. It is a shame that this cigar is limited to a one time production of 150,000 units. The only knock I have is that I wished the first two-thirds continued into the last third. While enjoyable, I wish it was the leather in the background with the other notes dominant. But that is where personal preference comes into play and it not a knock by any means.
Score: 96
Price: $9.69 / $169.99
Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII
Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII Foot
