When Luminosa was released to some select stores in 2016 prior to the FDA ban on new products the future wasn’t so bright. Now that Luminosa has been released nationwide, the future isn’t as dark thanks to a press release from the FDA a week ago. In case you haven’t figured it out, Luminosa translates from Italian to Bright in English. The cigar is the latest from Crowned Heads and is made at the Tabacalera La Alianza which is owned by Ernesto Perez Carrillo.
The cigar is available in four sizes; Petit Corona (4.5 x 44), Robusto (5 x 50), Churchill (7 x 48) and today’s review Toro (6 x 52)
Cigar: Crowned Heads Luminosa
Wrapper: Ecuador Connecticut
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Length: 6.25″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Toro
The Look: Packaged in slide top boxes, the Luminosa features an orange band with gold and black. The artwork on the band resembles a sun with a black bar that denotes Luminosa and is reminiscent of an Aztec sun. Despite being part of the Crowned Heads portfolio the band has no markings denoting such. The Ecuador Connecticut wrapper has a darker hue to it then expected for the variety of the wrapper. There is some subtle oils present and the cigar has a nice weight to it with a well packed foot.
The Notes: I was talking with Todd who reps another company as I was getting ready to write this review and we got into an agreeable conversation about how important the cold draw is to the cigar smoking process. We were in agreement that the ritual of the cold draw is important to open the palate and that if you don’t do this you might miss the subtle nuances the cigar has to offer.
With that said, I hate to admit the cold draw of the cigar reminds me of roast pork friend rice. Let the beatings begin, but that is the case I get off the cold draw. The aroma off the foot has a sweetness of molasses and soy. Once the cigar is lit, the first note is a tangerine citrus.
Smoking the first third of the Luminosa there is continued notes of citrus though they are less defined a quarter-inch into the cigar. While the citrus remains dominant there are elements of peanuts and earth. There retrohale of the cigar offers pepper, but there is a sugary sweet finish to the cigar after pushing the smoke through your nostrils.
In the second third, the citrus notes disappear as nuttiness becomes the primary taste. Around the halfway point the nuttiness slides into the background as some notes of coffee that borders on cappuccino begin to the develop. On the retrohale the pepper remains but the aroma of the cigar has a vanilla like quality to it.
The last third of the Crowned Heads Luminosa sees nuts and coffee remains, but notes of hay and wheat begin to appear as we smoke past where the band would have been. The pepper remains strong on the retrohale and on the aroma while a subtle sweetness remains. Normally I put the cigar down with an 3/4 to an inch left, but the Luminosa I smoke until I can’t hold it anymore.
The Finish: Some time in the last 10 years Maduro cigars changed from sweet to strong. Much like Maduro cigars have changed I feel some companies are beginning to slide the scale on Connecticut cigars. Granted the wrapper isn’t blonde and while it may detract those who like a mild Connecticut from picking it up, those who like a darker cigar might hesitate to pick this up. That would be a mistake in my eyes, as this new age Connecticut is a savory experience with the nuances of flavors and strength. It continues the trend of great cigars from Crowned Heads and this is definitely box worthy.
Score: 93
Price: $7.99 / 143.99
Crowned Head Luminosa
Crowned Head Luminosa Foot
Crowned Head Luminosa Burn
