One thing is for certain, the back story for brand names for cigars from Crowned Heads are certainly different. We’ve seen cigars named for a piece of art that is synonymous with the Mexican holiday Dia de los Muertos, a cigar that draws its name from the band Kings of Leon, a cigar that pulls from Johnny Cash and now a cigar that is inspired by French Cuisine.
La Carême is named after Marie Antoine Carême, a chef who created the soufflé and it comes to us from Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic. It’s time to serve up the daily review on The Cigar Authority.
Cigar Review: La Carême
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuador Sumatra
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5″
Ring Gauge: 50
Size: Robusto
The Look: The cigar features a simple box with a slide top and a twist. Many times we see the Spanish language used in the brand name and art work. With this box, we see the use of French. It let’s us know the cigar is prepared for Crowned Heads. It also states the company is located in Nashville, Etas Unis. Etas Unis is the French words for United Stats. As for the cigars, these soft box pressed sticks have an oval like feel to them. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper is toothy with a brindle like coloring to them. The band has a French pastry shop feel to it and uses colors of blue, white and gold. In the hand the cigar is hefty with no voids of tobacco and a well packed foot.
The Notes: The cold draw of the cigar has a sweetness with some vegetable components. Despite the cigar paying homages to a French chef, there is almost an asian cuisine like note for me. There are elements of water chestnuts and soy sauce that dominant the palate, but after we put the cigar down, the lingering effects are more along the lines of a melted chocolate inside pastry much like a soufflé. The foot of the cigar mimics the Asian influence, and to be honest this seems more like a meal then a cigar with its food inspired notes.
Once the cigar is lit things changes from the cold draw dramatically. There is an abundance of pepper notes that seem to be balanced between black and red pepper flakes. Once you move past the spice notes which also dominates on the retrohale there are hints of dried fruit and a subtle warm melted chocolate. The finish of the cigar is moderate in length.
Moving on to the second third the La Carême a subtle mint develops creating a peppermint parry like experience with notes of chocolate and cool mint. By the half-way point of the cigar the combinations of notes are dominant on the cigar. The cigar continues with its desert like experience as hints of nuts and a subtle saltiness that creates a mouthwatering experience.
Moving on to the conclusion of this tasty morsel of a cigar, the mint like notes begin to fade as notes of warm chocolate remain dominant. Hints of nuts, earth and a subtle dried fruit make up the remainder of the cigar which is a finger burner. The finish of the cigar is moderate in length, and was so enjoyable I went back for seconds.
The Finish: This could the best regular production cigar from Mike Condor and Jon Huber of Crowned Heads to date. It is exceptionally blended with rich delicious well-defined notes. Going back for seconds is a no brainer and this is a box worthy cigar especially if the flavor profile is right in your wheelhouse. I know it was in mine, and its been a costly couple of weeks for me, but this one was a box purchase for myself.
Score: 93
Price: $8.99 / $192.99
Le Careme by Crowned Heads
Le Careme by Crowned Heads Foot
Le Careme by Crowned Heads Burn
