Back in September of 2014, Crowned Heads released a series of Limited Edition cigars called Mason Dixon. The south would get one wrapper, and the north would get another wrapper. As luck would have it where I work was able to make a deal with another retailer and they got both editions.
Now almost 20 months after the release we wanted to see how the Mason Dixon aged which we originally said, “While the Mason Dixon had a familiarity about it, it also had a distinctness as well. If you were a fan of Las Calaveras, I believe you will be a fan of this, medium to full bodied smoke.”
Cigar Review: Mason Dixon North
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Factory: My Father S.A.
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 52
Vitola: Toro
Strength: Medium-Full
The Look: Packaged in wooden boxes with two rows of 10, the Mason Dixon has gold bands and black text. The cigar is a lighter looking Connecticut Broadleaf in comparison to some others on the market. There are a few significant veins that are visible that take away from the appearance. In the hand the cigar is firm with an average weight and no soft spots.
The Notes: Once the cigar is clipped with my Jaws cutter, there is a mocha like sweetness with a hint of marshmallow fluff. The aroma off the foot mimics the cold draw with a touch of molasses lingering in the background.
Once the cigar is sparked with my glock from Vertigo there is a subtle spice that is synonymous with the My Father factory in Nicaragua, but there is also a plum like sweetness present as well. As the first third progresses there is a subtle sweetness mixes with steak like qualities.
The second third of the cigar sees the steak like notes become dominant, while hints of cocoa tease the palate. Through the nose the cigar remains sweet as does the aroma. This is a cigar that is completely different then it was 9 months ago but more on that in the conclusion.
The final third of the Mason Dixon North had some earthy components develop with the steak like quality becoming more of an afterthought. Through the nose there is some sweetness especially on the intoxicating aroma.
The Burn: My only knock on the Mason Dixon North was the ash would not hold for more than a half-inch. Other than that the draw was superb, the cigar remained lit throughout, and the burn was near perfect.
The Finish: Different and for the better. I enjoyed the Mason Dixon North when it came out, but now with months of age on it, the cigar is even better. It went from being an earthy cigar, to a cigar with well defined notes of steak and a subtle sweetness that was tantalizing. If you bought these when they came out, crack them open. They’re ready.
Price: $9.99 / $176.99
Score: 93
Mason Dixon North
Mason Dixon North Foot
Mason Dixon North Burn
