According to a press release we ran back in April, Crowned Heads announced that for the 5th time in as many years they would be releasing an exclusive cigar for members of the Tobacconist Association of America. At the time of the press release it was said that TAA Retailers would get the cigars in June. Here we are the end of July and the cigars have arrived at retail which makes it on time if you take the Latin America time difference into consideration.
The Angel’s Anvil 2018 is once again made at Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic. The factory which is owned by Ernesto Perez Carrillo has become the go to factory for Crowned Heads on Dominican made cigars.
Cigar Review: The Angel’s Anvil 2018
Wrapper: Ecuador Sumatra
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Length: 5.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Size: Robusto Extra
The Look: This year the cigar sees it packaging inspired by the color of the Dominican flag. The red and white slide top box houses cigars that feature a white and blue band with red text and accents of gold foil. The cigars feature a reddish-brown Sumatra wrapper with an abundance of oil. In the hand the cigar is tooth with a subtle silk like feel under the fingers. The cigar is firm, and the foot of the cigar is spongy.
The Notes: The aroma off the foot of the cigar is a well-defined raisin, while the cold draw has a hint of birch, chocolate and raisin. After we toast and light the cigar there is a hint of warm bread present and some subtle pepper on the nose from the aroma.
Moving into the first third of the cigar, there are notes of warm bread that are joined by a subtle chocolate, coffee and a touch of cinnamon. The cigar has a nice amount of pepper on the finish with some wood on the aroma of the cigar. For those in New England, this cigar is reminiscent of a hermit which I never heard about until I moved here so it might get lost in translation.
Moving on to the second third notes of bread remain, but the raisins experienced on the cold draw begin to emerge as the dominant note while the cigar also serves up some dark chocolate, coffee and cinnamon. The finish of the cigar becomes longer with touches of leather and spice with the latter being abundant on the retrohale.
As we move into the last third the resting aroma (between puffs) is a molasses, as the cigar continues to serve up raisins and leather with some toasty notes on the finish. The retrohale of the cigar serves up a touch of licorice and cinnamon which adds to the long finish.
The Finish: The question is how does the 2018 edition compare to earlier years and for me this version is even been then the 2017. It’s very complex cigar that is medium in strength but full in body. It’s a great cigar from Crowned Heads and Tabacalera La Alianza and if you’ve been a fan of The Angel’s Anvil this cigar will not disappoint.
Score: 94
Price: $11.69 / $206.99
The Angel’s Anvil 2018
The Angel’s Anvil 2018 Foot
The Angel’s Anvil 2018 Burn
