I’m making a bold move. So many new cigars are released every week. It is impossible to keep up. Instead of waiting 3 months or more to give the cigar a stake in learning to breathe, I may appraise cigars after only a month or two after release. With more than half a century of cigar experience, a blend speaks to me, or it doesn’t. So why not give my readers half a chance to snag a limited release cigar before they are the pompatus in absentia.
Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Ecuadorian
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan (75% Ligero)
Size: 6 x 52 Toro Box Pressed
Strength: Full
Price: $13.00
Released: 2024
Number of cigars released: 2000 boxes of 12
My cigars received only 1 month of naked humidor time. See manifesto above.
THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The smellow yellow is all barnyard. Either that or Covid still hasn’t reinvigorated my sense of smell yet.
None of my cutters are worth a shit. Brand names don’t enter into the equation of what’s good and what ain’t. I ordered a few reliable and cost effective Palio cutters online to restock the manifold. But nothing is trustier than my PerfecPunch & Stand™. A mere gentle twist and pull and the perfect air flow is reached.
The cold draw is spicy. Mikey likes.
It lights successfully and we’re off to a very meaty start. The wrapper ala lipsuction is desirous and flirtatious. Nice smoke output.
Crowned Heads pumps out cigars like most…an onslaught of blends that make it difficult to stay on top of what’s new. Jon Huber describes this cigar as intense and strength forward. I look forward to the hallucinations…but if nicotine is kept at bay, I’m good. If nicotine poisoning shows its ugly head, I’m out. The blend is declared at being 75% Ligero. Yikes.
Am I tasting grape leaves? Damn, Sam I am. Black pepper is a side dish that doesn’t interfere or finds itself served cold. Buttery Ritz Crackers, a taste of honey, and some early creaminess. Lovely.
While the black pepper is noticeable, the spiciness is a horse with no name. It might be red pepper as the tell-tale sign is tongue tingling. Spice is nice. Still, a long way to go.
Strength at 1” burned is medium/full. This is my morning cigar with coffee. No food in the belly yet. Double yike-a-tissmoe.
Slightly sweet molasses enters the palate’s arena. And then notes of vanilla, sweet potato, chestnuts, and apple. Very cool.
When I lived in London in the 70’s, I sought out corned beef and cabbage. Every Irishman I asked said no such thing. I should have known…an American invention. I loved the meat pies but not the kidney pies…or the Scotch Egg. These things were/are a fave of drunken Brits. The Scotch Egg: a horrible boiled egg wrapped in even more horrible English sausage…breaded and deep fried. I know. It sounds good. Nothing worse. My preference was to vomit before drinking a dram. I guess you gotta grow up on it…like us with liver and onions. All salute Heinz Ketchup.
The balance kicks into gear at 1-1/2” burned. Nothing replaces the first cigar of the day for its uniqueness. I wish I wasn’t a cigar hog…constantly smoking. Never really knowing the true sense of a blend. First cigar of the day rules supremeamundo.
Rich qualities of fattitude. In the culinary world, richness equates to fatty creams or cheeses. While the cheeseflower is nowhere to be seen, heavy creaminess is showing promise. Complexity is minimal. Transitions were in play early on.
Crowned Heads has made some great cigars such as the Le Pâtissier, Sfumato in C Major, Le Carême Belicosos Finos, and Luminosa. I believe that the Belgian Blue might join this club of interesting blends.
The cigar is a very slow roll. Mikey digs a pony. Lennon was assassinated 44 years ago this month. He would be 84 now.
I just figured out how to offer you the method to subscribe my website. Fucking hell, it only took 15 years to understand blogging technology.
In the late 90’s, my rockin’ blues band became the official band for the Arizona Chapter of Hell’s Angels. Trust me when I tell you that this is not something you want. The behavior of these guys at clubs was frightening. I began wearing a concealed .45 ACP just in case. I left a great paying gig because of this association.
The halfway point. Gloriosky. This is an excellent cigar. With several months of naked humi time, it will morph into a great cigar. You can take this to the bank.
For a proclaimed full-strength cigar, I’m handling it better than predicted. I can still feel my toes. I’m going to regret saying this 15 minutes from now.
At my recording studio’s official opening blow out, drug dealers roamed amongst my guests. I gathered my largest friends and dispatched the assholes with some dough and threats of bodily harm if they didn’t split. While they were shuttled out, the guests asked that I do the same to the two magicians I hired.
The Belgian Blue gets better and better. I love immersive transitional qualities. Nothing worse than a cigar that starts out with promise and then fails miserably in the second half. The Belgian Blue spits at the feet of those blends. I repeat myself under stress…I repeat myself…
Exotic creaminess, spiciness, caramel, buttery, graham cracker, warm chestnuts, cinnamon apple, black pepper, earthy, and aged oak. I miss the aroma of warm ferret droppings.
The apartment’s dumpsters are home to hungry squirrels. I yell at them on approach, and they scatter. Now and again, I catch one that doesn’t want to leave until I open the lid. The little mother fuckers are faster than lightin’. I started wearing a Bullwinkle mask and it seems to keep them docile.
I love that this blend doesn’t have the obligatory chocolate and espresso pinnings. This is a unique cigar.
With only 2” to go, I am pleased that the controlled strength is spot on. Huber nailed it. Not a lick of nicotine…making this an adventure for sophisticates and newbies alike.
I’m going to buy more and let them enjoy the sleep of the dead for a few months. It has become de rigueur that new cigars are priced at $15 or more. After promo codes, this cigar is $11.00. This is a solid buy but let ‘em rest.
You can purchase Crowned Heads Belgian Blue LE 2024 from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. 15% off with promo code KATMAN through Dec. 31, 2024.
RATING: 96
Check out Katman’s Kartel at Small Batch Cigar and score deals on cigars from My Top 32 Cigars of 2023 ~ Rated 96 or Higher! Use promo code: KATMAN for 10% off. Until Dec. 31, katman promo code will get you 15% off.
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Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS
One to two months? Let’s consider the immortal words of Ernest and Julio Gallo, “we will sell no wine before it’s time.” Take care. -MaKa
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Katman,
You are a pocketbook destroyer!! I will have to check this one out. I’m curious how do you vent your smoking room and not have it smell like a million dead cigars?? Or do you not give a fk?
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No matter the weather, the window is wide open.
I have two massive fans working overtime.
I have two large air purifiers sucking up smoke.
And a nagging wife.
Phil
P.S. I’ve been looking for a new bass for a few years…one that I can afford. My first choice puts me in the $2K-$3K but that’s out of the question.
I pulled the trigger on an Ibanez SRH500F fretless 4 string. Semi hollow body with nylon tape flat wound strings. It growls similar to an upright. Based upon its sound, it is very close to my much more expensive 1980 Schecter I gave up this year.
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Bro I am serious audiophile, I stopped myself from buying a 15k$ of Legacy Audio Speakers the other day. I totally understand…… Don’t shop the interweb while drinking and smoking, it will really save you some money!!
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Amen, brother…
Phil
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Ok, I hit comment too soon on the previous. I was asking about your smoke room because I am in the process of making my study which is my home office into a place I can smoke inside when it is below 40 or above 90 outside (Texas weather is crazier than most women). I installed two 6″ 400 cfm blower fans that exhaust outside and a Purifan.
So far the smell is fairly light after you smoke and I was looking to see what else I can do to nullify the after smoke smell, I work remotely in this study about half of my work week and would like to squash it as much as possible. Cigars smell so much better while burning, after the fact not so much…….
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We may live in two separate universes. I do my best, but I am too old to be a stickler for perfection.
The walls in my man cave are yellow despite my best efforts. Ozium spray worked great in the 60’s and 70’s for eradicating weed smell in our cars…and great for disposing cigar smoke. I highly recommend it.
A couple fans and a couple air purifiers keep my sanctuary from looking like the newsroom at the Washington Post on the eve of declaring Nixon a crook.
All the best,
Phil
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