Wrapper: Mexican San Andrés
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatra
Filler: Dominican, Mexican San Andrés, Nicaraguan
Size: 5.5 x 58 Box Pressed
Strength: Medium/Full
Price: $9.95
Quantity Released: 1500 boxes of 12
Factory: TacaNicsa factory in Estelí, Nicaragua

My cigars received two months of naked humidor time.

THE WHOLE MEGILLAH:
The cigar is only half an inch short of being your typical Gordo size. I’m not sure if two months is enough time to stick my neck out with an opinion. But I’ve smoked a couple and I believe it’s a safe rabbit out of a hat trick.

I reviewed the Juarez Bulldozer in 2020 but it was a slightly different blend. Jon Huber states that this 2025 cigar blend is a modified version that makes it a more sophisticated blend. I hear from readers who want me to review something that they can afford. So here it is. Don’t expect miracles.

I bought a box of twelve sticks and the cap’s pigtail is different on each one. This cries out that there were numerous rollers. In fact, the one I chose for the above photo is more of a fantail than a pigtail.

Typical San Andrés wrapper aromas of dark chocolate, barnyard, slight black coffee, cedar, and black pepper.

Don’t need no stinkin’ PerfecDraw this morning. It sits on my right shoulder and sees what I just typed. It runs, tripping only twice, towards the window. It thinks it’s open and flails wildly to the floor. I hear gulping sobs. I shake my head. If Dr. Rod only knew how his offspring behaves…he might have brought in a forensic psychologist to sit with each tool before going to market. You can’t make this shit up. Well, actually you can…

The cold draw tastes of sardines. I better brush teeth, waterpik, and gargle with hydrogen peroxide. I’ll be right back. Okie doke. The cold draw is bacon sausage, sardines, the darkest cocoa beans, dried fruit, fresh bread, cedar, black licorice, and black coffee.

Great start. A uniquely docent flavor of something mysterious. I need to think. Not the usual flavor wheel stuff. It’s a grand mix of Wheaties, malted milk balls, Tutti Frutti, roasted cashews, and freshly baked bread. Very nice.

I smoked a couple after the one-month mark. My thoughts were that I smoked this blend a thousand times and found myself disheartened. I dropped more than a C note on a box. But now, I am undisheartened.

Strength begins at medium. Very smooth and elegant. I try not to be swayed by an excellent beginning. More often than not, the cigar blend devolves and disappointment kicks in. And that’s all I’m doing…trying to find decent cigars that you will like. The others can be subjective in their objective choices. Me…not so much.

Creaminess begins at the 1” mark. The ash is delicate and folds easily. My lap looks like Vesuvius on day 2.

Dried fruit becomes stewed apricots and prunes…tales of Seders past. The malted milk element picks up the pace. With it, the bittersweet chocolate is upped.

There is a lovely taste of pure tobacco. It is balanced, rich, and has the mouthfeel of being aged. Generally, aging is up to us. Folks like Rocky Patel wait a beat after rolling is complete and then put the cigars in your hand. Now and again, I peek on cigar social media. I want to scream to them that they should read every reviewer site on the planet. There is a sea of information that will help these guys. So many bright minds writing about cigars. I don’t know if it’s laziness on the part of most smokers, or they’re just resistant to change. Know what’s wrong with the cigar industry? No fucking sense of humor. Everyone takes themselves too seriously. Like they’re curing cancer or negotiating world peace. For chrissakes, it’s a fucking cigar.

Black licorice is easy on the palate and solidifies other totems that saturate. The balance is what impresses me the most.

Charlotte decided to spring clean yesterday. She found a gem with this book, “Cigar Family,” about the J.C. Newman family. I’ve bragged to you, ad nauseum, that my gramps and Julius Newman were the best of friends in Cleveland. Both were Jews born in Hungary. Such a lovely autograph in the opening pages from Eric Newman, president of the Newman organization and Robert Newman, Executive V.P.

The burn is slightly irregular. Not photo worthy. Otherwise, construction is decent with a very slow roll in progress. This is going to be close to a two-hour cigar.

As I near the halfway point, I can feel a swoon in its inkling stage. My eyes begin to blur. My stalwart physique begins to tremble. My outpouring of precious bodily fluids coagulates.

Out of nowhere a fresh mintyness similar to wintergreen appears. I don’t taste sardines. Maybe Thin Mints. If only I had a regular palate.

I lived in Phoenix in the 90’s when Sammy ‘The Bull’ Gravano made it his faraway home. He threw caution to the wind, and like his boss John Gotti, loved the spotlight despite the feds trying to protect him for being a rat. While he was dealing massive quantities of drugs, he flaunted his power defiantly and opened a fancy restaurant in the suburbs. Naturally, looky loos flocked to the eatery. Friends insisted we visit. I fought against it but as I’m a lily-livered weakling, I eventually gave in. The food was only so-so but patrons were there hoping to get a meet and greet with the mob killer. And sure as shit, he was there shaking hands at every table. My buddy gladly grasped his hand. I refused. I got the scariest look from someone who was a human shark. I slept with a Glock underneath my pillow for two weeks.

There is a butterscotch note. It gives the creaminess a leg up. Transitionally, the cigar performs. It is not a highly complex blend, but it is pleasant beyond expectations. And for only $9 after promo codes, this seems to be something I might buy again. But as the second half is only at the starting gate, a lot needs to be explained before I rate it.

Strength is medium/full.

I haven’t played an upright bass for almost 10 years. Unlike a bass guitar, hand positions are completely different. Plus, I’m going nuts as I’ve never played a 5 string. It’s sort of a mind fuck having an extra string. In just the several days since I got it in the mail, I’m improving every day. I have a drum machine that can play a thousand rhythms. I love jamming to Afro Latin beats. It opens up countless variations on a theme. It’s also great exercise for the failing nerves in my fingers. If someone offers to break your neck, just say no thank you.

Flavors don’t venture far from initial first half offerings. They buckle down and intensify. This is a solid cigar worthy of a tenner. It will make a good after dinner smoke. Even better is making it the afternoon smoke. As I’ve become an ethereal snob, I prefer to go for the good stuff in the evening. I wash my palate and choose cigars that aren’t subtle. But also, I don’t want to be kicked in the arse as the evening hours should be relaxed. Right? Am I right? I bet you do the same.

I played in a band in the late 70’s with a chick that played violin and sang lead. I remember that she was a pretty thing who never wore a bra and her nipples were National Geographic-like. If she saw you gawking, she’d give the stink eye. We played The Doobie Brothers ‘Black Water.’ It always got us gigs. Or maybe the bookers thought they had a chance to get in her pants. Either way, we got paid.

In the last couple of inches, the blend remains smooth to the palate’s touch. The nicotine kicks in like Mothra attacking Tokyo. In case you wondered, even in the naive 1950’s, we kids always thought that the mechanical beasts were silly looking. But it was either enjoying the faux sci-fi movies or watch Perry Mason with a chaser of Petticoat Junction.

I don’t know if I would rush out and buy this cigar, but for the dough it’s genuine. The thing that stands out is the smooth delivery. It is only barely complex. The blend is flavorful and interesting. Nothing wrong with that.

You can purchase the Juarez Bulldozer LE 2025 by Crowned Heads from sponsor Small Batch Cigar. Take 10% off with promo code KATMAN.

RATING: 90

Categories: CIGAR REVIEWS

Tags: cigar reviews, cigar reviews by the katman, cigars, crowned heads cigars, jon huber, Juarez Bulldozer LE 2025 by Crowned Heads | Cigar Reviews by the Katman, katman, phil kohn