Starting in 2014, Crowned Heads began releasing some limited-production cigars meant to celebrate some specific places. Being a Tennessee based company, they started with the Tennessee Waltz. This was followed by the Yellow Rose (Texas) and the Paniolo (Hawaii). Each cigar was simple in presentation, with just a colored ribbon at the foot in lieu of a decorative main band. In 2018, the Buckeye land was released, and as the name implies, is dedicated to Ohio.
As with the rest of the regional releases from Crowned Heads, the Buckeye Land is available in a single vitola. This will become a regular production line for Crowned Heads.
Crowned Heads Buckeye Land
MSRP: $9.75
Size: 6 x 48
Origin: La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate (Nicaragua)
Wrapper: San Andres (Mexico)
Binder: Broadleaf (Connecticut)
Filler: Nicaragua & Pennsylvania
Prologue
Similar to the other releases on this regional ‘series’ the Buckeye Land is dark and toothy. The San Andres wrapper has a nice sheen of oil and clean appearance. It has a minimal vein structure and a cleanly applied cap. The wrapper smells of cedar and pepper, while the foot has an intense aroma of molasses and black pepper.
Act I
This cigar comes out of the gate a little more gently than I was expecting, but that is not a bad thing. It’s an interesting mix of sweetness, spice, and charred wood. After the first inch, it really settles into that wood profile, with the sweetness in the background. The retrohale has spice, but not to an overwhelming degree. That spice is mixed nicely with some leather and sweetness through the nose.
Act II
As it gets toward the center mark, some savory notes come in to join the sweetness. It’s almost like soy sauce, or barbecued meat. The charred wood notes are still there, and the leather from that earlier retrohale as well. Some mineral earthiness is on the finish, and plenty of black pepper on the retrohale.
Act III
The cigar closes out with a good dose of earthiness. In fact, that becomes the prominent flavor in the profile as the cigar closes out. I still get some sweetness and a little spice on the retrohale. I also do get a bitter coffee, like what you would get from overdone French Roast. There is also a very slight bump in strength in the closing stretch.
Epilogue
Now, if you are a huge fan of any or all of the other regional releases, keep in mind this is a different wrapper than the original versions of those regionals. The San Andres wrapper really sings on this cigar, and it gives a nice balance with the other leaves of sweet, spice, bitter, and earth. The smoke was plentiful, and the burn was solid on each sample. Everything that I know of this cigar informs me that it will be in regular production, so I would encourage you to go pick some up and enjoy.
Crowned Heads Buckeye Land – How Bout That Cigar?
Rating: How Bout A 5er?
Overall Score: 89
PAD: +0.0 (What is PAD?)
Flavor Summary: Sweetness, Charred Wood, Savory, Earthy
Strength Assessment: Medium
Source: Cigars for this review were purchased by HBT Media LLC