Crowned Heads Four Kicks Robusto Extra
Posted on November 09 2021
Vitola: 5.5x56 | Smoking Time: 70 min | Cigars Smoked: 3 | Body: Medium | MSRP: $9.66
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano | Binder/Filler: Nicaraguan
Crowned Heads is based in Nashville, TN and built to bring love and passion back into cigar making. Four Kicks is named after a Deer Tick song — "about sticking to your guns, and remaining loyal to those whom you love, and the hometown that brought you to the dance."
Visual Inspection: Rustic coffee-brown wrapper, almost Broadleaf in appearance with good tooth and very visible seams. Strong and firm with good give. Aromas: sweet chocolate, almond, earth. Cold draw: cherry sweetness with undertones of earth and oak.
First Third: All the sweet flavors vanish immediately — strong almond and espresso up front. Light baker’s chocolate and pepper. Burning slightly fast at first due to less filler at the foot. Burn line rough, canoeing on one side. Dark grey ash holds firm.
Second Third: Almond, baker’s chocolate, and just enough pepper. Sweetness teases but doesn’t break through. Almost-burnt toast arrives with heavier walnut and charred oak. Burn rate normalizes as the filler becomes more consistent. Retrohale shifts to heavily toasted bread and a touch of half and half.
Final Third: Chocolate takes a back seat to toast, walnut, oak, and char. The Habano wrapper finally shows — lots of pepper up front now after being subtle throughout. Burn line finally tidies up. Light grey ash and ample clean white smoke to the end.
Final Thoughts: Not my favorite from Crowned Heads, but I really enjoy the medium profile. Most similar to the La Coalition but with a tinge more spice from the Habano wrapper. Recommended for Habano fans and Crowned Heads loyalists alike.
-Sam
Frequently asked questions
What is the Four Kicks line named after?
Four Kicks is named after the Deer Tick song of the same name — Crowned Heads co-founders Jon Huber and Mel Shah are known for naming their cigars after music. The Four Kicks is one of their most popular ongoing lines.
How does the Four Kicks Robusto Extra compare to the standard Four Kicks?
The Robusto Extra (5.5x56) is larger than the standard robusto, delivering more filler-forward flavor from the wider ring gauge. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper adds slightly more spice in this format compared to other Four Kicks vitolas.
Is Crowned Heads a reliable brand?
Very reliable. Jon Huber and Mel Shah built Crowned Heads on consistency and quality — the reviewer notes that while the Four Kicks isn’t their personal favorite, the construction and flavor are solidly above average.