Crowned Heads Le Careme Canonazo
Posted on August 16 2021
Vitola: 5.9x52
Smoking Time: 98 Minutes
Cigars Smoked: 4
Body: Medium +
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Ecuadorian Sumatran
Filler: Nicaraguan
MSRP: $9.60
Crowned Heads was established during a merger between Swedish Match and ST Group (CAO’s parent company, where Jon Huber worked). Based out of Nashville, Tennessee, C.H. was created to bring love and passion back into cigar making. Le Careme was some sort of folk lore, up until early this year. Due to a Connecticut Broadleaf shortage after the 2019 release. This led to many people not being able to find them anywhere, myself included. But alas, they're back and maybe better than ever?
Visual Inspection: As expected from a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, the color is very dark brown almost black. It is beautifully marbled, and aesthetically rustic. With visible seams, hearty veins, and rough toothy feel, it looks amazing. It doesn't appear rough, simply rustic. Something you would find at an uppity hipster thrift shop, it is “Well Loved”.
There is give when squeezing the cigar, nothing that isn't expected from a properly humidified cigar. Tobacco in the foot is a mix of light brown leaves and pseudo-black, which look almost like the wrapper. Aroma is very bold, and might I add, decadent. Chocolate is most notable, with slight undertones of barnyard and charred whiskey barrels. A cold draw brings good airflow and pleasant notes of cherry, chocolate, with slight hints of almond.
First Third: The sweet cherry from the cold draw carried over nicely. Chocolate is there, but in much lesser quantities. There is a new, almost salty flavor coming from the cigar, not on the tongue, but on the lips. It doesn't stop there, sub-tones of charred oak, cream, and dry earth linger after exhaling.
The salty flavor has passed, and the draw is ample with huge smoke production. The burn line is tidy, with one slight v-shaped divot. Tooth is translating to the ash but it isn't the easiest to see, due to the grey color of it. There is little to no flaking from the ash either.
Second Third: I am very surprised how sweet this cigar is, the cherry notes keep growing in strength. Chocolate is almost undetectable at this point because of it. However it lingers on the finish with familiar notes of charred oak, dray earth, with new notes of bread crust and vanilla. The draw has loosened up more, but all it caused was more smoke production with less effort.
After a touch up to the burn line, it appears to be burning better. The smoke coming off the foot smells a bit odd, but the cigar tastes amazing, so it doesn't bother me. A sea salt, caramel flavor is starting to develop on the finish which melds well with the cherry and chocolate.
Last Third: Throughout the whole smoke this has been a very smooth medium bodied experience. The flavors are full, and never lacking or dull. As expected, flavors are cherry, chocolate, cream, and caramel. The sea salt has left the profile entirely. Despite the thick stems on the wrapper leaf, it didn't cause any problems or cause any harshness. The burn line has started wavering again, but is still cleaner than it was in the first third. A final retrohale brings lush notes of fresh cracked pepper and even more cherry notes.
Final Thoughts: The Le Careme was well worth the wait. I don't know many people who buy these in the 5 packs. They sell much better as boxes, and it is no mystery why. From its varying mild complexity, to the unbelievably strong flavors that stayed consistent, this is a cigar for the people, one to unite just about anyone. Try some for yourself and see why it’s growing in popularity!
-Sam