Cigar Reviews
Crowned Heads – Yellow Rose
At the end of March, I made a family trip to El Paso, Texas for a few weeks of work and play. Cutting out of work early one day with the boss, we made our way to La Casa Del Puro, the local lounge, which opened up a Crowned Heads account in mid-2014. As luck would have it, two boxes of Yellow Rose by Crowned Heads just arrived off the truck moments before our arrival. Not being able to control myself, I grabbed a few and, against the owner’s well founded advice, I lit one up right away. I was blown away by my first go around with the Yellow Rose, a Texas retailer exclusive cigar, and I couldn’t wait to get a review up here at Casas Fumando!
Yellow Rose, a 6 by 54 box-pressed torpedo, is the third state exclusive to be released by the folks at Crowned Heads following the Tennessee Waltz (5 1/2 by 52) and the Paniolo Especial 2015 (5 5/8 by 46 Corona Gorda), exclusive to R. Field Wine Co. in Hawaii. All three state exclusives are manufactured by My Father Cigars S.A. and feature a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. To my understanding, the cigars will be made in limited runs to meet demand.
Other Crowned Heads reviews by the Casas Fumando crew can be found below:
The Facts
Price: $9.50
Vitola: Box-Pressed Torpedo
Size: 6 by 54
Wrapper: Connecticut Broadleaf
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Smoke Time: 2 Hours and 15 Minutes
Drink: Water
Pre-light
The wrapper leaf is dark brown in color, veins are zigzagging up and down the cigar, and a crazy fine tooth can be seen and felt. While the facing of the cigar, the “side” you would see in a box, does not appear overly rustic, the backside is definitely full of character with a couple of medium stitch-like veins. Like other Connecticut Broadleaf cigars, Yellow Rose is not a cigar to write home about regarding the appearance. But as the saying goes, “don’t judge a book by its cover”. Pinching the cigar softly, I do not fine any soft spots.
A very faint aroma is found on the wrapper with mainly cedar, wet earth, and manure. Big notes of chocolate are showcased off the foot, along with woodsy notes, fresh cut apple, and graham cracker and a spice tingle is felt in the sinuses. The tapered head comes to an end nicely, except being off-centered to the rest of the cigar. With the cigar cut, rich woodsy notes, a Moscato-like sweetness, and spice are recognizable on the cold draw.
First Third
Easily slipping off the yellow-ribbon foot band, it is time to light up the Yellow Rose by Crowned Heads. A small draw brings forth full, rich, hearty flavors with lots of spice. It seems that the spice is more of mouth feel rather than a flavor in the profile at the start of the cigar. The woodsy notes found on the wrapper, foot, and cold draw are the first to make an introduction once lit. Clearing the palate with a drink of water every few puffs brings out a clean sweetness from the smoke. A typical Connecticut Broadleaf tartness and cocoa linger on the finish. As the spice heat calms at less than an inch in, a crushed red pepper flavor joins the mix.
Middle Third
The first third fit my palate just right, but I would not characterize it as overly complex. Just a few puffs into the second third, I am finding many more subtitles shining through. A combination between woodsy notes and a smoky flavor reminds me of the smell off of a campfire. The cocoa continues to build on the finish and a salted-peanut flavor arrives. While the flavors are very savory, there is, at the same time, a clean, refreshing quality with the Moscato sweetness that pulls through.
Final Third
The sweetness has died down but it is still peeking through in the background, while the woodsy cedar and spice remain. The finish has evolved from cocoa to diesel-like. The flavors continue to be extremely rich and full. I would plug the strength into the medium range, maybe medium-full, but I am not feeling any ill-effects approaching two hours of smoking. A copious amount of smoke is pouring of the Yellow Rose with each draw making it an effortless smoke.
Wrap-up
Crowned Heads has been hot for a few years now and, with Jon Huber and Mike Conder stoking the fire, I do not expect their flame to burnout out anytime soon. I have been unable to keep up with their limited editions or state exclusives that have been released as of late, but with Texas holding a special place in my heart, the Yellow Rose was one Crowned Heads release I could not pass up. Yellow Rose, like the state of Texas, is big and bold. To say the least, I absolutely loved the Yellow Rose. When the cigar budget allows, I will be picking up a box of Yellow Rose to share a little piece of Texas with my friends and family in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
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