King Cigars – King of Kings

If you have never heard of King Cigars, let alone the featured cigar, you are not alone.  Recently, Brian Hewett of Stogiereview.com published a video featuring Anwar Mithavayani, Director of Sales, and Pete Tyndale, Master Blender of King Cigars from the 2013 CHATweetUp  (check out the video here). This was the first time that I heard about this relatively new company.

King Cigars is headquartered in Pompano Beach, Florida and operates two factories.  One factory is housed in Santiago, Dominican Republic and the other in Esteli, Nicaragua. Available offerings from Kings Cigars includes the Baron, the Conde, and the King of Kings. Three additional lines are expected to be released in the latter part of 2013 to include the Virey, the Doque, and the King of Kings Limited Edition. There was not much information available on the cigar or the company on the web. I have reached out to King Cigars and will hopefully receive some information in the near future. ‘

The Facts

Samples Provided by King Cigars
MSRP: $8.50*
Size: 6 by 64 (Box Pressed)
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Unknown
Filler: Unknown
Drink: Water
Smoke Time: 2 hours and 30 minutes

*The MSRP is stated on the stogiereview.com video referenced above. However, I have come across different information on other sites.

Pre-light

The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper is medium brown with a velvety feel and small veins are scattered throughout. A light sheen of oil can be seen as light bounces off the stick. As I inspect the cigars for soft spots, I am surprised not to find any on such a large cigar. The cigar has a hefty feel and from what I can tell, the construction is solid. We shall see how it holds up during the smoke. The wrapper aroma is faint with notes of cocoa, barnyard, and cedar. The foot aroma is outstanding with the cocoa right on the forefront, raisins, and rich tobacco.

The large double cap is fitting for the cigar. If anyone over clips this cap, you should seriously take up a new hobby. King Cigars was kind enough to throw in a stainless steel, double guillotine cutter that cut the cap nicely. The effortless draw reveals a chocolate that is similar to a chocolate silk pie. The welcoming aroma from the foot and cold draw flavors have excited my palate and I am ready to fire up this 6 by 64 King of Kings.

First Third

It was a good thing I refilled my lighter before toasting the foot on this 64 ring gauge stick as it took some time. Instantly, I pick up the peppery spice from the Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. The spice is not overpowering but in the medium/high range.  As the smoke rolls across my palate the spice settles, roasted coffee enters the mix and lingers on the finish for some time. Only a half an inch in and the flavors have already evolved with chocolate and dried fruit joining in with the coffee and spice . Even after taking a good amount of time to light the cigar evenly, the burn started a little rocky. After 10 minutes of smoking, the burn line corrected itself. The thick burn line is edgy but of no concern leaving behind a firm white ash.  The ash is holding to nearly two inches.

Middle Third

A crack about half an inch long has formed right below the burn line, but, as of now, it is not having a negative impact on the smoking experience. The pepper is still holding its ground as the other flavors from the first third have faded. The pepper is now accompanied by heavy earth notes. There is a hint of sweetness peeking out behind the darker notes that is very different than the chocolate early on. As the cigar progresses, the sweetness has become rich and syrupy. I was able to burn past the crack with no issue. The smoke production has increased with each small draw pulling a mouthful of smoke. No change in the burn or ash to report on.

Final Third

After two hours of smoking, I have entered the final third of this behemoth of a cigar. The strength has finally crept up on me and I am having to slow my pace to not get sick. The flavor is very earthy, with a diesel quality. The spice has mellowed and the cocoa is barely showing through, but the sweetness is still there with the same rich, syrupyness. The cigar has become somewhat toasty and after 2 hours and 30 minutes of smoking, I am cigared out.

Wrap-up

If you have read my posts for any amount of time, you know that I shy away from large ring gauge cigars. First off, large ring gauge cigars are just uncomfortable to me and, secondly, the flavors are usually washed out. While the box pressed format improved the experience, I still found the King of Kings 64 ring gauge to be uncomfortable in my mouth, as well as my hand.  However, I am extremely happy to report that the large ring gauge did nothing to damper the flavors. King of Kings bursts with flavors of pepper, spice, coffee, chocolate, and a rich, syrupy sweetness. The transition in flavors held my interest for the two and half hours. Also, the King of Kings performance in the area of burn, ash, and draw were all excellent. If you are into large ring gauge, full flavor cigars, the King of Kings is an excellent choice. You may even find me smoking a few more in the near future. Lastly, I want to say “Thank you” to King Cigars for their generosity in providing the samples.