Quick Draw Episode 12 – Crowned Heads – Four Kicks Mule Kick

First of all, this is a cigar that we will probably have a full review up sooner or later. I haven’t been able to find them locally so I have only had the pleasure of enjoying this one single stick. Again, with the Quick Draws we are basically giving you guys a quick look at a cigar that fall into one, or multiple of the following categories: we only had one, we experienced it, but didn’t have the time or proper place to do a full review, it’s something we just lit up and enjoyed, it’s something we are revisiting, it’s not full production, or we just simply didn’t feel like doing a full write up. Anyways, this week I am bringing you a Quick Draw of The Crowned Head’s Four Kicks, Mule Kick.

This is the “third release” from The Crowned Heads. I use the term “third release” loosely since it is in fact based on the standard issue Four Kicks (read my review of that one here). If you read that review you could see how much I just loved the blend. Again, John Huber + Ernesto Perez Carrillo = match made in heaven. Both dudes are geniuses when it comes down to the cigar industry. Anywho, The Mule Kick is basically the Four Kicks on crack. It starts with a  Ecuador Habano wrapper originally intended for the Four Kicks, but was deemed too dark to fit the blend. Start with that wrapper, stuff it with all the same Nicaraguan goodies from the Four Kicks, and then toss some extra, strong ligero and you have yourself a Mule Kick. This is the first limited run created by the crowned heads. It only comes in one size (5 7/8 x 52), comes in boxes of 10 and runs $8.95 a box. The only sad part about the project is there was only 500 boxes released.

Simply put, without making you read much further, this cigar blew me away. I am a huge fan of the Four Kicks, and being a full-bodied smoker, the added Ligero made this cigar reach new heights with me. The flavor profile was almost identical to the Four Kicks. Lots of cedar, brown sugar, musky tobacco with a very sweet overtone. There wasn’t much change up in the cigar although the sweetness and strength really stepped up into the final third. One thing I did notice was, even though the cigar was stronger, it finished much smoother and creamier than I remember the Four Kicks finishing. I never had a problem with the cigar staying lit, or burning crooked. In fact, the ash and burnline on this cigar was as good as it gets.

All in all this has to be my favorite blend The Crowned Heads has produced to date. Again, I LOVED the Four Kicks and without being modest, I think the Mule Kick knocked the pants off that blend. The price point is spot-on in my opinion and you’d be a fool not to pick these up if you see them. On a side note, I started out this pairing with water since I had never smoked the cigar before. I had a good idea what I was getting myself into as I’ve smoked quite a few Four Kicks in my day. Halfway through I decided I knew the cigar well enough to pair it, and the pairing was sensational! I have yet to find a cigar that had enough strength, body, and pronounced flavors to pair with the incredibly strong, incredibly flavorful, incredibly potent Vertical EPIC 12.12.12 by Stone. That beer is a beast! It’s a Belgian Strong Ale registering 9.0% on the ABV scale and it’s not for the faint of heart. At first sip this beer SCREAMS vanilla, spice, cloves, and ginger. It’s a flavor bomb and man did it pair great with the spice, cedar, and sugar from the Four Kicks Mule Kick.