Posts Tagged jon huber

Four Kicks – cigar giveaway

And the winner of the Four Kicks (corona gorda) 3-pack giveway is …





Thank You all for participating. Cigar smoking is about enjoying as well as sharing. In 2012 and going forward, if my coolidors / humidors agree, I would like to continue with 1 giveaway per month. Cigars, Photo prints, etc. Conceptually, not too many limits. Everyone is welcome back to ‘play’ again. I have received quite a bit from the cigar industry and local B&Ms. It is time to Pay It Forward. Enjoy !

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Four Kicks

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! Giveaway !

Leave a comment (no rules) and be eligible for one 3-pack of Four Kicks (corona gorda) by Crowned Heads. Deadline – 11:59pm EST on 09JAN. Random selection and announcement will take place on 10JAN.

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This week we are photographing and smoking the latest creation out of the Crowned Heads stable – the Four Kicks. In the last few months, there has been a lot of chatter about the Four Kicks project in the social media circles. Kudos to Jon Huber and Mike Conder for creative and successful marketing campaign. Both individuals and their fellow business partners have shifted their creative minds from one established cigar company to a brand new cigar venture with a catchy label – the Crowned Heads. I can continue to summarize the history, the meaning, the approach or I can simply provide a link to the Crowned Heads website. I will choose the latter since one has to and will appreciate the amount of effort it takes to launch a premium cigar company from the ground floor up after watching numerous videos, reading blog entries, and absorbing all other information. A must read !


Packaged in 24-count boxes, Four Kicks is available in four shapes: Corona Gorda (5 5/8″ x 46), Robusto (5” x 50), Sublime (6” x 54), and Piramide (6 1/8” x 52). The suggested retail price ranges from $6.95 to $8.65 per cigar and is available through the following retailers.


The Four Kicks corona gorda, manufactured at Tabacalera La Alianza S.A. under the supervision of one of the cigar industry’s true icons, Ernesto PerezCarrillo, was sporting an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper with clearly visible seams and veins. After clipping the tripple cap, I was introduced to a perfect draw – pretty much an expectation from Ernesto’s work. Pleasing blast of spice on the initial draw and throughout the experience. The spice (pepperish) was definitely heavily concentrated in the back of the throat. In flavor department, hmmm, where should I start ? I have smoked through 3 samples in preparation for this entry and each one brought something additional to the table. There was definitely plenty of woodiness and earthiness throughout the smoke. Previously mentioned spiciness was balanced with less muted, but oh-so-enjoyable, sweetness. Few days prior to the Four Kicks marathon, I have smoked through few good quality CCs and I swear, on more than one puff, I felt that ‘cubanesque’ taste. Whether that is a compliment or an insult, I won’t digress but personally, I found that extra ‘bonus’ to be quite enjoyable.


The Four Kicks in corona gorda vitola is a box worthy purchase. Full Stop ! Whether you are a collector interested in an inaugural release and / or a smoker who finds above flavor description up their alley, you should consider seeking a box, or at least a sampler. I’m patiently awaiting Crowned Heads’ encore but until then, I will continue to enjoy the Four Kicks in my favorite vitola – corona gorda.


Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Nicaraguan
Filler: Nicaraguan
Length: 5 5/8”
Ring: 46

Construction > Great
Burn > Great
Enjoy > Absolutely
Recommend > Absolutely
Buy > Box-worthy !



Please consider the following post:
* CAO La Traviata

- click on photographs (slideshow / EXIF)- 

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CAO ‘La Traviata’

- click on photographs - 

Let’s call this – a blast from the past. La Traviata came and went, and now sits under a ‘different’ banner. Nevertheless, it is one of those cigars that many folks will continue to go back to in order to appreciate its flavor, construction, and last but definitely not least, the price ! La Traviata created a lot of buzz on Twitter / cigar blogs at the end of 2009 because of its success and lack of inclusion in Cigar Aficionado’s 2009 ratings. I have smoked: Divino (5″x50), Radiante (6″x52), Favorito (5.5″x52) and my favorite – Animado (5 5/8″x46).


This close to full-body brand began its journey over 100 years ago in the Tabacalera Cubana, Agramonte no. 106, in Havana. CAO has resurrected the La Traviata name, abiding closely to its original Cuban roots in presentation and taste. From flavor perspective, personally, I was able to extract the following: spice at the very beginning, roasted nuts, wood, leather. All of that and more for about ~$5.50! See what else my colleagues have said: acigarsmoker, casas fumanfo, nice tight ash, stogie guys, stogie review, toasted foot – clearly, they all enjoyed it. With CAO’s fold into General Cigar Co, those who continue to enjoy La Traviata should proactively look around and stock up on few natural & maduro boxes. I would be very interested to learn about General’s strategic decisions in reference to La Traviata. Perhaps we will get to hear from the current face of the CAO company on Twitter.


From photographer’s perspective, another great ‘model.’ Beautiful and shiny wrapper with minimal flaws. Although ash itself was very flaky and dark, the burn on the cigar was razor sharp. Band looks very elegant and a pleasure to photograph.


Specs:
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican Republic / Nicaragua
Length: 5 5/8″
Ring: 46



Construction > Great
Burn > Great (flaky / dark ash)
Enjoy > Yes
Recommend > Absolutely !
Buy > Box worthy


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