This is my first Crowned Heads cigar. I picked up the Four Kicks Sublime at the recommendation of a friend. I enjoy losing my “cigar virginity” as it were, to new brands. So, it was with great pleasure that I grabbed my cutter and lighter and headed to The Big Ash porch.
Upon first inspection the Four Kicks Sublime has an shiny oily wrapper with visible veins. It’s a bit toothy and seemed to me to be well constructed. That was until I noticed that the seam was loose on parts of the stick, nearly unattached in small segments. I wasn’t sure if this was due to handling or a manufacturing defect. I wonderd if this would affect the cigar as I smoked it. The pre-lit aroma gave away a generous smell of cinnamon with hints of vanilla and floral notes.
My first draw met with a slight but welcomed resistance. The loose seam didn’t appear to have an adverse effect on subsequent draws. The cigar was earthy with a faint spice during the first 1/3. It did not produce thick clouds of smoke, which I like, but instead stayed a bit on the thin side. This would not change for the duration of the smoke. The burn got away from me a little in the beginning but evened out in the 2nd 1/3 and stayed fairly consistent during the last 1/3. The ash was light gray, tight and hung on until I was just into the 2nd 1/3 of the cigar. In fact, the it was so tight I only ashed three times throughout my time spent with the cigar.
Halfway into the cigar I was hit with a pleasant amount of spice on the tongue and at the back of the throat. It was never overpowering but definitely made itself known. The draw opened up slightly as I began to notice a more earthy taste with hints of leather. It was at this time that I was hit with a very noticeable nicotine buzz that increased during the final 1/3. I started to draw less frequently in order to prevent getting a headache. This stick was showing it’s teeth and it was up to me to fight through till the end. The spice continued to roll out as I finished and seemed to overtake any earthy tones that were remaining. I smoked it as far to the nub as I could until it became overheated. At that point I laid it to rest as I scribbled my final notes down.
Overall Four Kicks Sublime is a decent stogie and a solid choice for the asking price. Unraveling seam aside, it is a well constructed cigar that comes packed with a punch. I don’t normally like spicy smokes but this one stood out among the crowd as one that I would have again the next time I was up for a fight. I won’t necessarily keep one in my humidor but I will buy it again on a one at a time basis. Crowned Head should be proud of the Four Kicks Sublime. It lived up to it’s name. My rating. 3.5 ashes out of 5.
The Big Ash 