Crowned Heads Cigars ordinarily sing to the tune of stogie connoisseurs with their string of music-inspired smokes, but this time they’ve gone a little off-key. The Buckeye Land cigar is a first-time collaboration between Crowned Heads and Drew Estate master blender Willy Herrera.
Initially, a regional release exclusively for the state of Ohio (a place not traditionally associated with cigars), the ‘Buckeye State has a special place in the heart of Crowned Heads co-founder Jon Huber. Not only has the brand amassed a strong following in Ohio over the years, but it’s also from where his wife hails. Her maiden name is ‘Land’ — cue the name Buckeye Land.
Thankfully, retailers such as Cigars.com could get their hands on the Buckeye Land cigar for 24 hours through Crowned Heads' “Lawless Day” promotion.
It comes cloaked in a deep, rich chocolate brown San Andres Mexican wrapper, which has a beautiful dark look and sheen with fine marbling throughout. Completing its four-country multinational blend is the Connecticut Broadleaf binder and fillers from Nicaragua and Pennsylvania.
Brand Overview
Crowned Heads Cigars boast handcraft stogies of artisanal quality and have worked with many manufacturing partners since its formation in 2011. Their production roster includes Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic and the famed My Fathers Cigars factory in Nicaragua.
However, the La Gran Fabrica Drew Estate factory oversees the construction of the Crowned Heads Buckeye Land — a factory known for producing very smoky smokes.
Crowned Heads are built on three core philosophies of integrity, pride, and quality, with their premium boutique, sticks often dedicated to rebels and rock ‘n’ roll icons. The likes of Jesse James, Led Zeppelin, and Eddie Van Halen have all received the Crowned Heads treatment, so let’s see how the company’s fourth regional “exclusive” fared in our review.
Cigar specs
- Country of Origin: Nicaragua
- Strength: Medium
- Wrapper: Mexico (San Andrés)
- Binder: U.S.A. (Connecticut Broadleaf)
- Filler: Nicaragua & U.S.A. (Pennsylvania)
- Smoking Time: 2 hours and 15 minutes
- Sizes Available: Crowned Heads Buckeye Land (6 x 48)
Cold draw
A straight cut was used to successfully detach the cap of this unbanded cigar, save for a red-hued ribbon by the foot, akin to the Ohio State University’s colors. This style is also in keeping with the visual appearance of other regional cigars created by the brand. For example, the Tennessee Waltz sports an orange satin band at the foot to reflect the University of Tennessee.
There’s rich cedar and a smidge of candy cane sweetness from the meaty wrapper, with a delectable mix of cocoa powder and French roast coffee in the pre-light draw. After being unable to resist a few extra cold puffs, it was time to set fire to this Buckeye Land.
First Third
An even orange glow arose from the foot as chocolate and black pepper spice emerged through abundant layers of smoke. Early puffs of the Buckeye Land also dropped hints of earth and cedar, but the chocolate became more decadent and ever so slightly nutty deep into the first third.
Some creaminess entered the profile at around an inch in, with leather and creamed coffee falling into a supporting role.
Second Third
The second third has a dynamic core of Maduro sweetness as the profile turns a lighter shade. Hits of leather, dark cocoa, and dry fruits are abundant, all heavily influenced by the earthy wrapper, which has a distinct San Andres Valley sweetness.
I still felt some stinging black pepper spice on the retrohale, while creamy nuances of coffee and oak rode steadily in the background.
Final Third
The Maduro sweetness decreased in intensity as the chocolate, black pepper, and cedar enjoyed a resurgence in the last third. A surprise addition of charred oak added a welcome smokiness to the flavor and aroma of the Buckeye Land, with some subtle earth lingering in the distance.
The main difference here was the strength of the stogie, which became medium-full in the final inches just as the earth started to become more robust. Even though there was a slight curvature to the burn from time to time, this slow-burner performed exceptionally well for over two hours, helped by a near-perfect draw.
Conclusion
At less than $10 a stick, you get a cigar collaboration that lives up to the excitement. After all, Crowned Heads and Drew Estate are two of the most innovative names in the industry.
The Buckeye Land cigar provides a steady progression of flavors and combinations, with a few surprises for good measure. It rounds out the company’s portfolio with its bolder layers, and most importantly, it’s a superb-tasting cigar that’s easy to enjoy.