Cigar Review: Las Calaveras EL 2015 by Crowned Heads

• Vitola: LC50 (Robusto)
• 5” x 50 ring gauge
• Price $9.99
• Purchased at Burns Tobacconist

Background

Last year, Crowned Heads kicked off their collaborative efforts with My Father Cigars by issuing a new limited edition: Las Calaveras. At the time, it was understood that this was going to be an annual release of a limited run of cigars. The blend would probably change…some sizes might change…and that’s what has happened.

For 2015, Las Calaveras showed up in 3 sizes, 2 of which are the same as the 2014 sizes (the Robusto, LC50, and Toro, LC52) but there is a new vitola…a Corona Gorda called LC46. It uses Nicaraguan fillers and binder, along with a Habano Rosado wrapper from Ecuador (last year’s used a Habano Oscuro wrapper), so the blend is a little different, as well.

I got a text on Monday afternoon from my boss, letting me know that he had spent some time in Nashville and was at Crowned Heads HQ when the truck showed up with the entire shipment of Las Calaveras. Jon Huber graciously let Mike take our order with him and Burns was the first shop in the country to have the 2015 version for sale, first thing Tuesday morning. I was able to procure a couple samples on Monday night. I fired up the first one and was taken in completely by how good it was…if you remember to last year, that didn’t happen for me the first time I fired up a LC2014. I saved the second stick for this review. While I actually didn’t pay for them at the time I wrote this…rest assured, I will be paying for them the next time I am at the shop.

Prelight

The 2015 Las Calaveras packaging is much like the 2014 version, but with some different colors. This time around, the boxes are cream-colored with a black label and yellow writing on it. The cigar bands have a white background, with pale yellow edging, then black and gold foil used for text and art. While not really different in design, the color change is very effective at making it stand apart from last year’s version and I think it looks better this time around.

The wrapper leaf was a peanut butter color with just a touch of red in some lighting conditions. It was smooth and oily to the touch and had an aroma that combined molasses, wood and hay. The foot of the stogie had touches of earth and cedar.

The cold draw was excellent and had flavors of cedar, earth and a touch of pepper.

Flavor

Once lit, the Las Calaveras 2015 had flavors of toasted wood and chili pepper right up front, with a more subtle sweetness coming in just behind. The retrohale had notes of roasted nuts and more pepper spice. Altogether, it was a strong and full-bodied start for this cigar. I was struck by one odd fact…this isn’t the first time that My Father has done Habano Rosado versus Habano Oscuro versions of the same cigar (see the Nestor Miranda Special Selection and El Tiante blends for two easy previous examples), but this is the first time I’ve preferred the Rosado version over the Oscuro.

The pepper spice mellowed a bit in the second third, allowing more cedar flavor to come through, as well as some light floral notes.

The last third of the EL 2015 Las Calaveras saw everything come together very well…cedar, floral, earth, a little remaining pepper and some sweetness.

Construction

Both samples I smoked of the Las Calaveras LC50 were perfect construction-wise: great draw, very solid ash, even burn line.

Value

Limited Edition cigars these days seems to be where a lot of companies are making some extra money, with cigars topping out at $15, $17, even $20 a stick. For this to be hitting right at the $10 mark is pretty awesome.

Conclusions

When the 2014 version of Las Calaveras came out, I was undecided on whether or not I liked it. After it rested on the shelf for about 3 months, though, it was spectacular. This 2015 version is excellent from Day 1, though, hitting all the right spots of flavor, complexity, strength, burn…it’s just a great stick, period, full stop. Get yours now, folks…I’m sure these won’t last a long time.

By-The-Numbers

Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 2/2
Flavor: 4.5/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 9.5/10