Cigar Review: JD Howard Single Action by Crowned Heads

• Vitola: HR 38 (Petite Lancero)
• 6” x 38 ring gauge 
• Price $9.99
• Purchased from Burns Tobacconist

Background

J.D. Howard Reserve was the third regular production release from Crowned Heads, debuting in late 2013. It was also the last (at least so far) regular production release made for Crowned Heads by EPC Cigars. Although they haven’t been beholden to any precise pattern, Crowned Heads has established a pattern of sorts: regular release around the time of the IPCPR show, maybe a new vitola several months later (for example, the Seleccíon No. 5 in the Four Kicks line or “Shots” in Jericho Hill), then a limited edition release based on that blend somewhere a year or so after it’s initial release (and usually after the next “regular” release has come out…think Four Kicks Mule Kick or Headley Grange Drumstick). Knowing that, it shouldn’t come as a shock to many that it was time for a LE release of the J.D. Howard. It showed up in stores in March and is called the Single Action.

For those who may not know (or maybe you forgot), the J.D. Howard Reserve is named for an alias that Jesse James used when living in Nashville around 1875. The name “Single Action” is taken from one of James’ guns of choice, the Colt Single Action Army, also known as the “Peacemaker” and “The Gun That Won The West.” The cigar uses Nicaraguan fillers, an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, and a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper leaf. There were a total of 2,000 boxes of 10 made. I smoked one of these cigars when they first showed up at the shop and at that time decided to write this review, which is based on the second one I smoked.

Prelight

The presentation of these cigars is very well done; the wide box with 5 cigars on each side makes me think of a pair of dualing pistols in a case. The cigars appear well made with flat seams and beautiful caps with tiny flags on them. These use the same “classic Old West” style bands that were on the original J.D. Howard cigars and the wrapper leaf was a dark chocolate brown and oily to the eye and the touch.

When I took a whiff of the wrapper, I got an aroma of earth and manure and a touch of leather. The foot had more earth with a mild sweetness mixed in. The cold draw was slightly tight but felt like it should be fine; the flavor was a mix of dried fruit, earth and pepper spice.

Flavor

On light-up, I got a good amount of earthiness, a touch of cedar, semi-sweet chocolate, and black pepper on the palate, as well as a stronger red pepper burn on the nose. I have to admit to not being over the top with the other J.D. Howard vitolas, but with this size, the blend really comes alive to me, with the Brazilian Maduro wrapper leaf hitting all the right sweet and spicy notes.

The peppery fire got more spicy as I moved into the second third, the exact opposite of most cigars, where the pepper notes tend to die down after the first few minutes. I still got dark chocolate notes and earth, along with a touch of anise.

The last third offered up more notes of pepper, anise, raisin and earth wrapped up in a full-bodied smoke that ended up with a bit more nicotine kick than you would expect.

Construction

The samples of the J.D. Howard Reserve Single Action I’ve smoked have been just about perfect in terms of construction. The draw was very good, the ash held on for over a quarter inch (which is good on a 38 ring gauge), and the burn line was more than even enough.

Value

As with all limited edition cigars, the price is a little more than normal, but I didn’t find these too be exorbitant and the experience was superb, so it’s worth it.

Conclusions

Not only was this my favorite vitola for the J.D. Howard Reserve, this is one of my favorite releases from Crowned Heads since the original Four Kicks, putting it in company with the Tennessee Waltz and Jericho Hill. I would buy this cigar over and over and over again…if they decided to make it a regular release. But it is a limited edition and if previous CH LEs are any indicator, it will be highly sought-after in years to come after all the boxes have been bought and are either smoked or taking up space in collectors’ humidors. Get yours now…hell, buy two boxes if you can…one to smoke and enjoy and another to keep for the future.

By-The-Numbers

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