Cigar Review: Tennessee Waltz by Crowned Heads

Vitola: Robusto
Size: 5.5″ x 52 ring gauge
Price $9.25
Purchased from Franklin Cigar

 

It’s to be expected that when a new kid shows up, he shakes things up a bit. That’s what Crowned Heads did when they come onto the scene a few years back.  And now, they have a new dance they’d like to show you, too.

 

Jon Huber from Crowned Heads isn’t shy on his appreciation of Tennessee or music as evidenced from the company’s nomenclature of previous lines.  This new line isn’t any different.  The name Tennessee Waltz is in reference to the song that was playing when his maternal grandparents met.   But enough with the history, let’s move forward with the review.

The Tennessee Waltz is a beautiful stick with a luscious chocolate Connecticut broadleaf wrapper with pure Nicaragua under the hood. The only distinguishable visible characteristic of manufacturer would be an orange foot wrapper, no doubt in honor of the University of Tennessee’s infamous orange colored jerseys and logos. The cigar had great construction with minimal veins. The pre-light was a bit sweet with an earthy, forest smell.  Trimming a bit off the top revealed a great cold draw and more of a leafy smell.

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waltz2

After removing the orange foot wrapper, I toasted the foot and began to puff. My initial notes were that of some spice mixed with graham cracker. Pulsing throughout the first third we’re hints of leather.  The smoke was generous and the ash held on for an inch before falling off (fortunately I was hovering over my ashtray and not my lap at the moment).

waltz3

waltz4

Leading into the middle of the cigar, the spice backed off and the cigar became mellow. A graham cracker note muddled with a bit of cocoa and a hint of coffee came out to play. Rounding out the smoke in the last third, the preceding notes gave way to leather and pepper that was flavorful yet not overpowering.

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The Tennessee Waltz is a medium bodied cigar with an enjoyable flavor palate throughout. It’s not a wild ride, nor a boring lecture. It’s comfortable and inviting, like grandparents tend to be. No doubt what Huber had in mind when he created this.  I wouldn’t consider this an everyday smoke, but more like a smoke I’d enjoy around the holidays with family.

Prelight: 2/2

Construction: 2/2

Flavor: 4/5

Value: .5/1

Total: 8.5/10

The Hippie

Having grown up in the South, The Hippie was no stranger to tobacco. Although a city boy, his farming cousins were anything but, and visiting them frequently allowed him to watch the process of tobacco grow from seedling to harvest to curing in the barns. Both grandfathers enjoyed a pipe, and that opened up a new door to a more fragrant and sophisticated way to smoke. The smell was intoxicating. Then in the 90s, prominent athletes and actors really started to endorse cigar smoking. Just like pipe tobacco, the smell was unique and enjoyable, and promoted a more cultured way to enjoy tobacco. Remembering Michael Jordan and Scotty Pippen smoking cigars after winning another championship for the Chicago Bulls, or seeing actors like Jack Nicholson made cigar smoking mainstream. Friends, too, were enjoying cigars and the passion had started. Everything else is, as they say, history. He was a regular contributor to Tiki Bar Online before being a founding member of Leaf Enthusiast.

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8 Responses

  1. Mark VanSledright says:

    Great review and I always appreciate that graham cracker note in a cigar.

  2. Texican says:

    Sounds very enjoyable. Thanks for the review.

  3. Miguel Rocha says:

    I am really digging CH cigars, hard to figure out which release I like more!

  4. Craig Bowden says:

    Have tried and enjoyed a few CH cigars, this sounds like a nice smoke with the graham cracker and cocoa flavors. Will keep my open for them.

  5. czerbe says:

    I have been lucky enough to smoke one of these bad boys and I have another in the humidor taking a nap… I think these will get better with age… great smoke.

  6. Mr Bill says:

    Have not had the chance to try these but like most CHs, I’ll probably love it.. ha ha.. some I like more than others.. Four Kicks #5 is still one of my favorite go to smokes

  7. atllogix says:

    Nice review. Can’t go wrong with Crowned Heads, or Crowned Heads hasn’t done no wrong.

  1. December 10, 2014

    […] Earlier this year Jon Huber announced that they were going to be creating a regular (not limited) release for their Tennessee retailers.  After looking over the specifics of the blend I was a bit disappointed since they would only be available in TN.  I knew I could count on Dave making sure I was able to purchase some though.  The name Tennessee Waltz is a tribute to the song.  Jon said that this song was playing when his maternal grandparents met and that he heard his grandfather whistling it throughout his childhood.  The cigars are comprised of a Nicaraguan filler and binder with a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper.  At the moment they only come in this one size in 20 count boxes.  These cigars are made by My Father Cigars in Nicaragua.  I’ve had a few of these cigars before this one I smoked for review.  You can check out The Hippie’s review of this cigar here. […]