Vitola: Churchill / Double Corona- 7.125” x 49 ring gauge
- MSRP $12.50
- Purchased from Small Batch Cigar
Background
Today is my second in this series of “One Shot” reviews. You can read details in last week’s entry, but basically I bought a sampler of cigars and am giving each of the blends included in the sampler one shot to impress me in terms of a review…because that’s how “normal people” evaluate what they spend their cigar money on.
Today I’m looking at the Limited Edition (or EL: Edición Limitada) 2021 of the Mil Días line from Crowned Heads. I did take a look at the regular production line last year and have really fallen in love with this blend. This is said to be just a “line extension” in a limited production size, which would mean the blend doesn’t differ from the regular release. The blend is made up of Nicaraguan, Costa Rican, and Peruvian fillers, a Nicaraguan binder, and an Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. It is made in Tabacalera Pichardo in Nicaragua, the makers of ACE Prime cigars.
The full name for this release is Mil Días Escogidos Edición Limitada 2021 and the company describes it as a “Double Corona,” but I’ve always known a 7(ish) x 49 size to be a true Churchill, so that’s how I approached it. I bought this in a sampler I got from Small Batch Cigar. I got background information on the release from Cigar-Coop.
Prelight
I didn’t grab a regular release stick (or have one sitting around) to compare with the wrapper on this EL, but just based on memory, this one seemed a touch darker. I would call it a dark-ish medium brown. It had a good oiliness to it, as well. The main band appeared identical to what you’ll get on the regular release, while the secondary band is the faux-Cuban EL band you see just about everyone doing these days. I think Crowned Heads was one of the first to do it, though, way back on the original Mule Kick release (2012?), so props for being consistent for close to a decade.
I got aromas of earth and cedar from the wrapper leaf, while the foot had a slightly more astringent woodiness and more barnyardy earthiness. I clipped the head and got a slightly tight draw, but maybe it was “just enough resistance” as some have suggested. The burning down would be the only way to know for sure. The cold draw had notes of citrus and berries, along with lighter wood and earth flavor and a faint peppery burn.
Flavor
After lighting, the Mil Días EL 2021 had more pronounced earth and cedar up front, with slightly sweet citrus right behind it, and a mild pepper spice on the finish. The retrohale had strong roasted nuttiness and a fairly powerful red pepper burn. As the first third combusted, I found that the draw was indeed a slight bit tight and it threatened to go out on me twice…and I found a tunnel in the middle of the filler. An anomaly you wouldn’t likely find in all three of a traditional review cycle? Maybe. Regardless, the flavor was still very good, mixing earth and wood with that citrus sweetness and a little pepper.
The second third had a little more zing in the citrus and a little less sweetness, while cedar came more to the fore. Earth notes were always just underneath that and the pepper spice increased a bit. This is in direct contradiction to what one person told me, specifically that there was virtually no pepper in this vitola.
The tight draw became an issue again in the last third with the cigar almost going out on me again due to it. I was able to finish, though, with the flavor not being too adversely affected. I had more citrus zing, cedar, and earth backed up by a little sweetness and pepper spice.
Construction
The draw was less than optimal, but also not the worst I’ve experienced. The burn line was even enough and the ash was solid.
Value
This is a great blend and just for that I say it’s worth the price of admission.
Conclusions
I thoroughly enjoy Mil Días and this EL 2021 is no exception, although I would probably be more likely to pick up the Edmundo size as it tends to not have the tight draw I found here and on the Corona Gorda. The blend is just complex enough to keep my interest and is pleasing the entire length of the cigar. I definitely recommend this one—if you can still find it—and hope you get one (or more) with a better draw than mine.
By-The-Numbers
Prelight: 2/2
Construction: 1.5/2
Flavor: 4/5
Value: 1/1
Total: 8.5/10
