Cigar Geeks - Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2024

Cigar Geeks Geek Critique

Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2024
Written by Cigar Geeks Member: Cfickter

82
Cigar Geeks Rating

Welcome to another Member sponsored Geek Critique generously sponsored by our member ninfiction (Brian). The cigar provided for this round is the Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2024.

'Blood Medicine' takes its name from a three-story building located on the corner of Broadway and 4th Avenue in downtown Nashville, Tennessee. That building was originally built as a three-floor pharmacy in 1872 before being converted into a hotel in 1892. While many legendary tales exist about the historic building, including legends of Civil War ghosts that still wander the halls, evidence of the original pharmacy still exists. On the walls, the painted words "Blood Medicine" still remain visible. Blood Medicine pays homage to the history of Crowned Heads' home city of Nashville with a unique smoking experience. The 2024 release of Blood Medicine is made at Eradio Pichardo's TacaNicsa factory (who also produced the 2022 version).

Crowned Heads Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2024

Brand:: Crowned Heads
Name:: Blood Medicine Limited Edition 2024
Length:: 6
Ring Gauge:: 52
Country of Origin:: Nicaragua
Filler:: Nicaragua
Binder:: Connecticut
Ecuador
Wrapper:: Ecuador
Habano
Color:: Colorado
Strength:: Medium-Full
Shape:: Toro
Notes:: https://halfwheel.com/crowned-heads-ships-blood-medicine-limited-edition-2024/438617/

This cigar was enjoyed with Dark roast coffee, black

Pre-Light: 8 Points of 10 Possible

Good looking chocolate brown wrapper, somewhat dry, moderate veining. Body is very firm. Pre-light draw is fairly open and easy. Notes include baking spices and cinnamon. Cap cut is very flaky, but no fraying or loose ends.

Lighting and Burn: 10 Points of 15 Possible

Cigar was initially quick to light and starting burn was straight. About an inch in a slight wobble appeared on the burn line, as the smoke progressed is got worse, eventually there was some slight canoeing and a touch up was required. The ash was light grey, layered but very nicely packed. No issue with tunneling, no relights required. Smoke volume was very good, even at rest.

Construction: 27 Points of 30 Possible

The pre-light draw was good and fairly open. During the entire smoke both the cap and body help up well. No wrapper separation and there was no cap fraying or loose ends. Draw remained open for the whole smoke.

Flavor and Aroma: 37 Points of 45 Possible

First third: Opens up with a moderate level of pepper, hits the mid-tongue. The pepper is really elevated during a retrohale. As the third progress there is less pepper on the tongue, but remains strong in the retrohale.

Second third: the pepper begins to slightly fade and you begin to get some of the pre-draw notes of light spices and a little cinnamon, also some grassy or light hay notes. The retrohale has also taken a good size step down.

Final third: The pepper spices now seem to be completely gone, even in the retrohale. Nothing of consequence seems to be going on, almost lacking a true identifiable flavor.

Summary

Generally, I find most event only releases fail to live up to the hype. While this wasn't an overall disappointment I still feel somewhat let down over the lack of complexity and burn issues. A shame it came from the same brand as one of my all-time favorites, The Juarez.