Crowned Heads has put out a Las Calaveras release each year, since 2014. Las Calaveras is made to honor those who were close to Crowned Heads and have passed that year. The Las Calaveras annual release has become on of my most looked forward to releases. Beyond its significance for honoring those who passed, it is typically a release that is very well received. This year, Crowned Heads celebrates their 10 years of Calaveras releases. Jon Huber & company decided to mark that milestone by releasing the Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario. This was expected to be released in July or early August of 2024 but, for one reason or another, it was not released until early November.
The Décimo features an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The blend was grown by My Father Cigars and rolled at My Father Cigars S.A. This is where every Las Calaveras release has come from.
OVERVIEW
VITOLA: Toro
SIZE: 6″ x 52
ORIGIN: Nicaragua
FACTORY: My Father Cigars S.A.
WRAPPER: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
BINDER: Nicaraguan
FILLER: Nicaraguan
STRENGTH: Medium +
SOURCE:
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:
November 18, 2024
DRINKS:
Bottled Water
WEATHER:
Indoor
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:
2
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Limited Edition
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE November ’24
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size: Boxes of 10
Production Totals: 2,500 boxes of 10
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o Toro (6″ x 52)
BAND DESIGN
The Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario is double banded. The main band features a calavera, a decorative skull traditionally used in “Day of the Dead” celebrations. It is a colorful band that matches the inside of the box. With blue, orange, red, purple, black and gold stripes it is quite striking. The “calavera” shares the color scheme, with a black background and gold accents. “Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario” is written at the bottom of the main band.The foot band follows the same color scheme, but has “Crowned Heads” in a black box with gold outline.
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper is just a slightly darker shade than milk chocolate. It does have some mottling and a bit of tooth to it. Rough to the touch and oily. The Décimo’s triple cap is expertly applied. There are a few veins visible on the cigars, but the Décimo has air of sophistication and luxury.
AROMA
The Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper gives off a singular note of barnyard. While that may seem simple and rather pedestrian to the uninitiated, those who know understand why I’m excited by that. The foot gives off notes of sweet tobacco, figs, and a funky earthy note.
COLD DRAW
The cold draw reveals notes of baking spices, barnyard, nuts, and that earthy funk from the foot. There is a sweetness that is underneath all of that, but it is very subtle.
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Le Petit by Les Fines Lames
Fire: Vektor SONICPUMP
Big notes of black pepper from the initial retrohale. That’s followed up by spiced cake, caramel, nuts, and leather. There is some chocolate adding depth and sweetness to the initial light. The pepper claws at my sinuses and teases the back of my throat.
SMOKE
The smoke is thick and creamy with each pull of the Décimo. The smoke clings to my palate, creating a silky smooth and very pleasant mouthfeel.
FIRST THIRD
>> Chocolate, Coffee, Wood, Black Pepper
As the initial light fades the rich notes of chocolate, caramel, wood, leather, earth, and red pepper flake all come through. A subtle floral note adds nuance to the Décimo. The burn line is sharp with a thick mascara line. The ash grey with black streaks and compact. It resembles a stack of nickels.I’m surprised by the complexity of flavors so early in the Décimo. Wood and chocolate, baking spices and pepper, nutty and floral. The smoke is almost perfect, too. It’s just the right amount with each draw. There is a fruity or citrus note starting to come through and lingering on my palate. The Décimo is wood forward but has a good amount of sweetness to balance out those earthy notes. It is a medium-plus bodied, but full of flavor. Coffee, and dried grass compliment the wood and chocolate notes. The pepper note begins to mellow out, letting the other notes really shine.
SECOND THIRD
>> Leather, Sweet Cream, Espresso, White Pepper
The middle third of the Décimo begins with salted peanuts, a floral note, leather, wood, and espresso. White pepper on the retrohale. Baking spices and black pepper linger on my palate. The Décimo is good. Really good. I find myself not having to “dig” for flavors. They stand out without overpowering the others. The floral note adds a level of depth and nuance to the complex flavors that shine through. The ash is only flakey where I broke it off in the ashtray. The burn line is a bit wonky, but evens out with each draw. The smoke is still creamy and satisfying. Red pepper gently claws at the back of my throat. The earthy funk from the cold draw finally comes through, and blends nicely with the espresso and nutty notes. A milk chocolatey sweetness begins to come through, hiding beneath the other flavors. Chocolate, sweet cream, nuts, earth, pepper, and maybe a hint of citrus bring the this middle third to life. Still medium-plus and very smooth.
FINAL THIRD
>> Charred Wood, Beef, Licorice, Black Pepper
Black pepper returning to the retrohale announces the beginning of the final third. Charred wood, black coffee, baking spices, and leather are the prominent notes that kick off the final third. The spice and pepper levels really begin to ramp up. The Décimo is still medium-plus bodied but the flavors are turned up in this final third. The ash is still only flakey where I break it off in the tray. The burn line is more wonky than straight, but it isn’t taking my attention away from the flavors. The smoke is still creamy. Notes of charred wood, licorice, burnt coffee, nuts, leather, and a hint of caramel sweetness. A quality dark chocolate note adds depth. Spiced cake and wood linger on my palate. There’s a beefy note that makes my mouth water coming through now. Thinking about it, that beefy note was present in the first two-thirds of the Décimo but it is front and center now.
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
The flavor progression of the Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario is almost the perfect balance of sweet and savory, bitter and salty, beefy and light. The floral and citrus notes in the first two-thirds add nuance to what are some complex, full flavors. The final third adds depth as the beef note really shines through. Throughout the Décimo notes of chocolate, nuts, wood, and caramel ebb and flow and are highlighted by various degrees of pepper and spice. Everything was in proportion and nothing seemed out of place or “too much.”
BURN EXPERIENCE
The Décimo provided me with one of the better burn experiences I’ve had this year. While it did start to burn a bit wonky in the final third, it did correct itself. The ash was nothing short of amazing, as it held on in every third. The only flakes came by way of me breaking the ash off in the tray, out of fear of wearing it.
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80 / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.50 / 0.50 … Pre-Light Characteristics
0.50 / 0.50 … Lighting Process
7.13/ 7.70 … Smoking Experience
0.49 / 0.50 … Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Thes flavors of the Décimo were right in my wheelhouse.
- One of the best burns of the year.
- I have no critiques. Great cigar.
THE DECIMO DELIVERS A DELICIOUS AND DECADENT SMOKE.
I patiently awaited the release of the Décimo for four months. After smoking it, my verdict is: It was worth the wait! A lot of times we (consumers) bemoan when a cigar scheduled for release ends up being delayed. The majority of manufacturers just say, “it wasn’t ready.” That usually feels like a ready-made excuse to give them an out. I’m not sure what held up the Décimo’s release, and it doesn’t really matter. It made an impression with me. The annual Las Calaveras release honors those who were close to Crowned Heads and passed the previous year; in that regard, the Décimo celebrates those who passed the last 10 years. And what a way to do it. Smooth and creamy notes of chocolate, nuts, leather, earth, baking spices, pepper, beef, citrus, and a floral note all create a depth of flavor that is as nuanced as it is complex. If you haven’t tried the Las Calaveras Décimo Aniversario, you’re missing out. Go grab this LE while you can.
