Late last year (2025), Crowned Heads announced that they would be releasing a follow-up LE to their Belgian Blue LE 2024. This is not unheard of for Crowned Heads, but what makes this release a bit different is the size. The original (2024) was released in a 6″ x 54 toro, while the Belgian Blue LE 2025 was a box-pressed 5-1/2 “x 56 double robusto. What didn’t change, however, was the blend. The 2025 release features a Mexican San Andrés wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder, and fillers from the Dominican Republic and Nicaragua.
The Crowned Heads Belgian Blue LE 2024 was something that I just could not get my hands on. Fellow cigar smokers whose palates I trust raved about that cigar. While I’m sad that I did not have the opportunity to smoke it, I believe that it will only help my review of the 2025 release. I always say that a cigar, any cigar, should stand on its own. Not knowing what the 2024 had to offer ensures that my review of the Crowned Heads Belgian Blue LE 2025 will be as bias-free as possible.
OVERVIEW
VITOLA:Â Â Box-Pressed Double Robusto
SIZE:Â Â 5-1/2″ x 56
ORIGIN:Â Â Nicaragua
FACTORY:  D’Hatuey Tabacos S.A
WRAPPER:  Mexican San Andrés
BINDER:Â Â Ecuadorian
FILLER:Â Â Dominican & Nicaraguan
STRENGTH:Â Â Full
SOURCE:Â Â Â
Small Batch Cigar
ENVIRONMENT
WHERE:Â Â
Studio/Lounge
WHEN:Â Â
Dec. 17 @2PM
DRINKS:Â Â
Bottled Water
WEATHER:Â Â
Indoors
HOW MANY CIGARS SMOKED:Â Â
3
PRODUCTION
RELEASE TYPE Â Limited Edition
ORIGINALLY RELEASE DATE Â November ’25
TOTAL PRODUCTION
Typical Box Size:Â Â Â Boxes of 12
Production Totals:Â 2,500 boxes
VITOLA BREAKDOWN
o  Box Pressed Double Robusto (5-1/2″ x 56
o Toro Extra (6″ x 54)
BAND DESIGN
The Crowned Heads Belgian Blue LE 2025 band appears to be fairly similar to the 2024 band. The only difference I can could find is that the 2025 ban is off-white…or maybe it just appears off-white. This is the problem with getting old and being a man, shades of white all look like white. The blue blue accents really pop against whatever shade of white that is. The design is eye catching in any humidor; not to mention that the box is beautiful. The name of the cigar is prominently displayed and easy to read; what isn’t so easy to read is what flanks the name on the side of the band. On one side is a cow? A bull? It appears to be a bovine. On the other side are three stars with really tiny lettering around them. If anyone knows what it says, let me know.Â
PRE-LIGHT OBSERVATIONS
CONSTRUCTION
The Belgian Blue LE 2025 is visually stunning. The Mexican San Andrés wrapper is a gorgeous shade of milk chocolate. This is not something I can remember saying about other Mexican San Andrés wrappers over the last few years. Most, to my recollection, are rustic looking and rough to the touch. While the Belgian Blue’s wrapper isn’t smooth, it feels more like fine grit sandpaper than anything rough. The cap is applied perfectly, and the foot looks dressed to impress with its ribbon neatly applied.Â
AROMA
The aroma is very light off the wrapper. Wrapper gives off subtle hints of spice and wood. There is a faint mustiness that comes through, as well. The aroma from the foot is just as light and subtle as it was from the wrapper. Barnyard, fruit, earth, and sweet tobacco all come through.
COLD DRAW
A fruity sweetness jumps out at me. The draw is almost perfect. Notes of fruit, earth, hay, and sweet tobacco are easily detectable. Perhaps a hint of coffee and chocolate, as well.Â
SMOKING EXPERIENCE
LIGHT & DRAW
Cut: Le Petit by Les Fines Lames
Fire: Vektor SONICPUMP
The initial light is full of earth, spice, nuts, and black pepper. A sweetness lingers on my palate. Wood comes forward. Cayenne pepper claws at the back of throat. It is salty and savory. Caramel, wood, and nuts balance everything out. There is some punch you in the face pepper and spice, but it’s rounded out by a buttery note that seems to bring everything together.
SMOKE
The smoke is creamy and thick with each draw; however, it quickly tapers off while at rest. Two of the three Belgian Blue LE 2025 did not taper off. In fact, the smoke seemed to more abundant with those two. I did not notice that it made a difference to the flavors or overall smoking experience.
FIRST THIRD
>> Fruit, Baking Spices, Wood, Black Pepper
After the strong start, I was shocked to find a fruity sweetness cutting through the earthy and woody notes. Pepper and spice continue but not nearly at the level from the initial light. The burn line on one Belgian Blue becomes slightly uneven. The second one smoked, was even at this point. The ash was nearly perfect on two of the three smoked for this review. The third one saw the ash begin to lose cohesion. Regardless, it is a beautiful ash; grey with streaks of black that resemble perfectly stacked layers of rock. Baking spices and wood linger on my palate. Sweetness comes and goes, slicing through the rich and earthy notes. Black pepper on the retrohale. There’s a nice lemon-y citrus that sets it all off.Â
SECOND THIRD
>> Chocolate, Citrus, Wood, Baking Spices
Chocolate, caramel, and salted nuts lead the charge. While still earth-forward, the salt and spice add a nice contrast. The citrus is all but gone and the fruit note continues to play hide-and-seek. Cocoa powder and wood linger on my palate. Cayenne pepper has left the chat. Baking spices replace black pepper on the retrohale, and it is everything! It really sets off this middle third. The burn continues to be uneven on one cigar, but does not really affect the smoking experience. The ash is still compact and beautiful. There is a brightness to the Belgian Blue…not citrus or fruit. It’s something that I can’t quite pin down, but it is making my mouth water. Nope, it’s citrus…almost like orange zest now, more fruity sweet than bitter. Bread, citrus, baking spices lead the charge as chocolate wood begin to fade. Pepper returns to tickle the back of my throat
FINAL THIRD
>> Coffee, Earth, Fruit, Black Pepper
The citrus that was so consistent throughout, completely disappears. What’s left is a smooth profile with notes of charred wood, toast, nuts, and earth. Baking spices and black coffee linger on my palate. Black pepper returns to the retrohale. The burn is just…straight up bad. The ash is still as perfect as you can hope for with zero flaking. Fruity sweetness is still coming and going. Chocolate, wood, and earth forward with a touch of sweetness. The burn has gotten better as the final third goes on. Chocolate, nuts, cream, wood, toast.Â
RATING & FINAL THOUGHTS
FLAVOR PROGRESSION
The Belgian Blue is a well balanced throughout, even with the full flavored profile. Yes, it has “punch you in the face” pepper and spice, but it is offset by notes of butter, chocolate, fruit, and citrus. The sweetness is balanced by the salty and savory notes. Each flavor ebbs and flows, keeping me on my toes during the entire experience.Â
BURN EXPERIENCE
This is the part where I battle myself. Was the burn exceptional? No. Was it egregious? No, but it got close on one of the cigars smoked for this review. Was the ash flakey? Yes, but only during one of the cigars smoked for this review. Did it affect the smoking experience? If I’m being honest with you, and myself, then yes. How much? As much as flavor is subjective, so is the answer to this question.Â
RATING BREAKDOWN
0.80Â / 0.80 … Craft & Aesthetic
0.47Â / 0.50 …Â Pre-Light Characteristics
0.48Â / 0.50 …Â Lighting Process
7.05Â / 7.70 …Â Smoking Experience
0.50Â / 0.50 …Â Personal Enjoyment
COMPLIMENTS & CRITIQUES
- Complex and nuanced from light to nub.
- The Belgian Blue was well-balanced, had defined thirds, and had exceptional flavors.
- Inconsistent burn.
FULL FLAVOR FOR THE WIN.
According to the original Belgian Blue LE 2024 press release, the blend (which is the same for this year’s release) says that the filler is comprised of 75% Ligero. If I had known that before smoking it, would I have a different opinion? Maybe? I certainly would not have expected a well balanced flavor profile. Fruit, citrus, chocolate, wood, and nuts are all enveloped by warm notes of baking spices, pepper, and cayenne pepper. At times it seems intense, but never out of proportion. It’s not a pepper bomb. It delivers an experience that cigar enthusiasts and aficionados will be able savor and appreciate. The nuances found in the “75% Ligero” fillers is exceptional. The flavors kept morphing and changing…coming and going…leaving me smoking each one to the nub. The Belgian Blue LE 2025 is worth your time and attention. Go find it before it’s gone!
