Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022 – Blind Cigar Review

Cigar Info

Earlier this year, in March, Crowned Heads announced a new version of their limited edition Four Kicks Mule Kick for 2022. The Mule Kick is a limited offshoot of the original Four Kicks line. This is the first Mule Kick since 2020 and only the sixth one since the first in 2012. The original Four Kicks Mule Kick featured an Habano wrapper that the company decided was too dark for the regular production Four Kicks brand, and a slightly tweaked binder-filler combination. That version, which released in November of 2012, was limited to 500 boxes of 10. That same blend was re-released again in 2017. From 2018-2020, the Mule Kick blend was released annually, each year with a different wrapper leaf (Connecticut Habano, Ecuadorian Sumatra, and Nicaraguan Jalapa, respectively). Now, for the first time, the Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022 blend will use a Mexican San Andres oscuro wrapper. the binder-filler tobaccos remain the same as previous years.

Production of the Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022 is limited to 4,000 boxes of 10, and retails for $11.95 per cigar. The cigars are rolled at Tabacalera La Alianza, S.A. in Santiago, Dominican Republic under the supervision of Ernesto Perez-Carrillo.

Vital Stats:

Vitola: Toro
Length: 5 7/8″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Mexican San Andres
Binder: Nicaragua
Filler: Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Blender: Jon Huber & E.P. Carrillo
Number of reviewers: 4 – Sean F. (fullermaine) Randy B. (randobush) Angel M. (Angel) Chris M. (Chris)
Price: $11.95
Age: 5 Month
Release Date: April 2022
Contributed by: Blind Man's Puff

Initial Impressions – Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022

Appearance: 87

“Dark brown wrapper, with a nice oily sheen. Not too veiny, visible seams and appears to be a large triple cap.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Aroma: 90

“Off the wrapper, I get a strong combination of cedar, chocolate, campfire smoke, and barnyard. The foot brings natural tobacco and cedar, with a hint of bell pepper.” –Chris M. (Chris)

First Third

Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Starting off in the first third, this is a spicy one I'm picking up lots of black pepper and green pepper spice with a remaining bitterness on the lips, There's also a little bit of a leather back note. The smoke so far is a bit dry; the bitterness is a little off-putting and remains on the tongue until the next Draw.” –Angel M. (Angel)

“The cold draw at prelight is milk chocolatey, and creamy. The first few puffs are not lacking in smoke output or flavors. There's a pepper zing that rests on the tongue with a long finish. The pepper is almost too much for the retro l, buts it's “kinda” smooth, and invites you back to visit retrohale land on the next draw, over & over. Bitter chocolate, black coffee, sweet cayenne pepper, dark stone fruit (think black plum). I'm getting full body & complexity, and med-full strength.” –Randy B. (randobush)

Second Third

Flavor: 83
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Right at the beginning of the second third, the cigar went out for no particular reason. The bitterness although still remaining has died down a tiny bit and still is off-putting. The spice has diminished with pretty much leather remaining with the bitterness, there may be some other flavors in there that I'm not picking up due to the fact that the bitterness of the cigar is distracting. hopefully, it gets better as I continue to smoke. But at this point, the amount of bitterness is a bit overwhelming.” –Angel M. (Angel)

“Earth takes the top, with what reminds me more of a used saddle blanket, light saddle leather. Muddled floral notes attached to an indistinct wood, dry hay, and a light pepper are also noticeable. The fruit sweetness seemed to disappear until returning sporadically past the midpoint.” –Chris M. (Chris)

Final Third

Flavor: 83
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium

“Generic wood, earth, and dusty cocoa lead, with the floral notes becoming more vegetal. Black pepper coming back a little heavier through the finish. The fruit sweetness becomes even more sporadic.” –Chris M. (Chris)

“As the final third comes into transition I am only picking up notes of bitter tea to finish this cigar.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

Overall Impressions – Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022

Draw: 83

“On the draw, it appears to be wide open, I would have preferred slightly more resistance. That being said with as wide open as it is there is tons of smoke with each draw.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Burn: 84

“The burn got slightly wonky, but it worked itself back to even by itself, with no assistance.” –Randy B. (randobush)

Construction: 86

“The construction was good, everything held together well and it felt good in the hand.” –Angel M. (Angel)

Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 81

“Not an enjoyable cigar. Oily wrapper that burns the cigar quickly. Uneven burn with multiple touch-ups. Rough draw in some spots. The only good thing was the flavor notes. Notes of salt, chocolate, hickory, and bitter tea. Nice grey ash that holds on for about an inch. Not a cigar I'd want to try again.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)

“WoW, I really kinda liked this cigar. The flavors and transitions were a joy ride from start to finish.
Retrohale went from spicy zing in the first third, to a creamy, zingy, nuttiness in the second, to just baking spice and cream in the third. The finish was long and satisfying throughout. I'd recommend this cigar, and smoke it again!” –Randy B. (randobush)

“Overall, I did not care for the cigar. The overwhelming bitterness stayed throughout the cigar and was very off-putting for me and it did give me a bit of cotton mouth. Had I not been conducting a review I probably would have ended this cigar after the first third. The leather was the only other flavor I could pick up through the bitterness and although normally I do enjoy a leathery flavor it was not enough to deter from the bitterness of the cigar. This one will not be making an appearance in my rotation.” –Angel M. (Angel)

“This one started with a bang, and then quickly fell off for me. Most of what I got past the first third was muddled. The transitions didn't make too much sense and were sometimes abrupt. Though the burn was perfect, it wasn't enough to make me want to repeat this experience.” –Chris M. (Chris)

Smoking Time (in minutes): 66

To view the complete scores and notes, click here.

Crowned Heads Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2022 – Blind Cigar Review