Cigar Info
Crowned Heads will ship a small amount this new brand before its more formal back in November last year. It’s full launch came in Decamber. Luminosa. uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper over an undisclosed binder and filler blend. It is available in two sizes Robusto (5 x 50, $7.55) and Toro (6 1/2 x 52, $7.95).
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
Jon Huber of Crowned Heads says Luminosa fills a void that was lacking in the Crowned Heads portfolio of blend. “An easily approachable smoke—something mild (if I’m allowed to say that word post August 8) to medium in body, that can be enjoyed both with a morning coffee as well as with an after dinner dessert.” The cigars are produced by Ernesto Perez-Carrilo Jr.’s Tabacalera La Alianza S.A., the same factory behind many of Crowned Heads‘ other releases including Four Kicks, Headley Grange and La Carême.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6.5″
Ring Gauge: 52
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Undisclosed
Filler: Undisclosed
Factory: Tabacalera La Alianza S.A.
Blender: Jon Huber, E.P. Carrillo
Number of reviewers: 4 – Jason H. (Jokey Smurf) Eric (smalls29) Zane G. (Zane) Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Price: $7.95
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: November 2016
Contributed by: Blind Man’s Puff
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 89
“Toothy and rough looking wrapper. Even though it’s pretty toothy and rough the wrapper itself is very velvety feeling.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Aroma: 88
“It has a faint smell that is hard to pick up buy I am detecting a sweet smell of flowers and wood.” –Eric (smalls29)
First Third
Flavor: 88
Strength: Mild
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“The initial flavors of this cigar are extremely mild and creamy with hints of nuts that fade almost immediately as the smoke is expelled. The smoke is thick and rich in consistency, if not flavor.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“In the beginning, the draw was tight and may have caused the low smoke output. That being said, the flavors were nice. Some creamy notes and cinnamon are the most prominent flavors in the profile. There is also a very slight leather note that comes in. The retrohale has a nice sweetness with some floral notes.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Second Third
Flavor: 86
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“I am finding that this cigar has some personality. It started off mild but has grown to a medium boldness. The sweetness has gone away and now has nice flavors of wood and coffee. There is also a mild peppery flavor present but it is not leaving a tingle on the palate.” –Eric (smalls29)
“Second third starts to ramp up. Getting espresso notes along with the toasted nuts and young a touch of sweetness. . Picking up some pepper on the retro.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Final Third
Flavor: 87
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“I am liking the consistency of this cigar. Once the sweetness left during the first third, the coffee and chocolate flavors have remained constant. There has been no change from the second third to the final third. There is a bitter after taste that, if enjoyed, is pleasant and tasteful. If one does not like the bitterness of a cigar, you would not enjoy this aspect.” –Eric (smalls29)
“The draw opens up, and the smoke output increases. The sour fruit notes continue and are joined by some mild coffee notes. The smoke hearts up quite a bit, and the wrapper starts to split apart.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 89
“The draw was consistently tight until just before the end. This contributed to a lack of smoke output and possibly limited some of the flavor profile.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Burn: 93
“While it wasn’t razor sharp it was never more than a wavy burn.” –Zane G. (Zane)
Construction: 92
“Although the cigar looked nice, I can’t help but wonder if the draw issues were related to a construction problem. The cigar looked nice, but there is a good chance that the tightness was caused by a bunching issue.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 87
“This was a bit of a journey in its entirety. The mild beginning had me begging for more flavor, and when the flavor came, it was exactly what I didn’t want. Construction means a lot to me, and this was a nicely constructed cigar. Unfortunately that’s the only real aspect that I can emphasize as the harsh finish has me certain that this isn’t something I’ll visit again.” –Jason H. (Jokey Smurf)
“I like the personality of this cigar. I like how it started of mild with sweet flavors of cream and vanilla mixed with coffee and wood. After the first third the sweetness disappeared and I was left with the coffee and wood flavors. It was a bitter taste that one may not enjoy. However, it was very nice and it was topped off with a nice peppery taste, but no tingle.” –Eric (smalls29)
“I really enjoyed this cigar. Started off mild with some nice light notes and ramped up a bit as it progressed. This is a cigar I would not pass up when I want something that isn’t too over powering” –Zane G. (Zane)
“The first third had some potential, and the cigar burned well. Aside from that, it was not a flavor profile that was pleasing overall. I think more smoke production would have helped to better translate the flavors onto the palate. I would try it again in the possibility that this one was an anomaly.” –Matthew T. (A Huge Nerd)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 78
|
Reviewer
|
Appearance
|
Aroma
|
1/3
|
2/3
|
3/3
|
Draw
|
Burn
|
Constr.
|
Overall
Experience |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jason H. | 90 | 90 | 87 | 85 | 83 | 95 | 95 | 90 | 83 |
| Eric | 90 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 87 | 88 | 90 | 95 | 87 |
| Zane G. | 88 | 92 | 90 | 87 | 87 | 92 | 95 | 95 | 87 |
| Matthew T. | 88 | 88 | 87 | 85 | 85 | 83 | 90 | 88 | 85 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.