Las Calaveras 2017 cigars are the fourth installment of an enormously popular yearly release from Crowned Heads. Three other limited-edition offerings subsequently followed, but since a single LC 46 stick was resting at the bottom of my humidor just waiting to be smoked for the first time, I figured this would be the perfect time to take it for a test drive.  But first, a little brand info and a description of the blend.

Coming from the famous company behind Headley Grange and Four Kicks, Las Calaveras 2017 cigars are a collaboration between Crowned Heads and the legendary Don” Pepin” Garcia ™  family in Nicaragua. Calaveras is an annual release that pays a respectful homage to those who have died the year before.

For this 2017 offering the company turned to master blender Jon Huber from My Father Cigars™,  who employed aged Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos paired with a stunning Ecuadorian  Habano Maduro wrapper leaf. The LC46 is expertly rolled in a classic  5.62 × 46 Corona Gorda size.

Las Calaveras 2017 LC 46 displayed a rather light-colored reddish-brown Maduro wrapper that could easily pass for a darker shade EMS leaf. The cigar was solidly packed, displayed a few noticeable veins, and had a nice oily sheen. The cold draw was effortless with tastes of barnyard hay and musty earth.  From this alone, I could tell that this stick was very well-aged.

Out of the gate, there was a bold blast of black pepper that woke up my senses immediately. A few puffs later, black pepper took a back seat to flavors of earth, wood, and touches of sweet spice. later on, I detected some nuances of leather, and welcome hints of cinnamon, a flavor I absolutely love in a handmade premium cigar.

At this point, it’s a solid medium to full-bodied smoke, and the core flavors found in the first third, much to my delight are accented with bolder notes of cinnamon. The cigar is performing like a champ with a nice slow even burn, and only one minor touch up required with my trusty Xikar Single Torch Lighter.

During the home stretch cinnamon has become the dominant top note backed by the above-mentioned notes of earth, wood, leather,  and sweet spice. The black pepper is gone, now replaced by hints of sweet tobacco that carried me straight across the finish line.

• I can’t stress enough how much I love the taste of cinnamon in my premium smokes, so for me, I’d give this gem three thumbs up if I had one more appendage!

• The beauty of this top-shelf cigar is how the cinnamon never overpowers the other flavors but rather compliments them.

• There’s no doubt that this was a medium to full-bodied affair from start to finish, yet its deeply aged tobaccos make it smooth and creamy enough for those looking to move up a notch or two in strength.

• If you’re a Crowned Heads fan,  Garcia Family brand loyalist, or both, smoking the  Las Calaveras 2017 LC 46 cigar is an absolute no brainer!