PCA Magazine Show Issue 2021

PREMIUMCIGARS.ORG SHOW 2021 | PCA The Magazine 21 W H A T W E ’ R E S M O K I N G “The complexity of the blend of tobaccos from Ecuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Costa Rica creates a flavor experience that all cigar smokers can enjoy at any time of the day regardless of experience level.” ZACH PROVOST Tinder Box of the Carolinas Charlotte, NC CIGAR: Crowned Heads Mil Dias SIZE: Corona Gorda SMOKE TIME: 1 hour, 10 minutes Appearance & Aroma A beautiful white linen band adorned with a gold ring and blazing red “M” draws your eye up the chocolaty brown wrapper that has just enough oil to reflect the light and bring out the reddish undertones of the Ecuadorian habano wrapper. The wrapper presents mostly earth and cedar tones with a hint of Scottish peat hiding underneath. The foot presents a similar profile with a slight pepper note and a hint of natural sweetness coming through. Light Up & Draw A simple straight cut just below the first cap creates a draw that is firm enough to provide resistance without making you work for it. Smoke jumps off the foot when toasting and the tobacco ignites without difficultly. The sweetness that was present on the foot immediately shines as does a slight cinnamon note on the roof of the mouth. The initial retrohale is loaded with cedar and not much more. Early Profile Aged wood, tannins and a hint of anise complement the sweet cedar and cinnamon notes at the beginning of the experience. A pepper note joins the cedar on the retrohale and causes the wood notes on the palate to amplify. The strength is firmly in the medium category and the flavor is medium-full. Middle Profile & Burn Coming up to the midpoint of the Mil Dias the aged wood tone begins to dominate the palate lending a smokiness to the profile. The tannins are still there and present a drying sensation on the roof of the mouth while the cinnamon fades away leaving the sweet cedar to linger alone. Black pepper replaces the cedar entirely on the retrohale creating a spicy contrast to the dried sweetness on the palate. Late Profile The final third amplifies the strength to medium-full and the flavor profile gets deeper with the aged wood fading and a thick, oaky presence appearing alongside a hint of musky cedar. The tannins are still present but fade slightly to allow the dryness to dissipate and a hint of cream to balance the palate. The retrohale maintains the pepper in a more muted way. Overall Impression The Mil Dias is a shining example of collaboration between Crowned Heads and Tabacalera Pichardo. The complexity of the blend of tobaccos fromEcuador, Nicaragua, Peru and Costa Rica creates a flavor experience that all cigar smokers can enjoy at any time of the day regardless of experience level. I have been a fan of this cigar since its release in mid- 2020 and believe that it should have a place in the humidor of every retailer and consumer. WS W