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Crowned Heads · Court Reserve XVIII

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Crowned Heads Court Reserve XVIII Robusto

A 5 x 50 robusto with a dark Mexican San Andres wrapper, made at EP Carrillo. Cocoa, espresso, and pepper — Crowned Heads' return to its Dominican roots.

Strength
Medium-Full
Smoke time ~55 min

Flavor profile

Sweet · Roast · Earthy · Spice

Court Reserve XVIII (released in 2018) marked Crowned Heads returning to Ernesto Perez-Carrillo's Tabacalera La Alianza in the Dominican Republic, the factory where Four Kicks was born. It pairs a dark Mexican San Andres wrapper with an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan filler, and notably each vitola was blended individually to its size. The Robusto is the classic 5 x 50.

What it tastes like

The San Andres wrapper drives a dark, chocolatey profile: dark cocoa, espresso, cedar, black pepper, and earth, layered into a medium-full smoke with real depth. Because the Robusto was blended specifically for its dimensions, it feels purpose-built rather than just a smaller version of a bigger cigar. Construction is excellent — slow, even burn and an easy draw, as you'd expect from EP Carrillo.

Who it's for

Court Reserve XVIII suits experienced smokers who like dark, flavorful, medium-full cigars with a chocolatey San Andres core. It's an after-dinner pick for espresso or bourbon. To get the most from the dark wrapper, read Maduro vs Connecticut, and fans of the brand's roots should also try the Four Kicks Robusto from the same factory.

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Curious how it stacks up? See Cuban vs Nicaraguan cigars.

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