Crowned Heads Moonflower Toro

Crowned Heads is one of those brands that's always putting out great cigars, and has been a major player in the boutique cigar community. They've put out industry staples such as the Mil Dias, La Imperiosa, and Jericho Hill. Especially with their recent cigar rebranding, Crowned Heads has become more prominent that ever in cigar lounges around the country. This is a review of their newest blend, the Moonflower. Take a second to read it, and consider putting the Moonflower into your smoking rotation.

The Moonflower's presentation follows suit with the Crowned Heads rebranding, featuring the Crowned Heads logo prominently on the primary band. The color palate of these bands use different tones of blue, with white text. There is also an ornate design around the whole band, with floral accents. The secondary band follows the same color palate, with "Crowned Heads" and "Moonflower" printed in white text. There is also a white ribbon on the foot of the cigar. The cigar itself is medium bronw in color. There are a few veins showing, but it's smooth to the touch. There's also a slight oily sheen to the cigar, illuding to its rich flavor. The Moonflower is produced as a regular parejo.

The Moonflower is constructed with Nicaraguan Binder and Filler, along with a Nicaraguan Corojo Wrapper. The draw is smooth throughout the smoke. There is a decent amount of smoke output throughout the cigar, though it's not as much as some other cigars from Crowned Heads. The ash is light gray, and falls at the start of the second third. The burn can be a bit jagged throughout, but stays relatively consistent. There isn't a need to do touch-ups every couple minutes.

The flavor profile of the Moonflower definitely lets you know it's Nicaraguan. It's rich, dynamic, and enjoyable throughout the entire smoking experience. The cold draw may feature notes of dried fruit and bread. The first light, however, may provide notes of black pepper, semi-sweet chocolate, and dark brown sugar.

The first third of the cigar continues with the notes of espresso and semi-sweet chocolate being the prominent notes on the palate. Black pepper continues to linger on the palate, but doesn't overpower the front notes. Hints of leather, toast, and cedar can also be tasted. There's an underlying creaminess to the first third, which is accompanied by a mild toffee flavor which brightens the palate a bit. The retrohale of the first thrid may have notes of black pepper, fig, and dry hay.

The second third of the cigar sees the espresso and semi-sweet chocolate notes remain on the front of the palate. These are accompanied by the black pepper notes, which get progressively stronger throughout the rest of the cigar. Undertones opf toast and leather remain, but are accented by a subtle ginger note, along with an underlying salitness. The retrohale of the second third may have notes of black pepper, semi-sweet chocolate, and dry hay.

The final third of the cigar sees black pepper join espresso at the forefront of the palate, with the semi-sweet chocolate notes become more subdued. The leather and cedar notes also become a bit more prominent, and the subtle creaminess becomes noticeable again. The retrohale of the final third may have notes of espresso, leather, and dry hay.

The Moonflower is a very reasonably priced cigar, especially by today's standards. A single Toro can go for around $13.50, while a box of 21 can go for around 283.50. This is a fair price for the cigar, especially considering the richness and dynamic nature of the flavor profile. While this is a very enjoyable cigar, it may be a bit much for newer cigar smokers. However, those who have been enjoying cigars for a few years will appreciate its flavor and construction. While the presentation does not immediately catch the eye, the cigar itself is a perfect choice for someone looking for a Nicaraguan cigar with some good flavor ranges.

GC Rating: 92

Thanks to the Wooden Indian Tobacco Shop for sponsoring this review of the Crowned Heads Moonflower Toro. If you would like to try the Moonflower, or any other cigar from the Crowned Heads catelog, visit woodenindiantobacco.com, and use the coupon code for 10% off your order, plus free shipping.