“I don’t want you to like all our cigars, I want you to love a few.” It’s one of my favorite expressions in the cigar industry, something I heard Steve Saka say repeatedly during his tenure at Drew Estate. Crowned Heads is not Drew Estate, there are no infused cigars; there isn’t even a true mild offering in the portfolio, nor is there a knock your socks off powerhouse for that matter. But I still think it would be difficult to like, let alone love, everything Crowned Heads has put out in the market. It’s a very diverse portfolio flavor-wise and Tennessee Waltz is no different. It is neither Las Calaveras light, nor Jericho Hill juiced up. It’s own cigar, with at times similarities between the aforementioned My Father Cigars S.A.-made Crowned Heads products, but liking, or even loving, one of the former products will not guarantee the same result for the newest cigar. For those curious, I think Las Calaveras is one of, if not, the best new cigar I’ve smoked this year, Jericho Hill was okay, while Tennessee Waltz was very good.

The rating will be based on this last third and the great construction. The Tennessee Waltz by Crowned Heads has finally made the grade.

Very complex. And a dose of nicotine. The strong red pepper puts a smile on my puss. The cigar finishes very full bodied. Lots of nicotine. And very flavorful. I’m conflicted about recommending this cigar. I never got a chance to taste it when it was in its prime. And a year of humidor is clearly too much for this blend.

The cigar stars off with the flavors of chocolate and peanut brittle with a good amount of spice on the retrohale.  A little ways in I started to get some coffee, earth and slightly salty favors from it as well.  The spice did build a bit towards the end of the first third.  The cigar starts off at the upper end of medium strength.  As I moved into the second third the spice did tone down a bit.  The flavors were similar to the first third; coffee, leather, earth and wood but with a much sweeter finish.  The strength built a bit but not too much during this third.  When I got into the final third the flavors didn’t change other than I started to get some chocolate again.  The strength built to the medium-full range as I started to get a slight nicotine hit from it.  The spice on the tongue and retohale started to come back again as well ... I would recommend you giving this cigar a try if you are a fan of Connecticut Broadleaf, The Crowned Heads, or My Father Cigars.  While it has some strength I think that only the most sensitive would have issues.