Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Dukes (Single Loose Cigar)

• Length: 140mm
• Gauge: 54
• Flavour: Medium to Full
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Hand Rolled Cigars
• Humidor Required

Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Dukes – Single Loose Cigar Some of the best ideas in the cigar trade come from listening to customers. That was certainly the case with Crowned Heads La Imperiosa, a blend that was originally intended to make just one appearance before enthusiasts persuaded its makers to reconsider.

The story begins in 2014, when Crowned Heads released the first Las Calaveras, a limited-edition Nicaraguan cigar made in collaboration with the García family at My Father Cigars. The reception was so enthusiastic that, rather than consign the original blend to history, Crowned Heads brought it back in 2015 under a new name: La Imperiosa.

The La Imperiosa Dukes is a handsome cigar measuring 5½ inches with a 54 ring gauge. It's a generous format, with a substantial feel in the hand and a dark brown wrapper that immediately suggests there's something interesting beneath the surface.

That wrapper is Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro, surrounding a Nicaraguan binder and a blend of Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos. The Oscuro leaf brings a darker, richer character to the blend, complementing the earthy qualities of the Nicaraguan tobacco.

Expect flavours of dark chocolate, roasted espresso and cedar, with black pepper providing a lively edge. There's a pleasant underlying sweetness, too, helping to balance the richer, more robust elements of this medium-to-full-strength cigar.

The Dukes has a little more length and girth than the smaller Magicos, making it an appealing choice for those who enjoy a substantial cigar and appreciate the way a blend develops over a longer format.

Each cigar is handmade at the My Father Cigars factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, where the García family has built an impressive reputation for its work with Nicaraguan tobacco.

I particularly like the presentation of La Imperiosa. The main band is an elaborate affair in turquoise, gold and dark blue, with the Crowned Heads emblem sitting prominently in the centre. A second band carries the La Imperiosa name, while a bright turquoise ribbon wraps around the foot.

It's a striking colour scheme, especially against the dark wrapper. Most traditional cigar bands favour red, gold or cream, so the turquoise makes a refreshing change. It certainly catches the eye when you're looking through the humidor.

Crowned Heads was founded in Nashville in 2011 by Jon Huber and Mike Conder, and the company has always shown an appreciation for distinctive tobacco blends and interesting stories. La Imperiosa has both.

There's something satisfying about the fact that this cigar exists because customers enjoyed the original blend enough to ask for its return. In my experience, that's a considerably better recommendation than any amount of clever advertising.