Coroneta Maduro Earl

Initially playing strongly to the company’s Nashville roots, the bulk of Crowned Heads’ debut offerings centered around themes of country music, rock ‘n roll, and the Wild West. In the years since, we’ve seen a branching out into the cultural territories of Cuba, Mexico, France, and Hawaii, among other themes.

With the company’s 2024 headliner—Coroneta—the project seems to carry a Spanish vibe. The name translates to mean Coronet, which symbolizes a small or relatively simple crown. But it’s the manufacturing side where things get more interesting. The project consists of two blends—Coroneta Habano and Coroneta Maduro—each using unique tobaccos and stemming from two different factories: one from Nicaragua (NACSA) and the other from the DR (Casa Carrillo).

“The concept of simultaneously introducing one brand in two expressions from two different houses is something entirely first-time for us,” commented Crowned Heads co-founder, Jon Huber. “The Habano version from NACSA was actually final and production ready back in the Spring of 2022, but we decided to hold it back. Ultimately, we felt so strongly about the Coroneta brand that we tapped the ‘Godfather of Boutique Cigars,’ aka Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, to partner with us on developing the maduro version. I think the Coroneta brand achieves what we excel at, which is, seamlessly blending tradition and history with premium modernity.”

Coroneta Maduro Earl Breakdown

In terms of the darker of the two blends, Crowned Heads returned to their original manufacturing partner, which is managed by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo in the Dominican Republic. The chosen blend is quite diverse, featuring leaves from five countries and having a somewhat unique element of a maduro wrapper placed over a contrastingly light Connecticut binder.

Both the Coroneta Habano and Coroneta Maduro blends share the same range of three vitolas: Earl (5″ x 52), Duke (5½″ x 54), and Baron (6″ x 56), with prices ranging from $12.95–$14.95 MSRP.

Appearance

The Coroneta Maduro Earl has a somewhat peculiar appearance. The band is the first point of interest, with an unrefined look that might lead one to mistake this for a pre-release sample (at least, this was the case with my first impression of the cigar). Sure, it uses a thick, textured paper (which has a quality feel), but the yellow/browns look strange running up against the vibrant red at the focal point of the band. It’d be nice to see a metallic ink or foil as an outline, even if used sparingly. Next, the die-cut at the top of the band is oversized and intricate, causing the top to fold and flap—a potential hazard for neighboring cigars in the humidor. Curiously, it’s a two-piece band, a detail only apparent upon removal of the primary band, leaving one to question the necessity of this design choice.

The wrapper leaf is dark and mottled, showcasing a rugged character. It’s peppered with bumps protruding from the binder beneath, some being surprisingly pronounced. Despite this, the seams are well-placed, and the head appears to be a triple-cap construction. The cigar feels lighter than expected in hand, with a medium-light bunch density that yields slightly to pressure.

Aromatic notes from the wrapper leaf offer leather and rain, accompanied by a strong mineral presence. The foot adds complexity, with hints of dried fruit and damp soil. Upon cutting, the pre-light draw reveals itself to be on the looser side of ideal. It delivers flavors of earth and caramel, with a spicy touch of clove rounding out the profile. Overall, while the Coroneta Maduro may not win any beauty contests at first glance, its rustic appearance and intriguing pre-light characteristics suggest there may be more to discover once lit.

Smoking Experience

The Coroneta Maduro robusto kicks off with a curious blend of flavors that don’t quite harmonize. Oak, dried herbs, and black tea create a somewhat dry texture on the palate. As the cigar progresses to the half-inch mark, the profile begins to round out slightly, introducing hints of chocolate. The retrohale brings forward black pepper and a touch of cinnamon spice, adding complexity. One of the cigar’s more peculiar qualities is its texture—it coats the back roof of the mouth with a drying sensation reminiscent of cranberry juice (the feeling in your mouth after a sip—not the taste), an unexpected characteristic that persists throughout the smoke.

Construction-wise, the Earl performs adequately. The draw is about medium, perhaps erring slightly on the loose side, as you might expect from the under-packed feel from the pre-light inspection. Smoke output is moderate, falling in the medium to medium-light range. The burn line maintains a fairly even course, with the ash holding strong for about an inch before dropping, presenting a clean, non-flaky appearance. In terms of intensity, it sits at medium flavor, medium-light body, and medium-light strength, with the flavors from the smoke hitting just behind the tip of the tongue on the palate.

As the cigar progresses, the flavor profile shifts towards anise and a rooty quality, evoking comparisons to diet root beer (earning the diet designation from a flat, saccharin-like sweetness). Earthy undertones provide a base, while clove and anise make themselves known in the retrohale. However, passing the halfway mark, the profile becomes increasingly muddied, lacking standout flavor notes. A hollow sweetness begins to linger on each puff, creating a mouth-puckering effect. Approaching the band, the experience takes a turn towards black licorice, accompanied by an increasing bitterness. At this point, the cigar settles into a medium-light flavor intensity, with medium body and strength.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

The Coroneta Maduro Earl offers a smoking experience that’s more curious than satisfying. While it has moments of interest, particularly in its texture and occasional flavor highlights, it struggles to deliver a cohesive and enjoyable profile throughout the smoke. The lasting impression is saccharin and chemically, with a sweetness lacking in body. At times, it felt like I was only tasting the wrapper, with little else coming through. Combine all this with a somewhat high price point—I can’t see myself reaching for one of these any time soon.

• The overuse of die-cutting is something you see somewhat often—I just wouldn’t expect it from the likes of Crowned Heads. I think you need a wide base, trying not to have portions that cut away and then back towards the center of the band. This leads to flailing elements that want to curl (see the image below). It’s not simply annoying while smoking, but can harm the wrappers of other cigars in the humidor. I recommend keeping the cellophane on with these.

• I haven’t smoked the Coroneta Habano yet to compare. But I have to say, I’m not quite sure what the comparison would entail, as they’re two unique blends from two unique factories that were blended years apart. I guess I’m just wondering what brings these two together under the Coroneta line.
• The vitola names (Earl, Duke, and Baron) were derived from the various crowns of British heraldry worn by the lower ranks of nobility in the 16th century. The Coroneta bands are adorned with the same strawberry leaf that was featured on those crowns.
• Currently, the Crowned Heads Coroneta Maduro ranks on Dojoverse as “98% Smokable,” placing in the top 33 percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

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