Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 LC48

Crowned Heads is back with their annual tribute to the departed, and if you’ve followed the company’s Las Calaveras series over the years, you know that each release brings something new to the table. Twenty twenty-four marked the 10th anniversary of the series, and while the Décimo Aniversario edition is getting plenty of attention, the core Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 stays true to what has made this line so popular with aficionados and collectors.

The Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 carries on the brand’s tradition of paying tribute to those who have passed during the previous year. Each release in the series features a band marked with the initials of certain friends and family of the Crowned Heads team, honoring their memory in a meaningful way. While the specific names for the 2024 edition have not been publicly revealed, the inspiration behind the series remains rooted in “La Calavera Catrina,” the famous etching by Mexican artist José Guadalupe Posada. This iconic artwork, deeply tied to Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebrations, symbolizes both remembrance and the appreciation of life’s fleeting nature.

Manufactured at My Father Cigars S.A., the 2024 edition features a Nicaraguan Habano wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and fillers. The four sizes follow the usual Las Calaveras structure, with three core vitolas available in boxes and a fourth format (Belicoso Fino) reserved for samplers.

Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 LC48 Breakdown

The full release shipped in July of 2024, arriving in the following formats:

Appearance

The Nicaraguan Habano wrapper is a toasted golden brown with a light oil sheen that is only broken up by a few thick veins that run through the leaf. It has a firm feel throughout, and the seams are tight. The band’s color scheme of black, pink, and teal sets it apart from previous releases while still maintaining the signature Las Calaveras design. It is here where I have my first issue. The “CROWNED HEADS” emblazoned foot band sticks to the wrapper and tears a sizable chunk away with it, despite my meticulous attempt to prevent this from happening.

Deeply inhaling against the body of the toro, I find dusty cardboard and vinegar. There is a pepper tingle, but it’s almost ghost-like in how fleeting it is. The foot of the cigar reveals nothing more than a slight molasses sweetness. The aromas are light and I am having to concentrate a bit to decipher them.

The pre-light draw is an acceptable 7/10, bringing out a mix of cocoa, cedar, and dried fruit, with a light pepper tingle on the lips.

Smoking Experience

I give a full toasting to the hearty tobaccos of the Las Calaveras 2024 and take my first few puffs, which bring a wave of smooth nuttiness, not unlike the candied cashews you can purchase at fairs and farmers’ markets. A toasty quality lingers in the background, while hints of dry cinnamon add layers to the profile. The retrohale brings more sugary sweetness balanced by a dry herbal note. Flavor is medium-plus, body is medium, and strength is medium as well. The draw is a tick below what I would consider excellent, delivering plenty of smoke with only a little more resistance than I expect on a premium cigar. The burn line is sharp and the ash seems a little loose.

Moving well into the body of the cigar, the nuttiness is still front and center, mixing with cocoa powder to offer a Nutella vibe. Occasional puffs bring in dry barnwood and a white pepper tingle to the tongue. The draw has improved now and sits at 8/10. Smoke is light and oily on the palate, yet voluminous in nature. The retrohale keeps the cinnamon aspect but adds a woody undertone and sharp black pepper, which is beginning to take over. Flavor is at medium/full, body hovers around medium-plus, and strength is holding at medium.

Easily popping the band on the Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 (thankfully), I find that all sweetness has left. The pepper is pushing forward in an attempt to dominate the profile, but an earthy woodiness holds it back and provides balance. The draw is still at a near-perfect 8/10, allowing me to easily fill my mouth with smoke, which helps increase the overall flavor/body/strength to a medium-plus level across the board. The retrohale has eased off the pepper with a roasted cashew and charred wood profile now pushed to the front of my sinuses. It’s a nice combination for some odd reason, and reminds me of camping in the Rocky Mountains in the summer with the smells of fire and snacks swirling around the campsite.

Construction has been great on this toro, requiring no touch-ups for the entire smoking experience. Closing out the Las Calaveras EL 2024, charred walnuts and sharp white pepper are all I am picking up. It isn’t an unexpected ending based on the smoking experience up to this point, giving me a clear finish line to this stick.

Would I Smoke This Cigar Again?

Las Calaveras releases can be hit or miss for me, but the 2024 edition is one I’d gladly revisit. The profile unfolds with layers of toasted nuts, subtle sweetness, and a bold yet balanced spice that keeps things interesting from start to finish. There’s a depth to the roasted flavors that adds richness without overwhelming the palate, and the smooth transitions make for an engaging smoke. To me, it stands out as one of the better offerings in the series. This is a cigar I thoroughly enjoyed and wouldn’t hesitate to smoke again.

• Currently, the Las Calaveras Edición Limitada 2024 cigar ranks on Dojoverse as “99% Smokable,” placing in the top eight percent of cigars on the all-time leaderboard.

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