Appearance
A dark milk chocolate colored wrapper with a few prominent veins. The seams are tight. There is a small amount of mottling making the seams visible. It has a nice oily sheen. The filler bunch is well packed with no apparent soft spots.
Aroma
Earthy, cedar on the wrapper. Cedar and a very faint hint of spice at the foot.
Prelight Draw
Cedar, candy sweetness, dried fruit and a hint of spice.
1st
The initial draws bring notes of cedar with a pinch of black pepper spice. The draw is absolutely perfect. The texture of the smoke is meaty. There are also some cinnamon spice notes to balance the black pepper. Smoke production is at the low end of high. Strength is a solid medium. The burn has a bit of wave at 3/4" in. The ash is salt&pepper gray and stacked. Some cashew notes join the profile. The burn has almost fully self corrected with the help of simple physics.
2nd
After removing the ash and inspecting the "working end" I notice 2 small tunnels which are causing the wavy burn. Strength moves to medium+. A nice espresso note joins the profile. One of the tunnels has disappeared and the other has gotten larger making the burn erratic. The finish is long with notes of cedar, dried fruit, cashews, espresso, warm cinnamon and a pinch of black pepper spice.
Final/3rd
The burn has fully self corrected to start the final/3rd. The bands remove perfectly with no damage. The black pepper spice becomes a dash. Espresso and black pepper notes become more prominent. The cigar remains flavorful right to the nub.
Overall
The Four Kicks LE 2017 Mule Kick Toro by The Crowned Heads provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex and flavorful profile with a perfect draw and mildly erratic burn. Definitely a cigar to hunt down and try before they are gone. The Limited Edition production of 20,000 cigars won't last very long. Check with your local Retailers.
