Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2018 by The Crowned Heads 8/11/18

 Appearance
A very toothy and rustic looking dark wrapper with a red hue and thin veins. The seams are tightly wrapped but visible due to the mottling. There is a nice oily sheen on the wrapper. The filler bunch looks well packed but there are a few soft spots.

Aroma
Very earthy with some barnyard as well and some cedar on the wrapper. Molasses, honey, cedar and a very faint hint of spice at the foot.

Prelight Draw
Heavy molasses, honey, raisin and spice.

1st
Initial draws are snug and loaded with earth and raisins with a mild cinnamon spice kicker. There are some notes of cocoa powder and espresso that join the profile right away. The finish is long with a cinnamon spice kicker. Smoke production is at the high range. Burn was off about 30 degrees but is self correcting. The spice is quickly moving away from cinnamon in the direction of black pepper. The ash is dark gray, stacked and looking suspect at the same time. The draw opens up late in the 1st/3rd. The ash though looking very suspect, held on til removal.

2nd
The espresso notes become very creamy as the spice backs off a bit. The cocoa is developing into dark chocolate notes. Nice balance and complexity at this point. The molasses and raisin notes are still present. The spice returns to its prior level of intensity but more like crushed red pepper with a dash of black pepper mixed in. The flavor is very meaty.

Final/3rd
The flavors continue into the final/3rd. Flavor profile remains consistent right to the nub.

Overall
The Four Kicks Mule Kick LE 2018 provides a very enjoyable smoking experience. A complex, balanced and flavorful profile with nice draw once it opened up and an erratic burn until the final/3rd when it evened out.
Definitely a cigar to seek out and try!