Crowned Heads La Imperiosa on a Teasing Warm Night

As so often happens, the weather turned unseasonably warm in the days before an “historic” storm was predicted. That brief tease of warmth provided the inspiration for a warm-ish sip and smoke on the porch. Looking over the Cigar of the Month drawer in the humidor, I spied a Crowned Heads La Imperiosa. Received at the beginning of November, the cigar had been resting for about ten weeks — enough time to settle in.

Sporting an Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro wrapper, the cigar presents a rustic appearance, with visible veining throughout the roll. A Nicaraguan binder and fillers hint at a bold smoking experience from the 6 3/8 x 50 “Double Robusto” vitola.

When the cigar opened with a firm kick of pepper and spice, I suspected my bourbon selection — Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series BRT-01 — would be a fitting companion. Leather, dark chocolate, and espresso dominated much of the cigar’s length, while wood char, dried nuts, and a subtle sweetness emerged toward the second half of the smoking time.

The Maker’s Mark BRT-01 was released in 2022 as part of the distillery’s Wood Finishing Series. A cask-strength Maker’s Mark base was finished with ten virgin toasted American oak staves in a secondary barrel and bottled at 109.4 proof.

Baking spices and caramel greeted the nose upon pouring — and lingered while setting up the requisite photo. Warm notes of cinnamon and vanilla coated the palate, followed by lingering fruit and spice that put an exclamation point on the sip. After a few moments enjoying the cigar and whiskey pairing, I added a few drops of water to the glass. This opened up brighter fruit sweetness while muting the spice, resulting in a better-tuned balance with the cigar’s subtle sweetness and wood.

The Crowned Heads La Imperiosa Double Robusto delivered an enjoyable two-hour smoke as I sipped the bourbon, listened to music, and contemplated the colder evening smokes waiting just ahead.

Cheers!