Four Kicks Belicoso by Crowned Heads Review

Overview

The Four Kicks Belicoso by Crowned Heads is a cigar that wears its defiance on its sleeve. Named after a Misfits song and launched in 2012, it is a collaboration between Jon Huber and master blender Esteban Disla at Tabacalera William Ventura in Estelí, Nicaragua. On the surface, the punk rock ethos might suggest a rebellious, rough-edged smoke. In practice, the Four Kicks Belicoso is an exercise in balance, precision, and surprising sophistication. It belongs to a select class of cigars that deliver premium complexity without a premium price tag—a fact that has made it a perennial favorite among connoisseurs who value substance over branding posturing.

The Belicoso vitola—6.0 x 52—is widely considered the flagship of the line, and for good reason. The tapered tip concentrates the draw, forcing the smoke through a tighter aperture that amplifies the blend’s nuance from the first light. The Ecuadorian Habano wrapper, shaded Colorado and finished with a subtle toothy sheen, is a visual and tactile signal of what follows: a medium-brown leaf that contributes fine grassiness and a gentle spice to a core Nicaraguan puro of binder from Jalapa and fillers from Estelí, Jalapa, and Condega. This is a meticulously sourced composition, and the tobaccos arrive with age before rolling, giving the cigar an integrated, settled character from the outset.

The smoking experience is a narrative in three acts. The first third opens with a sharp, spiced cedar layered over roasted espresso and dry cocoa, a mild red pepper tingle on the retrohale, and a dried fruit sweetness that hints at dark raisin. The second third deepens into dark chocolate, caramel, and aged leather, grounded by damp loam earthiness and a woody cedar backbone. The final third builds intensity without losing composure—espresso and dark chocolate turn bittersweet, leather and oak consolidate, and a long, satisfying finish lingers with toasted tobacco sweetness. The construction is exemplary: a straight, even burn, a firm ash that holds an inch or more, and a draw that offers just the right resistance throughout the 90 to 100-minute smoke.

In the broader landscape of premium cigars, the Four Kicks Belicoso stands as a benchmark—a blend that demonstrates how Nicaraguan tobacco, framed by Ecuadorian Habano, can achieve depth and elegance at an accessible price point. Crowned Heads has built a reputation on limited editions and bold collaborations, but this core line remains the foundation upon which that reputation rests. The Belicoso is not a cigar that shouts; it earns attention through quiet, consistent excellence. For those who have dismissed it because of its punk rock naming convention, the message is clear: the Four Kicks Belicoso is a serious smoke that rewards anyone willing to look past the label.