Jericho Hill Limited Edition Staff Review
There are two things in life that I love doing together: smoking a cigar and listening to music. So when a musically-inspired cigar hits the market, it tends to grab my attention. Case in point, Jericho Hill by Crowned Heads. This cigar is manufactured by Jose ‘Pepin’ Garcia in Estelí, Nicaragua, and is dedicated to the late, great Johnny Cash and his famous album recorded at Folsom Prison. I am going to be enjoying Jericho Hill Limited Edition 12 Honest Men (Lancero) on my front porch with the record player cranked up and the vinyl spinning.
The first thing I notice about this cigar is its rustic beauty. The band displays an old Western motif, while the San Andres wrapper is oily and supple. Since Johnny Cash is ‘The Man in Black,’ it is very fitting that Jericho Hill comes dressed in a jet-black Maduro wrapper. 12 Honest Men is a beautifully crafted Lancero comprised of Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos. Cocoa and oak are just a couple of the pre-light aromas that jump off this cigar. There is also a nice, sweet pre-light draw.
The flavor profile of Jericho Hill explodes once a flame hits the foot. Initial blasts of espresso and black pepper dance around a rich, oaky backdrop. As this cigar progresses, subtle changes occur. The black pepper tends to mellow out, giving way to dark chocolate and hints of leather. After about two inches, the profile changes again with earthy notes rising to the forefront while the pepper and espresso notes recede. As I enter the final stretch, the profile transitions into creamy chocolate and nuts with just a hint of pepper. The finish was very satisfying. In the hour it took to smoke this bad boy, I got through the entire Folsom Prison album with a little extra time to spare.
You honestly cannot go wrong with Jericho Hill Limited Edition 12 Honest Men. The construction, burn, volume of smoke and flavor are all spot-on. With the strength clocking in at 7 out of 10, this cigar fits the bill after dinner or during the day with a cup of coffee.
