Santa Muerte Corona Gorda (2017)

In 2016, Black Label Trading Co. released Santa Muerte, a two-size limited edition release made to celebrate Día de Los Muertos, the Mexican holiday honoring the dead, which takes place between Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

The blend was known for its use of six different filler tobaccos with leaves coming from Connecticut, the Dominican Republic, Mexico and Nicaragua. A year later, the line returned—once again in the same two sizes and once again limited—however, the blend was changed slightly. While there are still six different fillers, none of that tobacco is coming from Connecticut.

In addition, both cigars are now $1.50 more than the original release.

• Santa Muerte Corona Gorda (2017) (5 1/2 x 48) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Santa Muerte Short Robusto (2017) (4 3/4 x 52) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)

The line shipped in early October right before the holiday took place.

• Cigar Reviewed: Santa Muerte Corona Gorda (2017)
• Country of Origin: Nicaragua
• Factory: Fabrica de Oveja Negra
• Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano
• Binder: Ecuadorian Habano
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Mexico & Nicaragua
• Length: 5 1/2 Inches
• Ring Gauge: 48
• Vitola: Robusto Extra
• MSRP: $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Release Date: Oct. 11, 2017
• Number of Cigars Released: 400 Boxes of 20 Cigars (8,000 Total Cigars)
• Number of Cigars Smoked For Review: 3

The wrapper is extremely soft, similar to a soft leather. Unfortunately, the aroma of the wrapper is similar: very mild with a bit of leather and some earth. The foot creates much more intrigue with a fair amount of baker’s spices over licorice, apple brandy and some earthiness, though only at the medium-plus level. And then there’s the cold draw. It’s super spicy with a lot of flavors I found in Nicaraguan cigars earlier in the decade—super sweet chocolate and sharp pepper—as well as some bread in the back, though it’s challenging to take a full cold draw due to the irritation caused by the pepper.

Despite an intimidating cold draw, the Santa Muerte is hardly a pepper bomb once lit. It’s medium-plus with lots of damp woods, earth, some spice on the outside of the tongue and pepper on my lips. Each puff lessens the blow of the pepper and eventually, there’s a pleasant earthy core with creaminess, peanuts and oatmeal. Burnt strawberries are through the nose and there’s no spice or pepper unless I consecutively take big retrohales. Flavor is medium-full, body is medium-full and strength finish medium-plus. All three samples avoid any construction issues for the first third.

Earthiness gets an even larger role in the Santa Muerte, particularly as the damp woods leave. A buttery sweetness contrasts nicely against some black pepper, while a cedar emerges in the middle of the tongue. Retrohales still have the strawberry flavor, but I’m getting more and more citrus as the profile progresses. The finish is also sweet with some apple pie sweetness joined by something that I can only describe as pizza crust. Flavor and body remain medium-full while strength dips a bit to medium. Construction remains great.

Like clockwork, each cigar had issues staying lit right as the final third begins. Flavor-wise, the cigar remains extremely earthy with bread, a lemon citrus, creaminess and blueberries behind it. The retrohale becomes a similar story with a lot of earth covering a grape-like sweetness, baker’s spice and black pepper. The flavor remains medium-full while body drops to medium-plus, the same place as the strength.

Final Notes

• Cigars for this review were smoked in early January. Due to scheduling issues and my travel schedule, it’s taken a while for me to write the review.
• Santa muerte translates into holy death, but it also refers to Nuestra Señora de la Santa Muerte, a key figure in Día de los Muertos.
• Crowned Heads’ Las Calaveras release uses packaging that is inspired by La Calavera Catrina, which is closely associated with Día de los Muertos.
• The La Madrina from Dapper Cigar Co., which Patrick Lagreid recently reviewed, also has a Dia de los Muertos theme.
• The touch-ups in the final third were disappointing, particularly given how flawless construction was up until that point. Furthermore, it didn’t help the earthy profile.
• I would pair this alongside something bright, like Champagne, as it will help to balance out the aforementioned.
• Cigars for this review were purchased by halfwheel.
• Final smoking time was one hour and 50 minutes on average.