Let's cut straight to the chase - the La Imperiosa Corona Gorda from Crowned Heads is a Nicaraguan powerhouse that demands attention. This 5 3/4" x 46 corona gorda comes packed 24 to a box, wrapped in that signature oily Ecuadorian Habano Oscuro leaf that glistens like polished mahogany. Perfectly rolled at the My Father factory, it's essentially the popular Las Calaveras reborn as a regular production stick with some serious teeth.
The cold draw punches you with fermented cocoa notes before lighting. Initial puffs deliver espresso bean bitterness balanced by a burnt caramel sweetness. Smoke output feels surprisingly moderate - not a cloud chaser, but enough to coat the palate. Ash holds tight with alternating light/dark gray layers showing off that My Father construction pedigree.
Here's where the Nicaraguan guts come through - black pepper edges creep in but stay reigned in by the San Andrés wrapper's earthy leather. Retrohales bring out baking spices (think allspice, not cinnamon) with a mineral undertone that serious smokers crave. Burn stays razor-sharp without touchups.
Dark chocolate transforms into bitter baker's cocoa as nicotine builds. The last inch gets meaty - literally. Smoked paprika and beef jerky notes emerge that will polarize smokers. Ash gets flakier here, but the draw stays perfect to the nub. Not for the faint-hearted, this final act demands slow pacing.
