Crowned Heads Cigars Guide
Crowned Heads is a Nashville-based boutique cigar brand founded in 2011 by former CAO executives Jon Huber and Mike Conder. Built on cigar-industry veterans' hands-on relationships with top factories, the brand made an immediate mark with its debut line, Four Kicks, and has grown into one of the most consistently well-regarded boutique names of the past decade.
This guide covers Crowned Heads' history, its best lines, the flavor profile to expect, and where the pricing sits.
Crowned Heads' History
Jon Huber cut his teeth in the cigar business in 1996 at CAO Cigars, then also based in Nashville, working his way up through the company until it was sold in 2008. In 2011, Huber teamed up with fellow cigar-industry veteran Mike Conder — along with Michael Trebing and Nancy Heathman — to found Crowned Heads as an independent boutique label.
The brand's debut release, Four Kicks, hit the market on August 4, 2011, and made an immediate impact. Named after a Kings of Leon song, Four Kicks set the tone for a brand built around cultural references — music, places, and moments — rather than generic naming conventions. Crowned Heads doesn't own a factory outright; instead, its cigars are made at two of the industry's most respected shops, My Father Cigars (Don Pepin Garcia) in Nicaragua and Tabacalera Alianza (Ernesto Perez-Carrillo) in the Dominican Republic.
Best Crowned Heads Lines
Crowned Heads' catalog has grown well beyond its debut release, but a handful of lines define the brand.
- Four Kicks: The original release and still a flagship — medium-bodied with pepper, cocoa, espresso, earth, and leather notes.
- Headley Grange: A fuller, rock-and-roll-inspired blend named after the English manor where Led Zeppelin recorded parts of their fourth album.
- Jericho Hill: A Nicaraguan puro built for smokers who want more strength than Four Kicks offers.
- Mil Dias: Released in 2020, a full-bodied blend that quickly became one of the brand's most acclaimed releases — expect pepper, earth, spice, and dark-roast coffee.
- J.D. Howard Reserve: A tribute blend named for Jon Huber's grandfather, positioned toward the fuller end of the catalog.
How Crowned Heads Compares to Other Boutique Brands
Crowned Heads sits alongside other founder-led boutique names built on deep factory relationships rather than owning production outright. Where My Father Cigars is both a blender and a factory, Crowned Heads works directly with My Father's factory and Tabacalera Alianza to bring its own blends to life — a common and respected model among boutique brands that prioritize blending vision over manufacturing infrastructure.
For a wider comparison of boutique names, see our best boutique cigars roundup.
Flavor Profile & Strength
Crowned Heads' lineup spans medium to full body depending on the release. Four Kicks anchors the medium end with balanced pepper, cocoa, and espresso notes, while Jericho Hill and Mil Dias push into fuller, spicier territory with more pronounced earth and dark-roast coffee character.
The brand is known for consistency across its releases — reviewers frequently point to Crowned Heads' construction and blend balance as reasons the brand built its reputation quickly relative to its 2011 founding date.
Price & Where to Buy
Crowned Heads cigars run in the premium mid-range, generally landing between $8 and $14 per stick depending on the line, with full boxes commonly priced from $180 to $300.
| Line | Strength | Typical price per stick |
|---|---|---|
| Four Kicks | Medium | $8–$10 |
| Headley Grange | Medium–Full | $9–$12 |
| Jericho Hill | Full | $9–$13 |
| Mil Dias | Full | $10–$14 |
Browse Crowned Heads cigars at Famous Smoke Shop — we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Who Crowned Heads Cigars Are For
Crowned Heads suits a smoker who wants boutique-brand character without an intimidating price tag — Four Kicks in particular is approachable enough for someone moving past entry-level cigars while still offering the complexity boutique fans look for. Jericho Hill and Mil Dias reward smokers who already know they want more strength and spice.
Once you've picked a line to try, log it in the Humidor Tracker to track what you've smoked and keep tabs on how the rest of your collection is aging.
FAQ
Who founded Crowned Heads cigars?
Crowned Heads was founded in 2011 by Jon Huber and Mike Conder, both cigar-industry veterans who previously worked together at CAO Cigars, along with co-founders Michael Trebing and Nancy Heathman.
What is the best starter Crowned Heads cigar?
Four Kicks, the brand's original release, is the best starting point. It sits at medium body and gives a clear sense of the house style before moving on to fuller lines like Jericho Hill or Mil Dias.
Does Crowned Heads own its own factory?
No — Crowned Heads works with two respected outside factories, My Father Cigars in Nicaragua and Tabacalera Alianza in the Dominican Republic, rather than manufacturing in-house. This is a common model among boutique brands built around blending rather than factory ownership.
Is Crowned Heads a strong cigar brand?
It varies by line. Four Kicks sits at medium body, while Jericho Hill and Mil Dias lean full-bodied. Smokers newer to boutique cigars should start with Four Kicks before working up to the brand's stronger releases.