JD Howard Reserve HR54

Description

The JD Howard Reserve HR54 is Crowned Heads’ third core line, named for a genuine piece of American outlaw history — “J.D. Howard” was the alias infamous bank robber Jesse James used while living quietly in Nashville, Tennessee, the same city where Crowned Heads is based.

Construction & Origin

This 5 x 54 robusto is finished in an ultra-dark, toothy Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper over an Ecuadorian Sumatra binder, with hand-selected Nicaraguan long-filler tobaccos, produced at Ernesto Perez-Carrillo’s Tabacalera La Alianza factory in the Dominican Republic. Introduced in 2013 as a follow-up to Crowned Heads’ Four Kicks and Headley Grange lines, founder Jon Huber deliberately avoided leaning on the outlaw theme for marketing — no guns, no wanted posters — instead letting the well-styled JDH logo and classic maroon-and-gold band speak for themselves.

Flavor Profile

Medium to full-bodied, this cigar delivers wood, spice, and coffee throughout, with reviewers frequently noting cinnamon, cocoa, and red pepper on the retrohale, along with a distinctive hickory and dry-cedar character. Reception has genuinely varied — some reviewers call it one of Crowned Heads’ best regular releases, while others have reported inconsistent burns and construction issues on individual sticks, a common risk with any handmade product.

Why It’s Sought After

JD Howard Reserve rounds out Crowned Heads’ respected core trio alongside Four Kicks and Headley Grange, and several longtime fans specifically note it improves with age, mellowing into a smoother, more balanced smoke after a year or two of rest. For fans of rustic, story-driven Americana blends, this remains a genuine, well-regarded entry in the Crowned Heads lineup.