Crowned Heads Jericho Hill Willy Lee

Crowned Heads Jericho Hill Willy Lee

The Crowned Heads Jericho Hill Willy Lee is a medium to full bodied, lightly box pressed toro wrapped in a dark, oily Mexican San Andres Maduro leaf over a Nicaraguan binder and 100% Nicaraguan long fillers, handcrafted at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua by the Garcia family. Jericho Hill is Crowned Heads’ tribute to Johnny Cash, inspired by the outlaw ballad “Cocaine Blues” from the legendary 1968 live album *At Folsom Prison*. “Willy Lee” is the outlaw protagonist of the song, the man who shoots his woman, flees to Juarez, and ends up in the penitentiary after being caught by a sheriff from Jericho Hill. At 6 x 54, the Willy Lee is the largest vitola in the lineup, a long, wide toro that gives the blend the most room to breathe and develop, delivering leather, earth, espresso, cocoa, molasses, cedar, pepper, and spice through a gradual, unhurried progression that rewards patience. The Cigar Authority noted that the Willy Lee “stands above” the smaller vitolas in the line, and the extended format allows the Mexican San Andres wrapper and Nicaraguan tobaccos to express their full range of dark, complex flavor. Packaged in boxes of 24.

• Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper with a dark chocolate brown color, visible tooth, ample oil, and a thick, rustic texture that delivers earth, sweetness, and a leathery depth from the first draw.
• Nicaraguan binder provides peppery backbone and structural integrity that supports the bold San Andres wrapper through a long, gradual smoking session.
• 100% Nicaraguan long filler creates a pure Nicaraguan core with the earthy depth, spice, and potency that the Garcia family at My Father Cigars is celebrated for.
• Lightly box pressed toro format at 6 x 54, the longest and widest vitola in the Jericho Hill lineup, providing a comfortable grip, even burn, cool smoking temperature, and the most gradual flavor development in the line.
• “Willy Lee” is the outlaw protagonist of Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues,” the central character whose story of crime, flight, capture, and imprisonment is the creative foundation for the entire Jericho Hill line.
• Handcrafted at My Father Cigars S.A. by the Garcia family, the same factory that produces La Imperiosa, Tatuaje, L’Atelier, and the Garcia family’s own My Father brands.
• The largest format produces the smoothest, most measured expression of the blend, with reviewers noting that the 54 ring gauge keeps the smoke cool and allows every transition to develop at a deliberate pace.

The “Cocaine Blues” story

“Cocaine Blues” tells the story of Willy Lee, a man whose drug fueled rage leads him to shoot his woman with a .44. He flees south across the border to Juarez, Mexico, but is captured and brought to justice by a sheriff from Jericho Hill. When the sheriff asks his name, Willy Lee gives the alias “Jack Brown.” He is convicted and sentenced to the penitentiary, where from his prison cell he warns listeners to stay off the whiskey and let the cocaine be. Johnny Cash made the song famous during his iconic 1968 performance at Folsom State Prison, and the raw, defiant energy of that performance is the creative foundation for Crowned Heads’ Jericho Hill line.

Willy Lee is the heart of the story. He is the antihero, the outlaw whose bad choices drive the narrative from its violent opening to its regretful conclusion. Naming the largest vitola after him is fitting: the Willy Lee is the most complete expression of the Jericho Hill blend, just as Willy Lee is the most complete character in the song. Every other vitola name connects back to his story. The .44S is his weapon. Jack Brown is his alias. LBV references a lyric. And Jericho Hill is the place that ultimately brings him to justice.

Crowned Heads

Crowned Heads was co founded by Jon Huber and Mike Conder in Nashville, Tennessee, in 2011. Music and Americana run deep in the brand’s DNA, and Jericho Hill is one of the purest expressions of that identity. When it debuted in 2014, Jericho Hill was a strategic departure for Crowned Heads in two ways: it was the company’s first regular production cigar made at My Father Cigars S.A. in Nicaragua, and it was the first time Crowned Heads used a Mexican San Andres wrapper. Both decisions signaled Huber’s willingness to push the brand in new directions, and the critical and commercial success of Jericho Hill validated the move. The broader Crowned Heads portfolio includes Le Careme, Las Calaveras, Four Kicks, La Imperiosa, Juarez, Mil Dias, and the CHC Series.

The Garcia family and My Father Cigars S.A.

My Father Cigars S.A. is the Esteli, Nicaragua factory owned and operated by Don Jose “Pepin” Garcia and his son Jaime Garcia. The Garcia family is one of the most respected cigar making dynasties in the industry, producing their own My Father brand alongside partner brands including Crowned Heads, Tatuaje, and L’Atelier. Jericho Hill benefits directly from the Garcia family’s tobacco processing and fermentation expertise. The Nicaraguan binder and filler tobaccos are hand selected and aged at the factory, and the rolling quality reflects the meticulous standards that have earned My Father Cigars S.A. its reputation for flawless construction.

Smoking experience

The Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper is dark chocolate brown with visible tooth, ample oil, prominent veins, and a thick, rustic texture that gives the cigar an imposing, old school appearance. The light box press creates a slightly flattened profile with rounded edges. The pre light aroma presents molasses, spice, cedar, earth, and natural tobacco. The cold draw brings spice, deep woodsy flavors, tobacco sweetness, and a hint of molasses with a smooth, open draw resistance.

The Willy Lee opens with black pepper that greets the palate immediately, sharp but not aggressive, followed by leather, wood, and a sweet molasses note that balances the spice from the very first puff. Cedar and earth establish themselves as the foundation, and the pepper settles into a persistent presence on both the tongue and retrohale. The retrohale is particularly impressive, coating the nasal passage with deep cedar and spice. White pepper sparks underneath the black pepper, adding a brighter, sharper accent. Cream appears as a textural element, giving the smoke a smooth, rounded quality despite the bold flavors. Strength reads medium, and body sits at medium to full. The smoke is thick, chewy, and generous.

The second third sees the leather take center stage. It becomes the dominant flavor, rich, sinewy, and deeply satisfying, while the pepper decreases slightly in intensity but remains prominent. Wood and earth combine into a savory, pungent quality, and espresso emerges with a dark, roasted character that adds a new dimension to the profile. Cocoa joins the espresso, creating a mocha like richness. Sweetness builds as butterscotch and honeysuckle appear in flashes, providing unexpected brightness against the darker leather and earth. The tartness that was present on the finish in the first third persists, adding a citrus like zip that keeps the palate engaged. The burn line is straight, the ash holds firmly in neat grey sections, and the draw remains effortless.

The final third pushes into full body territory. Earth and leather reach their peak intensity, and coffee flavors become more prevalent with a smooth, medium roast quality that has lost the dark roast edge of the second third. The molasses sweetness from the opening returns, threading underneath the bolder elements and preventing the finish from turning harsh or bitter. Almond and spice provide a nutty, warm quality, and the cream that has been present as a textural element throughout the smoke becomes more pronounced, giving the final puffs a smooth, almost velvety mouthfeel. The cigar finishes cool, with a long, lingering aftertaste of leather, coffee, and sweet tobacco. The 54 ring gauge and 6 inch length allow the Willy Lee to develop its flavor at a measured pace, and the extended format means each transition gets more room to express itself than in the smaller Jericho Hill vitolas.

The Jericho Hill lineup

The Willy Lee (6 x 54) is the largest vitola in the lineup and the most measured, gradual expression of the blend. The .44S (5 1/8 x 44) is the thinnest, producing a more wrapper forward, spicier experience. The Jack Brown (5 x 56) has the thickest ring gauge for a filler forward, cooler smoke. The OBS (4 3/4 x 52) is the shortest for a quick, concentrated session. The LBV (6 1/2 x 46) is the longest and thinnest of the larger formats, emphasizing wrapper contribution over length. All five vitolas share the same blend, the same lightly box pressed format, and the same 24 count box packaging.

Willy Lee versus Jack Brown

The Willy Lee and Jack Brown are the two largest vitolas in the Jericho Hill lineup, and they deliver noticeably different expressions of the same blend. The Jack Brown (5 x 56) has a thicker ring gauge but shorter length, producing a denser, more concentrated, filler forward smoke with a cooler temperature and more pronounced Nicaraguan earth and spice. The Willy Lee (6 x 54) is longer with a slightly thinner ring gauge, giving the wrapper more influence and the transitions more room to develop. The Willy Lee tends to be smoother, more gradual, and more leather forward, while the Jack Brown is punchier and more earth forward. The Cigar Authority specifically recommended the Willy Lee over the smaller vitolas, noting that the larger format allowed the blend’s complexity to shine.

Pairings

The Willy Lee’s leather, espresso, cocoa, and molasses profile pairs naturally with bold, dark beverages. A stout beer or porter matches the chocolate and coffee qualities beautifully. Dark roast coffee or cold brew mirrors the cigar’s roasted, earthy character and creates a morning or afternoon pairing that multiple reviewers specifically recommended. For spirits, bourbon with caramel and vanilla notes complements the molasses and baking spice, while a good scotch provides a smoky, peaty counterpoint to the cigar’s leather and earth. Dark rum poured over ice pairs well with the cigar’s syrupy sweetness and rich, rounded taste.

Summary

• Box Count: 24
• Region: Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium to full
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Wrapper: Mexican San Andres Maduro
• Filler: Nicaraguan

What is the Crowned Heads Jericho Hill Willy Lee?

It is a medium to full bodied, lightly box pressed toro (6 x 54) with a Mexican San Andres Maduro wrapper over Nicaraguan binder and 100% Nicaraguan long filler, handcrafted at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua. It is the largest vitola in the Jericho Hill lineup and named after the outlaw protagonist of Johnny Cash’s “Cocaine Blues.”

What does the Willy Lee taste like?

Leather and earth dominate the profile, supported by espresso, cocoa, molasses, cedar, black and white pepper, spice, cream, almond, butterscotch, and honeysuckle. The cigar opens with pepper and molasses, transitions into a leather and espresso driven middle, and finishes with full bodied earth, coffee, and cream.

Who is “Willy Lee” in the song?

Willy Lee is the outlaw protagonist of “Cocaine Blues.” He shoots his woman with a .44, flees to Juarez, Mexico, gives the alias “Jack Brown” when captured by a sheriff from Jericho Hill, and ends up in the penitentiary warning others to stay off the whiskey and let the cocaine be.

How does the Willy Lee compare to the Jack Brown?

The Willy Lee (6 x 54) is longer with a slightly thinner ring gauge, producing a smoother, more gradual, leather forward smoke. The Jack Brown (5 x 56) is shorter with a thicker ring gauge, delivering a denser, punchier, earth forward experience. The Cigar Authority recommended the Willy Lee over the smaller vitolas for its fuller expression of the blend’s complexity.

What sizes are available in the Jericho Hill line?

Five vitolas: .44S (5 1/8 x 44), OBS (4 3/4 x 52), Jack Brown (5 x 56), LBV (6 1/2 x 46), and Willy Lee (6 x 54). All are lightly box pressed, share the same blend, and come in boxes of 24.

Who makes the Jericho Hill?

It is handcrafted at My Father Cigars S.A. in Esteli, Nicaragua by the Garcia family. Jericho Hill was Crowned Heads’ first regular production Nicaraguan cigar and their first use of a Mexican San Andres wrapper when it debuted in 2014.

What pairs well with the Willy Lee?

Stout beer, porter, dark roast coffee, cold brew, bourbon with caramel and vanilla, scotch, and dark rum over ice all complement the cigar’s leather, espresso, cocoa, and molasses profile.

Is the Willy Lee suitable for newer smokers?

It is best suited for experienced smokers who enjoy medium to full bodied cigars. The body pushes toward full in the final third, and the leather and pepper intensity can be challenging for beginners. Newer smokers may want to start with the .44S or OBS, which have shorter smoking times and slightly lighter experiences in the smaller formats.