Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz

Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz

The Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz is a 5 1/2 x 52 Robusto Extra handmade at My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, wearing a USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper over a Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Created by Jon Huber and Mike Conder as a love letter to their home state, Tennessee Waltz was originally a Tennessee exclusive regional release, one of Crowned Heads’ four state specific cigars alongside Yellow Rose (Texas), Buckeye Land (Ohio), and Paniolo Especiale (Hawaii). The cigar carries an orange ribbon on the foot in lieu of a traditional cigar band. That orange ribbon, which halfwheel noted “looks a bit more Oregon State University than the University of Tennessee,” is the cigar’s only visual identifier. Jon Huber confirmed in a 2023 interview that the name comes from his grandparents’ love story: “Tennessee Waltz” was the first song playing when his grandparents met at a dance. It is also one of Tennessee’s official state songs. Halfwheel called the five year aged version “the best Tennessee Waltz I’ve had” and compared it to “what people hope for in their best Cuban cigars: something that is both extremely flavorful, full bodied but also smooth.” Leaf Enthusiast scored it 9.5 out of 10. Sold in cedar slide top boxes of 20.

• Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf. Dark, oily, and rustic. Kaplowitz described the complexion as “a medium roasted coffee bean with a burnt sienna undertone throughout and a darker marbling over-top” and noted it was “quite veiny even on the hand-feel.” Connecticut Broadleaf is a thick, hearty wrapper grown in the Connecticut River Valley that delivers chocolate, sweetness, and a natural earthiness. It is the same wrapper type used on iconic cigars like Liga Privada and many My Father Cigars releases. The Broadleaf on Tennessee Waltz gives the cigar its dominant chocolate, leather, and salty character.
• Binder: Nicaraguan. Produced at My Father Cigars S.A., which means the Nicaraguan binder comes from the García family’s own tobacco farms in Estelí and Jalapa. The binder provides structure, body, and the peppery backbone that emerges at various points throughout the smoking experience.
• Filler: Nicaraguan. Same García family origin. The Nicaraguan filler delivers the complexity, transitions, and the citrus, grain, and meaty qualities that distinguish Tennessee Waltz from other Broadleaf cigars. Halfwheel’s original review noted the filler blend produces “very interesting” vegetal notes unlike typical Nicaraguan profiles.
• Size: Robusto Extra, 5 1/2 x 52. A single vitola release. The Robusto Extra format gives the blend room to develop and transition across a roughly 90 minute smoking time. Halfwheel recorded a “relatively quick one hour and 30 minutes” for the original, while the five year aged version smoked slower.
• Strength: Medium plus to medium full. Halfwheel’s original review found “medium-plus in strength and body, although things seem to be heading upwards” with strength peaking at “medium-full” just after the halfway mark. The five year aged version showed “medium-full in strength” in the first third, rising to “medium-plus” through the second. Leaf Enthusiast tracked it from “upper end of medium strength” to “medium-full range” with “a slight nicotine hit” in the final third.
• Construction: Rustic. The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper gives Tennessee Waltz a rough, textured appearance that is part of its charm. Kaplowitz described it as “not faux rustic. Rustic.” Leaf Enthusiast gave construction a perfect 2/2 and noted the cigar performed consistently across six sticks from the same box. The orange foot ribbon is applied at My Father Cigars S.A. and closely resembles the bands used on My Father 1922 Le Bijou.
• Core Flavors: Chocolate, dark chocolate, cocoa, cream, honey, peanut butter, peanut brittle, cedar, oak, leather, meat, earth, grit, citrus, grapefruit, orange, lemon, cranberry, grain, wheat, salt, minerals, black pepper, white pepper, mustard, coffee, vanilla, wet leaves, tobacco.

What it tastes like

The pre light experience is vivid. Halfwheel described the box aroma as the most pungent barnyard note encountered, softening over weeks into “barnyard, cocoa and lots of pepper.” The foot delivered “big notes of barbecue surrounded by black pepper and wintergreen.” The cold draw produced “citrus notes dominant, a grapefruit soda-like flavor, alongside some twang and grain.” On the five year aged version, the cold draw shifted to “great sweetness and a flavor that reminds me of Sanpellegrino’s Blood Orange soda, along with some oak and a bit of dry leaves.” Kaplowitz found the foot tobacco “a good few beats darker with dirty blonde highlights and an overall dark vibrant luster.” These are not subtle cigars before they are even lit.

The first third opens with complexity. Halfwheel’s original found “a very interesting vegetal and wheat combination” where the vegetal note was “much more like a cooked vegetable, as opposed to the unripe notes oftentimes found.” Saltiness and leather joined quickly. The citrus note became dominant, with “grittiness lurking close behind with leathers and earth” and “a mustard powder note” leading to a salty, grain sweetened finish. Leaf Enthusiast’s opening was different: “chocolate and peanut brittle with a good amount of spice on the retrohale” followed by “coffee, earth and slightly salty flavors.” The five year aged version opened with “cedar, creaminess, chocolate and some lemon” before transitioning to “creaminess, woodiness and some underlying cranberry sweetness.” That variation between fresh and aged examples is one of Tennessee Waltz’s most interesting qualities: fresh sticks are more aggressive, citrus forward, and vegetal; aged examples become creamy, chocolate dominant, and smooth.

The second third is where Tennessee Waltz evolves. Halfwheel’s original tracked the citrus shifting from grapefruit to “much more of an orange flavor” before being “overwhelmed by grittiness and leather, now joined by meatiness.” The mustard powder disappeared but the saltiness persisted, leading to “a finish of minerality and saltiness.” The five year aged version was dramatically different: “much creamier with honey and nuttiness” where “retrohales have wet leaves, minerals, peanut butter and more creaminess.” Pepper ramped up at the midpoint then fell off completely. Leaf Enthusiast found the spice toned down in the second third with “coffee, leather, earth and wood but with a much sweeter finish.” Kaplowitz identified “coffee with half and half” climbing back in the second act. The cigar’s body at this point sits closer to full while remaining smooth, a combination halfwheel compared to Cuban cigars in the aged version.

The final third shifts again. Halfwheel’s original found “a tart lemon and tomato note on top of leather and muted earth” with occasional meatiness. The five year aged version kept “the creamy base” with “dark chocolate, grapefruit and some generic nuttiness.” Kaplowitz caught a vivid transition: “white pepper rises from nowheresville. Citrus arrives with it, a very orange citrus, meaty even. Fleshy orange. Compost yields to a clean and mild almost breezy but somewhat deeper tobacco. Perhaps with a note of vanilla.” Leaf Enthusiast found chocolate returning alongside building spice and strength reaching the medium full range. The Facebook review from 2026 described the overall finish as “deep chocolate, roasted coffee, black pepper, sweet oak, leather, and a lasting earthy finish.”

The Tennessee Waltz story

Jon Huber revealed the personal origin in a 2023 video interview: “The Tennessee Waltz is both a real song and also a cigar. My grandparents met at a dance. The first song that was playing for their first dance was Tennessee Waltz.” That meeting happened in California, not Tennessee, making the connection more personal than geographical. “Tennessee Waltz” the song was written by Redd Stewart and Pee Wee King in 1948 and became one of the biggest country music hits of the era. Tennessee adopted it as an official state song in 1965. Huber and Conder, both former CAO Cigars executives working out of Nashville, built their entire brand identity around Tennessee’s cultural heritage. The cigar’s orange foot ribbon, rustic Broadleaf wrapper, and unfussy single vitola presentation all reflect a deliberate simplicity: no elaborate packaging, no multiple sizes, no nationwide marketing push. Tennessee Waltz was made for Tennessee.

The regional exclusive model

Tennessee Waltz debuted on September 23, 2014, as a Tennessee exclusive. Crowned Heads initially shipped just 250 boxes (5,000 total cigars) to retailers only in Tennessee. The concept was personal: Huber and Conder wanted to give something back to their home state, a cigar that could only be found by walking into a Tennessee tobacconist. Over the years, Tennessee Waltz has occasionally appeared outside the state in limited quantities, and Oxford Cigar Company has carried it as one of those rare nationwide opportunities. Crowned Heads expanded the regional concept with Yellow Rose for Texas (2015, 6 1/4 x 54), Buckeye Land for Ohio (2018, 6 x 48), and Paniolo Especiale for Hawaii (2015, 5 5/8 x 46). All four regional exclusives share the unbanded, ribbon on foot presentation but use different blends, wrappers, and sizes tailored to each state.

Crowned Heads regional exclusives

Fresh vs. aged

Tennessee Waltz transforms with age. Halfwheel smoked the same cigar at release and again five years later, and the difference was dramatic. Fresh Tennessee Waltz is citrus forward, gritty, vegetal, salty, and aggressive. It leads with grapefruit and mustard powder, moves through meaty leather and minerals, and finishes with tart lemon. The five year aged version became “creamy, chocolate dominant, and smooth” with “honey and nuttiness” replacing the vegetal aggression. Halfwheel’s conclusion: “Five years has done wonders to the Tennessee Waltz. There wasn’t much to complain about when I smoked this cigar originally, but the flavor is now complex and smooth. Most importantly, the pieces work really well together.” A Facebook review from bigrobnola in late 2025 noted the updated packaging (“same blend as the OG Waltz, just a new look”) confirming the blend remains unchanged. If you buy a box and have the patience, setting aside half for a year or more will reward you with a substantially different, more integrated smoking experience.

Jon Huber, Mike Conder, and Crowned Heads

Jon Huber and Mike Conder founded Crowned Heads in 2011 after their former employer, CAO Cigars, was acquired by Henri Wintermans Cigars (later absorbed into General Cigar Company) in 2007. Huber served as CAO’s Director of Lifestyle Marketing. Conder was CAO’s Vice President of Marketing. Both spent over 15 years building CAO into one of the most recognizable cigar brands in America. When CAO changed hands, Huber described the experience: “When you see some 15 years of your life’s work, your heart, passion, and joy, coming to an end, you’re filled with many emotions.” Those emotions fueled the creation of Crowned Heads, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

The company’s mission is “producing cigars of artisanal quality that are defined by a combination of excellent flavor, balance, and consistency.” They produce at multiple factories, with My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí handling Tennessee Waltz, Las Calaveras, Jericho Hill, and La Imperiosa. The Nashville headquarters and deep Tennessee roots influence everything Crowned Heads does: brand names, artwork, and cultural references draw from Tennessee history, music, and folklore. Led Zeppelin references appear in the Headley Grange line. Kings of Leon inspired Four Kicks and Black Belt Buckle. Johnny Cash influenced Jericho Hill. Tennessee Waltz, named for Jon’s grandparents’ first dance, is the most personal expression of that heritage.

My Father Cigars S.A.

Tennessee Waltz is manufactured at My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua, the factory owned by the García family. José “Pepin” García and his son Jaime García operate one of the most respected cigar factories in the world, producing their own My Father branded cigars alongside partner brands including Crowned Heads, Tatuaje, L’Atelier, and HVC. The García family grows their own tobacco on farms in Estelí and Jalapa, giving Crowned Heads access to premium Nicaraguan leaf cultivated, fermented, and aged under the García family’s direct oversight. Halfwheel’s original review identified Tennessee Waltz as “the third in its growing portfolio of cigars to come from the García family’s My Father Cigars S.A.,” placing it alongside Las Calaveras and Jericho Hill in the My Father produced Crowned Heads lineup. The García factory’s expertise with Connecticut Broadleaf is well established through their own My Father Connecticut and numerous partner releases, making them an ideal production home for a Broadleaf wrapped regional exclusive.

Pairings

Tennessee Waltz’s chocolate, leather, salt, citrus, cream, grain, and meaty profile pairs naturally with bold, rich beverages. A Tennessee whiskey (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, George Dickel Barrel Select) is the most thematically appropriate pairing: the cigar was made for Tennessee, and the caramel, vanilla, and charcoal filtered sweetness of Tennessee whiskey echoes the Broadleaf’s chocolate and the blend’s grain and salt notes. A bourbon (Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve) brings caramel, oak, and baking spice that complement the cedar, earth, and leather. An espresso or cortado matches the coffee and dark chocolate notes that emerge in the second and final thirds. A dark beer (porter, stout) mirrors the chocolate, roasted coffee, and earthy qualities. For something different, a dry grapefruit soda (halfwheel compared the cold draw to “grapefruit soda”) creates a playful pairing that echoes the cigar’s citrus forward opening. An aged rum (Diplomatico, Ron Zacapa 23) brings molasses, caramel, and dried fruit that amplify the Broadleaf sweetness. For food, barbecue brisket (halfwheel identified “big notes of barbecue” from the foot), smoked meats, dark chocolate, peanut brittle, or salted caramels all complement the cigar’s dominant flavor groups.

Quick specs

• Vitola: Robusto Extra (5 1/2 x 52)
• Wrapper: USA Connecticut Broadleaf
• Binder: Nicaraguan
• Filler: Nicaraguan
• Factory: My Father Cigars S.A., Estelí, Nicaragua
• Strength: Medium plus to Medium full
• Availability: Regional Tennessee, occasional nationwide
• Box Count: 20

What is Crowned Heads Tennessee Waltz?

A 5 1/2 x 52 Robusto Extra with a USA Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper, Nicaraguan binder, and Nicaraguan fillers. Handmade at My Father Cigars S.A. in Estelí, Nicaragua. Created by Jon Huber and Mike Conder as a Tennessee regional exclusive. Named for the song playing when Jon Huber’s grandparents met at a dance. Originally shipped 250 boxes (5,000 cigars) to Tennessee retailers on September 23, 2014. Uses an orange foot ribbon instead of a cigar band. Cedar slide top boxes of 20.

What does Tennessee Waltz taste like?

Fresh: citrus forward (grapefruit, orange, lemon), gritty, vegetal, salty, leather, mustard powder, meaty, mineral, grain, chocolate, earth, and black pepper. Aged: cream, chocolate, honey, nuttiness, peanut butter, cranberry sweetness, cedar, dark chocolate, and grapefruit. Halfwheel found the five year aged version “complex and smooth” with “the pieces working really well together.” Leaf Enthusiast scored it 9.5/10 with chocolate, peanut brittle, coffee, earth, leather, wood, and spice.

How strong is Tennessee Waltz?

Medium plus to medium full in strength. Body runs medium full to full. Flavor is full from start to finish. Halfwheel found strength peaking at medium full just past the halfway mark. Leaf Enthusiast tracked a slight nicotine hit in the final third. Bold enough for experienced smokers, approachable enough for those comfortable with medium bodied cigars.

Why is Tennessee Waltz a regional exclusive?

Jon Huber and Mike Conder wanted to create something specifically for their home state. Crowned Heads is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, and Tennessee Waltz was originally sold only to Tennessee retailers. The initial run was 250 boxes. Over time, limited quantities have appeared outside Tennessee through select retailers like Oxford Cigar Company. The regional model also includes Yellow Rose (Texas), Buckeye Land (Ohio), and Paniolo Especiale (Hawaii).

Does Tennessee Waltz age well?

Extremely well. Halfwheel smoked the same cigar fresh and at five years and found the aged version dramatically improved: “creamy, chocolate dominant, and smooth” with “honey and nuttiness” replacing the citrus aggression. The five year version was called “the best Tennessee Waltz I’ve had” and compared to what “people hope for in their best Cuban cigars.” The Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and Nicaraguan fillers both benefit from extended aging.

Why does it have an orange ribbon instead of a band?

All four Crowned Heads regional exclusives use a colored foot ribbon instead of a traditional cigar band. Tennessee Waltz’s ribbon is orange. The unbanded presentation reflects the cigar’s regional, artisanal identity: no marketing, no flash, just tobacco. Halfwheel noted the orange ribbon closely resembles bands used on My Father 1922 Le Bijou, a near dead giveaway to its My Father Cigars S.A. origin.

Who are Jon Huber and Mike Conder?

Co founders of Crowned Heads (2011). Both were former CAO Cigars executives. Huber served as CAO Director of Lifestyle Marketing. Conder was CAO Vice President of Marketing. After CAO was acquired by Henri Wintermans Cigars in 2007, they founded Crowned Heads in Nashville with a mission of “producing cigars of artisanal quality defined by excellent flavor, balance, and consistency.” The portfolio includes Tennessee Waltz, Las Calaveras, Jericho Hill, Headley Grange, Four Kicks, La Imperiosa, and more.

What pairs well with Tennessee Waltz?

Tennessee whiskey (Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel, George Dickel Barrel Select), bourbon (Wild Turkey 101, Four Roses Single Barrel, Woodford Reserve), espresso, cortado, porter, stout, dry grapefruit soda, aged rum (Diplomatico, Ron Zacapa 23), barbecue brisket, smoked meats, dark chocolate, peanut brittle, or salted caramels. The cigar’s chocolate, leather, salt, citrus, and meaty character pairs with bold, rich beverages and smoky or salty foods.