2017 Cigar of the Year Countdown: #4: Crux Limitada Show Exclusive 2016

“Crux is a company that has been putting out hit after hit and the Limitada Show Exclusive 2016 is no exception…this is another home run from Crux.”

Wrapper: Engañoso (Estelí, Nicaragua)
Binder: Connecticut Broadleaf
Filler: Nicaraguan, Dominican
Country of Origin: Nicaragua (Plasencia Cigars SA)
Robusto Extra: 5 x 52 (Box Pressed with Marblehead Cap)
Price: $11.95
Review: Crux Limitada Show Exclusive 2016 (6/19/17)
Brand Appearances on Countdown: 2 (2016, 2017)

Coming in at #4 is the Crux Limitada Show Exclusive 2016. The Crux Limitada Show Exclusive was the second limited edition cigar to be produced by Crux Cigar Company. The cigar made was offered to retailers who attended the 2016 IPCPR Trade Show.

The blend for the Crux Limitada Show Exclusive is similar to what was used on Crux’s first limited offering, the Crux Limitada PB5. It features a wrapper that Crux Cigar was able to exclusively procure known as Engañoso. Because the wrapper was in finite supply, Crux decided to save the wrapper for its limited releases – namely, the PB5 and Limitada Show Exclusive 2016. The remainder of the blend consists of a Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper and fillers from Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

The Crux Limitada Show Exclusive 2016 is a box-pressed Robusto Extra that also features the company’s signature “Marblehead” cap – a rounded cap based on the famed Cuban 109 vitola.

Crux makes the Countdown for the Second Year in a row following up the Crux du Connoisseur No. 2, which captured the 2016 Cigar Coop Cigar of the Year. It is also the fourth box-pressed cigar to land on the 2017 Countdown. On a side note, Prime Time Host Aaron Loomis named the Crux Limitada Show Exclusive his #1 ranked cigar for 2016 on Developing Palates.

The Crux Limitada Show Exclusive 2016 has a nice amount of complexity. This cigar delivers notes of coffee bean, fruit, earth, cedar, and a mix of black and white pepper. There’s a creamy texture present that keeps the flavor profile on the smooth side. Both strength and body-wise, this cigar starts out medium before progressing to medium to full in the second half.

While packaging doesn’t factor into a Countdown rating, it should be noted that this was one of the most impressive packaging designs seen on cigars eligible for the 2017 Countdown. It incorporates Crux’s contemporary look with elements of old Las Vegas (Las Vegas is where the IPCPR Trade Show was held in 2016 and 2017).

The good news is that a second release of the Crux Limitada Show Exclusive was unveiled at the 2017 IPCPR, so this is a cigar you can look forward to again as it is easily worthy of a top four spot.