Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is medium brown with a bit of Colorado red to it. Veins are fairly easily visible as the wrapper is slightly lighter around them. Seams are very smooth and the head is finished off with a tightly wound pigtail. The standard Jas Sum Kral band is used and is gold, black and red for this line. The aroma from the wrapper is an even mix of hay and leather. The foot is mostly closed and I get the same aroma but with a slight bit of stone fruit sweetness poking out through a very small opening. The pre-light draw brings straight leather and a spicy tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lonsdale has a medium brown Ecuadorian Habano wrapper. Veins are well pressed and seams tight. Bunch and roll feels well executed as there are no soft spots and a uniformed give persists throughout. The man bun head is finished off with a well adhered, thick, single cap. Nosing the wrapper tells namely cedar and fairly sharp white pepper. Nosing the enclosed foot gives intense white pepper, cedar and cigar ash. Cold draw reveals white pepper, hay and cedar.

First Third

Initial draws bring a very heavy cedar note. After a few draws, the cedar continues but exhibits a peppery finish. At a half inch in, a slight cream joins with dilutes the pepper a bit while the cedar is still full force. At an inch in, the pepper takes on a dull profile where it’s just a constant note which isn’t bad as it mixes in well with the cedar and slight cream. As the third comes to a close, the cedar gains a bit of char which pushes out the cream and there is still a slight dull pepper in the background. Strength in this third was right at medium.

First Third

First third creates a well melded flavor profile providing distinctive flavors of bread, leather, cedar and well rounded white pepper spice. An over-ripe plum note enters the profile in an intermittent fashion. Retrohaling creates a deepness in black pepper, cedar and creamed bread. The finish is slightly gritty with lingering notes of creamed bread, cedar and cigar ash. Strength and body is medium.

Second Third

As the third begins, it continues with the slightly charred cedar with slight pepper in the background. The retrohale is a slightly sweet cedar. At a half inch in, the pepper completely leaves and the cedar loses the char. Even with the profile being just cedar it is enjoyable. At an inch in, the cedar becomes slightly drying on my palate. As the third comes to a close, the lone cedar note remains and it is still slightly drying. The strength in this third was right at medium.

Second Third

Second third’s profile is essentially a continuation of the first third’s profile. Still a well melded profile centered around distinctive notes of bread, leather, cedar and balanced white pepper. The profile becomes slightly grittier, providing a dirt like grit. Retrohaling brings forth the same deeper black pepper, cedar, creamed bread and a hint of ripe stone fruits. The finish still lingers with creamed bread, cedar and cigar ash. Strength and body is still on the medium side.

Final Third

As the final third begins, the cedar note continues and is still drying while a slight bitterness joins in. At a half inch in, the bitterness increases while the drying cedar remains. At an inch in, the bitterness subsides and the cedar is the lone note and not as drying as before. A few more draws in and a bit of sweetness and char joins the cedar. As the cigar comes to a close, the sweetness goes away and a slight bitterness rejoins with the charred cedar. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

Final Third

The last third becomes moderately spice dominant with cedar and bread being a close second. Spice shows up on the finish, with the same cedar and cigar ash notes, but the creamed bread is entirely lost. Body is still medium while strength moves toward medium-full.

Burn

The last third becomes moderately spice dominant with cedar and bread being a close second. Spice shows up on the finish, with the same cedar and cigar ash notes, but the creamed bread is entirely lost. Body is still medium while strength moves toward medium-full.

Burn

Perfect burning cigar. Strong ashes averaging 1.5 inch increments. Burn line almost razor sharp throughout the entire smoking period. The cigar burned cool and long.

Draw

The draw was perfect with just the amount of resistance that I prefer.

Overall

The cigar started with a very full cedar which was quite enjoyable and then things settled into a pretty standard profile. The strength was around medium most of the way which hasn’t been the case for the other vitolas I’ve smoked. The Red Knight line is very interesting as each vitola has shown a unique experience which is something I really like. I wouldn’t say that this is my favorite in the line, but still enjoyable and those that are fans of thinner ring gauges would do well in giving this a try.

Draw

Almost a perfect draw. The draw was slightly snug for my liking but not a major mark by any means.

Overall

A Red Knight that did not get me high? That’s unheard of. The Lonsdale really hits the spot giving plenty of flavors without putting me in a daze. While perhaps not my favorite out of all the Red Knight vitolas, this is my pick for a daily cigar when bench marking against all of Riste’s offerings. After this, I will smoke the Connecticut Shade blend to wrap up my day. I would have never thought I’d say I will finish the day with a Connecticut Shade.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

6.20

Cost/Point

$1.29

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

7.13

Cost/Point

$1.12

Scoring System

Team Cigar Review: Jas Sum Kral Red Knight Lonsdale