Pre-light Experience

The wrapper is slightly lighter than medium brown with a reddish tint. Some prominent veins that are easily visible along with the smooth wrap lines. There is a big single cap with a wrapped bun at the end that is applied very nicely. The foot is also covered with excess wrapper. The band is pretty regal looking with a lot of gold backed up by some burgundy and black. The aroma from the wrapper is a distinct barnyard that I can also get the individual flavor of leather from. The aroma from the foot is mostly the same due to the wrapper covering it, but there is some additional sweetness peaking out from the slight opening. The pre-light draw is a sweet leather with a little bit of pepper. There is also a slight tingle on my lips.

Pre-light Experience

The Jas Sum Kral Robusto has a Colorado maduro wrapper shade. The wrapper consistency is of a fine sandpaper. The cigar feels tight and heavy in the hand with very little give. Veins are fairly well pressed and seams invisible. The wound up pigtail head has a thick singular cap. Lastly, the foot is entirely enclosed with the wrapper. Pre-light wrapper aroma provides freshly ground black pepper, dry pasta and cardboard. Foot aroma tells pungent black pepper and aged cedar. Cold draw reveals cedar, cardboard and faint black pepper.

First Third

Initial light brings a big blast of pepper and spice. More precisely black pepper and some cinnamon mixed together. About a quarter inch in, the profile mellows some so that it’s not as sharp. There is also a really light dusting of cocoa powder in the mix. A half inch in, some woodiness comes in to mix with the pepper while the spice has gone away. The retrohale is a slightly spicy cedar. At an inch in, a good dose of cream comes in, replacing the light cocoa to mix with the wood and pepper which smooths out the profile even more. At an inch and a half, the pepper is almost gone, so it’s now a creamy wood. After a few more draws, the cream makes it’s way into the retrohale. Nearing the end of the third, the woodiness becomes a bit sharper. The strength in this third was slightly above medium.

First Third

First third wastes no time letting its true colors shine. Deep, rich, powerful notes of heavy and oily black pepper spice. The fierce black pepper engulfs my entire palate. In addition to the black pepper, an intense seeded jalapeno spice level (spicy but allows other flavors to come forth). With only a handful of draws, the strength ramps to a medium full, giving me a slight head buzz. In addition to these spices, distinct notes of creamy nuttiness and sweetness, bread and toasted oak. On the retrohale, potent black pepper and seeded jalapeno spice. It’s so potent that I have a hard time performing full retrohales. The finish consists of the same oily seeded jalapeno spice, engulfing black pepper spice, lightly toasted oak and nougat nuttiness. The body is for the most part a medium, knocking on medium full’s doors.

Second Third

This third starts with the same slightly sharp wood and cream. A quarter inch in, some pepper begins to come back in to the profile. The retrohale is still showing primarily cedar with a little cream. Three quarters of an inch in, the sharpness comes back with the wood, almost like a young or fresh cut wood. At an inch in, the sharpness goes away and it’s back to woodiness, which is more defined now as oak, and creaminess with a slight pepper. Nearing the end of the third, some mustiness comes into the mouth flavor and retrohale to add an additional nuance to the experience. The strength in this third is a sneaky medium full.

Second Third

Second third shows no signs of letting off of the gas pedal. Still the same oily and heavy black pepper and seeded jalapenos. The profile becomes noticeably sweeter and creamier, trying to combat with the spices. The retrohale is more approachable than the first third, providing a nice sweet creaminess in conjunction to the oily black pepper spice. The finish consists of less dominant black pepper and jalapeno spice and more nougat nuttiness and charred wood. Since the beginning of the second third, strength moves to full, giving my body a sense of numbness and head sweat. Body also moves to a medium full.

Final Third

This third continues with the creamy oak and mustiness. The body is increasing as the third goes on. The oak is gaining a slight char with the creaminess in the background. There is also a bit of earthiness coming in that pushes the mustiness primarily to the retrohale. About three quarters of an inch in, some slightly bitter coffee comes in to mix with the charred oak and cream and on the retrohale, a vegetal note is mixing with the wood and cream. An inch in, and the vegetal note leaves the retrohale. The cigar finishes with the slightly charred oak, cream and slight bitter coffee. The strength in this third was a little above medium full.

Final Third

The first half of the last third is a continuation of the second third, still giving oily and heavy black pepper, seeded jalapeno spiciness, creamy sweetness and charred wood. At the halfway mark, a charred bitterness enters, providing a good earthiness. Further, the spice level decreases quite a bit, letting the nougat nuttiness and sweet creaminess shine a lot more. Strength and body continues to be full and medium full, respectively.

Burn

The burn was really nice, It got wavy a few times but always caught itself back up. The ash held on for full thirds, so about an inch and two thirds at a time.

Burn

The burn in terms of burn rate was subpar. The cigar burned rather quickly for the one sample I smoked (70 minutes). At the rate I smoke, I typically get 110 minutes out of a robusto. The burn line was subpar, such that some of the binder leaves and wrapper leaf refused to burn, needing two re-lights at the second and last third marks. The white ash held fairly sturdy, averaging one inch increments.

Draw

The draw was perfect. Just the right amount of resistance for me. It also produced lots of flavorful smoke.

Overall

I liken the initial experience to just walking in to a room and someone punching you right in the mouth. There was a lot of pepper and spice that welcomed you, but in the end you say thank you for that punch. After the intense welcome mellowed out, really good flavors followed. The strength is really sneaky. It’s not in your face the whole time, but there are moments when you just know that it’s hitting you. Overall, a nice experience in both flavor and strength. No way would I recommend this to a new smoker as they would set it right down and say they can’t take it. For the experienced smoker that likes full strength and flavor, it might be something that they fall in love with. I’d say it’s an evening smoke after a full meal that you plan to pair with something that also has strength to it. You might want to keep something sweet nearby just in case.

Draw

The draw was on the tighter side for half of the cigar. I originally cut the cigar halfway through the cap. When I performed another cut at the bottom of the cap, the draw opened up and was just fine.

Overall

This cigar is an imposter. When looking at the band and cigar itself, it appears as an unassuming cigar (no offense to the band of the cigar because I think it is classy). But from first draw, the cigar assaults your palate with power. Luckily, this was not a strong cigar just for the sake of being strong. The cigar had a bounty of rich and tasty notes such as nougat nuttiness and sweet cream. The Jas Sum Kral Robusto is a great example of full flavor and strength.

Aaron Loomis

SCORE

7.53

Cost/Point

$1.00

Scoring System

Jiunn Liu

SCORE

6.20

Cost/Point

$1.21

Scoring System