Back in February, Riste (Buc) Riatevski provided a glimpse into his latest creation; the Jas Sum Kral Tyrannical Buc cigar. The cigar was initially being released in a broadleaf blend but he noted there would be a Connecticut version, possibly available at the PCA Trade Show in July.
Riste was kind enough to send me some samples of the Broadleaf blend to review on Stogie Pres. Since they have been resting long enough in my humidor, I decided it was time to offer my take on it. I also received some samples of the Conny at the show but that review will have to wait for a few months as they need to rest.
The rich and multi-regional blend of the Tyrannical Buc Broadleaf is described as:
- Wrapper – Broadleaf Maduro
- Binder – Jalapa
- Filler – Condega, Pennsylvania, Esteli Double Ligero
The Tyrannical Buc Broadleaf comes in 4 vitolas, each packaged in 15-count, single row boxes:
- Magnum 48 (4 x 48) – MSRP $9.00/cigar
- Generosos (5.5 x 40) – MSRP $8.20/cigar
- Dobles (6.5 x 50) – MSRP $10.50/cigar
- Golem Buc (5.5 x 60) – MSRP $11.50/cigar
For this review I sampled two of the Tyrannical Buc Broadleaf Dobles.
Pre-Light Examination
The Tyrannical Buc Broadleaf Dobles is a rough, veiny, and mottled broadleaf cigar – one that I would call beautiful from a broadleaf perspective. It has a nice weight to it, is well packed with no soft or spongy spots detected, and it is finished with a well applied triple cap.
There is a single band that brands this cigar, using a white, yellow, and black motif. It uses a black silhouette of a tyrannosaurus rex with a yellow crown and the name “Tyrannical Buc” in yellow and black along the bottom. This is a change from the company’s previous brands which used the JSK logo as the prominent branding on the band.
The pre-light aromas included a lightly pungent barrel along with a mild sweetness off the foot.
As usual, I used a straight cut to open the cap and took in a few cold draw puffs which offered earthy notes and a growing red pepper flake sensation on the palate.
With the pre-light exam to my liking, it was time to burn the “Buc” to ash. I used a double flame torch to warm the foot, which took to the heat well, building to an even orange glow. The initial puffs opened the nasals with a solid hit of peppery spice.
Cigar Review Notes
- Heavy pepper on the retrohale and salty earth on the palate
- Excellent volume of thick creamy smoke
- Bright white ash growing on a thin char line
- Bit of a jag in the burn
- Ash fell after an inch plus of burn with a flat and slightly off-centered burn cone
- Savory notes enter
- Clean finish after each puff
- Light fruit notes keep it interesting in the early burn
- Dry coffee notes join the mix near the end of the first third
- Ash picked back up with a continued jaggedness
- Woody notes move in – both in flavor and aroma
- Coffee notes get a tad bitter in the second third
- Strength starts to ratchet up
- Natural sweetness adds to the complexity with a touch more fruit
- Aroma shifts to fruit
- Burn cone gets much better in second half
- Dark Chocolate notes enter near the end of the second third along with with added earthiness
- Syrupy aroma begins to fill the air
- Strength has moved up to full
- There is still a mild pepper burn on the nasal
- Black cherry notes fill in with the chocolate, moving through the final third
- Full Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 45 Minutes
Overall, the Tyrannical Buc Broadleaf Dobles was a fresh, bold, and delicious introduction by Jas Sum Kral for 2019. The flavors and aromas on this cigar kept me interested from the pre-light to the final puff and the strength ratcheted up to a solid full. There was however, a consistent jag in the burn and the burn cone in the first half was a tad off center. There was also a bitterness in the second third that eventually transitioned, but stayed longer than I like. This is certainly a cigar I suggest picking up a fiver of. I rate this a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) Jagged Burn; (-1) Off Centered Burn Cone; (-1) Bitterness
