Archive for the ‘Gurkha’ Category

Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve: A Cigar Fit for a King

Tuesday, June 25th, 2019
His Majesty’s Reserve starts with a blend of Dominican binder and filler tobaccos, then it's topped off with a 15-year-old Connecticut Broadleaf wrapper.

Cigar Trends: Flavored Cigars

Thursday, July 26th, 2018

As per usual, the Millennial generation has once again served to be the catalyst for an interesting trend. This time, Millennials have taken to flavored cigars, making them become increasingly popular among people of all ages. That said, the following is a closer look at one of the latest trends for cigar smokers: flavored cigars.

Available in both machine-made and hand-rolled forms, flavored cigars are all the rage among those who enjoy smoking but also enjoy a variety of different sized cigars. Allowing smokers to simultaneously unwind and enjoy the aroma and taste a vast array of flavors, they are becoming wildly popular among adults and are even catching on with some older adults. Likened to smoking hookahs, the reason cigar trends are taking center stage is due to other similar trends presently permeating pop-culture.

More Info on the Cigar Trend

Younger smokers seem to be switching from big, bulkier cigars to their smaller, more slender counterparts, in favors of little cigars and cigarillos. Yet another reason for the popularity of flavored cigars, the smaller size allows for sampling multiple cigars at a time.

While there will always be a market for traditional cigar products, there’s a strong trend toward flavored cigars.

Brands to Buy

Are you considering trying some flavored cigars and need more information on which brands have the best flavors for your taste buds? Definitely consider the following:

  • Drew Estate – The genius company behind brands such as Acid (the Acid Blue Kuba Kuba is one of the most widely smoked flavored cigars in existence), Undercrown, and more, DE has lots to offer in terms of flavored cigars. For instance, Acid brand boldly fuses new school taste with old school flavor, offering a variety of cigars perfect for those looking to try something bold and different. Flavors include bold mixes such as Acid Krush Blue, which brings a bold mix of herbs and botanicals to create a uniquely bold, creamy flavor.
  • CAO Cigars – Another brand looking to take cigar smoking to the next level, this brand offers unique flavors such as Cherrybomb, Moontrance, and the ever popular, Eileen’s Dream.
  • Other Notable Brands – If you are looking for some fruit infused cigars as well as other unique combinations, check out the following brands: Thompson, Victor Sinclair, Cojimar, Panama Jack, Tatiana, Al Capone, Gurkha, 5 Vegas, and Oliva, among many others.

While traditional products promote a more old-school vibe of relaxation and freedom, newer, flavored product promote embracing novelty, and variety.

 

 

Gurkha Rogue

Wednesday, July 31st, 2013

I know what both of you are saying… “WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?” Never mind that. I’ll be giving away a cigar sampler in the next day or two, and you’ll have a chance to win it. This is another story in itself, so stay tuned.

I found out about the Rogue from a local tobacconist. Thankfully, I’ve noticed that Gurkha has been releasing reasonably priced cigars these days. Like any brand that boasts dozens of blends, some are a hit, and some aren’t. I figure for this price, it’s worth the risk, so let’s get to it.

 

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Habano

Binder: Ecuador

Filler: Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican

Size: Ruthless 6 x 54

Price: Around $7.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper looked chocolaty and velvety smooth. The odor was mild, woody, and earthy. When squeezing the cigar, I found some minor inconsistencies. One half was fairly firm to the touch, while the other was squishy. The draw was free, and had a woody, earthy flavor.

The ash held for over an inch, and the burn required quite a few corrections. It wasn’t anything too extreme, considering this was a box pressed cigar. One thing noteworthy… When I removed the big band, it put multiple, large tears in the wrapper. This caused chaos in the end of the second third, and in the last third. Less glue on the band would have prevented this. I got through it and everything was fine.

1 Gurkha_Rogue cigars

Flavor:

The first third started off with earth, cedar, and an easy pepper. As I progressed, the pepper became stronger, and reminded me of Cayenne. Thankfully, it wasn’t burn your face off pepper. The smoke feel was smooth, with plenty of volume.

2 Gurkha_Rogue cigars

The second third kept the same core flavors, for the most part. There was an addition of nuttiness, and a creaminess that had some sweet undertones. The pepper remained, and it developed a slight zing.

3 Gurkha_Rogue cigars

The last third was dominated with a nutty sweetness. Earthiness and cedar lingered in the background. Pepper remained, but lost most of it’s punch. The smoke feel was smooth, and borderline creamy.

4 Gurkha_Rogue cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good, solid, medium bodied cigar. I was underwhelmed with the beginning, but the flavors developed nicely, at a gradual pace. I found the last third to be the most interesting. While the Rogue didn’t have any wow factor, it was good, and worth trying. I’d smoke it again.

Gurkha Avenger G5

Friday, August 10th, 2012

Since Ed had a Gurkha smoker event recently, like a good customer, I picked a few up. In my sampler pack was the Avenger G5. In Gurkha fashion, the wacky box mimics the front end of a car. The thought that came to my mind was, “That’s different.” The only thing I care about is, how does the cigar deliver? Let’s find out…

 

Wrapper: Nicaragua

Binder & Filler: Nicaragua

Size: Toro 6 x 50

Price: $10.50

 

Pre-smoke & Construction:

The dark wrapper had small veins, and no construction flaws to speak of. The most picky smoker may have noticed a wrinkle or two from being box pressed. I picked up a pungent barnyard odor from the wrapper, while the foot reminded me of a mild pipe tobacco and earthiness. There was only a slight resistance on the draw, just the way I like it. The pre-light flavor was sweet earthiness, and maybe a touch of cedar.

The burn required three corrections, and the ash held for an inch or so.

1 Gurkha_Avenger_G5 cigars

Flavor:

An even mixture of earthiness and Coffee dominated the first third. Retrohaling revealed a fairly easy black pepper. Unlike traditional black pepper, this had just a touch of that familiar Nicaraguan zing.

2 Gurkha_Avenger_G5 cigars

In the second third, that maduro sweetness I was expecting finally showed up. I can only compare it to a dry, somewhat bitter cocoa. The earthy flavor I mentioned before now seemed leathery, and the pepper became sweet and tingly. Coffee got pushed into the background. The smoke feel became thick and creamy, and lingered on the palate for a minute or so.

3 Gurkha_Avenger_G5 cigars

The last third kept the same core flavors, and nothing stood out over the other. The only change I could pick up was the smoke feel. There was a cooling effect on the tongue and lips. It reminded me of menthol, but only in terms of feel, not flavor.

4 Gurkha_Avenger_G5 cigars

Conclusion:

This was a good medium to full bodied cigar. Gimmicky presentation aside, it delivered solid flavors and complexities. Honestly, I can’t think of anything bad to say about the cigar itself. As for the fancy box, I can’t help but wonder how it effects the price. The bottom line is, this was a good smoke!

Gurkha Wicked Indie

Monday, May 14th, 2012

I found the Gurkha Wicked Indie at a local shop the other day. This is the first release under the East India Trading Company, which is a subsidiary of Gurkha. As always, I paired this cigar with water. Here’s how it went.

 

Wrapper: Habano Nicaraguan

Binder & Filler: Nicaraguan

Size: XO 6 x 60

Price: Around $6.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The wrapper was a little blotchy and veiny looking, but nothing of concern. It had a cedar and hay smell, while the foot was earthy. The cigar was pretty well packed, and had minor hard and soft spots. Again, nothing of concern. The draw had slight resistance, and had a woody and musty flavor.

The ash held for about two inches, and the burn required a few minor corrections.

1 Gurkha_Wicked_Indie cigars

Flavor:

The first third: The main flavor was peppery spice and wood. The smoke feel was slightly creamy with earthy notes.

2 Gurkha_Wicked_Indie cigars

The second third changed just a bit. The dominant flavors were wood and earthiness. Next up was creaminess with an easy sweet spice. The aftertaste had that same sweet tingle with some earthiness.

3 Gurkha_Wicked_Indie cigars

The last third was basically an exact repeat of the second third. The only difference was a slight floral component. It was very subtle and hard to pick up.

4 Gurkha_Wicked_Indie cigars

Conclusion:

This was an OK medium bodied cigar. The flavor profile was pretty one dimensional and definitely had no wow factor at all. For such a simple cigar, I would have to pair it with coffee or something that would make it a little more exciting. Basically, it was just another cigar…

Gurkha Ancient Warrior

Tuesday, January 10th, 2012

I picked up this cigar at Ed’s shop a couple of weeks ago. Gurkha has quite a large following of fans and bashers alike. I sit somewhere in the middle. They have quite a few blends that I like, and some that I’m not so fond of. I haven’t smoked a Gurkha in a long time, so I figured it was time to revisit a cigar I used to smoke from time to time – the Ancient Warrior. I paired this cigar with water as always.

 

Wrapper: Brazil

Binder: Dominican Republic

Filler: Dominican republic

Size: Robusto 4.5 x 50

Price: $6.95

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark oily wrapper looked great, with only a ding here and there. The smell of the wrapper was a mild sweet earthiness. The foot had almost no odor at all, perhaps a generic sweetness. The cigar was evenly packed, with slight give when squeezed. The pre-light draw had slight resistance with a mild earthy flavor on the pre-light draw.

The ash held for around an inch, and the burn required several corrections.

1 Gurkha_Ancient_Warrior cigars

Flavor:

The first third had a robust dark coffee flavor that clung to the mouth long after exhaling. When passing smoke through the nose, there was a smooth pepper. The coffee developed a sweetness that was similar to a thick mocha flavor. Very faint earthy notes were in the background.

2 Gurkha_Ancient_Warrior cigars

The second third took on a creamy smoke feel that had a caramel sweetness. At about the half way point a woody flavor joined in with the coffee and caramel. The pepper felt in the nose didn’t go anywhere. That faint earthy aftertaste remained as well.

3 Gurkha_Ancient_Warrior cigars

The last third had a dominant woody flavor at times. At other times coffee and mocha would take center stage. All the while a sweet caramel undertone remained. The creaminess didn’t go anywhere. The smoke clung to the mouth and tongue for a nice sweet, tingly aftertaste.

4 Gurkha_Ancient_Warrior cigars

Conclusion:

This was a damn good medium to upper medium bodied cigar. Say what you will about Gurkha, but they do have some blends that hit the spot for me. I will admit I am guilty of bashing Gurkha for their fancy packaging and selling of a lifestyle. But in the end it’s the cigar that matters to me, and this one was a satisfying experience. If you are a Gurkha fan or not, this one is worth a try.

Gurkha Cellar Reserve

Friday, September 30th, 2011

As you all know by now, this review is posted here for archive purposes.

DSC07118

It’s that time again. Ed and I visited Stogie Review for our guest spot. This time we tackled the new Gurkha Cellar Reserve.

This cigar boasts having tobacco that is aged for 15 years. While I’m not a big Gurkha smoker, past reviews we’ve done have turned out well. We did enjoy the Cellar Reserve, but it took us on a weird journey. It started off kind of ho-hum, picked up the pace in the middle, then tapered back in to the ho-hum routine in the last third. Personally, I can’t justify the $12 price tag. But I bet there are a lot of Gurkha fans that will disagree, and that’s Ok.

So sit back as Ed and I pick apart the Gurkha Cellar Reserve. We ran a little long with some off topic banter, but that’s how we roll. This video runs about 24 minutes. Do yourself a favor and click the little HD button on the video player. Blip.tv has had sub-par video conversions as of late.

MP3 Audio Only <-Right click, Save as

Don’t Let the Politicos Mess With Our Cigars!

Monday, July 25th, 2011

If you read this blog, then I have to assume that you love cigars. Now, I said love, not like, but LOVE.  For me personally, cigar smoking is a passion and a hobby like nothing else I have ever experienced during my multiple decades here on earth. It’s hard to explain why there is such a love affair between aged, handrolled leaf and myself, but I am admittedly both intoxicated by romanced by premium cigar tobacco… and something tells me that you are, too.

fda_cigar_sm-250pxOver the past few years I’ve talked a lot about the Smoke Nazis and the anti-smoking zealots who want to eliminate all forms of tobacco from the face of the earth, but I haven’t talked much about the people who wish to regulate it – and I’m referring to none other than the Food & Drug Administration.

This is a frightening thought, my fellow Brothers and Sisters of the Leaf. If the FDA has full reign over handrolled cigars, our smoking world may change like nothing we have ever imagined. Let’s face it – whenever government takes charge of something, it becomes an instant clusterf@#k, and the entire cigar industry is pretty damned worried and rightfully so.

freedom_means_choice_2_tshirt-p235564109691893157q6vb_400First off, the beautiful ornate cigar box packaging that has been around for over a century could be replaced by labels, warning of death and disease, in font sizes larger than your head. And cigars stores won’t be able to have any tobacco products visible within their premises, but instead hidden behind closed doors where you would have to ask for someone to retrieve your smoke for you. (With JR CIGARS being the largest walk-in humidor retail stores in the world, I sure as hell don’t have a clue how that would work.) These are just some of the things that have been discussed and I can’t even imagine how it is possible in a country that is blanketed in a flag that stands for freedom and living a life of personal choices.

jr_ultimateThe good news is, I have read that the cigar industry has pushed our senators and congressmen hard to have premium cigars NOT regulated the way other forms of tobacco are. Let’s face it, so much of this is about keeping tobacco out of the hands of children, and children simply do not walk into cigar stores to purchase Camachos, Pepin Garcias, Gurkhas, and Ashton VSG’s that cost them as much as a coveted XBOX game. Thankfully, there is now talk of premium cigars being exempt from the FDA’s rule, which would be a saving grace to the entire cigar industry. But we can’t sit back and just HOPE everything works out all right. It’s up to all of us to email, phone, or fax our government representatives and let then know that they CANNOT take away our passion – a 100% LEGAL product that employs tens of thousands of people in the U.S. and other smaller nations who depend on this export to survive!

Guys, it’s no secret that powerful lobbies like anti-tobacco groups put a proverbial gun to the politicians heads when it comes election time, and the politicos respond with harsh anti-smoking laws, even though just about every single on of them enjoys the rich, smooth taste of a JR Ultimate, Montecristo, Punch, or Trinidad. It is hypocrisy at the highest level, but that is certainly NOT a surprise when it involves those who are full-time holders of office in our nation’s capital. Let’s continue to fight the good fight, people!

TZ.Sig.2Tommy Z . JR Cigars Blog With the Zman

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DON’T FORGET TO JUMP ON JR’S 99¢ SHIPPING! This deal is only good thru July 31st, so get your cigar orders in NOW!!!

And this week JR has two… that’s right TWO…Weekly Specials

JR has two weekly specials going to give you one last chance to take advantage of the 99¢ shipping.

Villar y Villar Cigars – All Sizes Just $15!

Picture 4Villar y Villar cigars are handcrafted in Estelí, Nicaragua, with a classic medium-bodied blend of tobaccos from three nations finished with Colorado Ecuador Sumatra wrappers that are available in both Natural and EMS. They are solid, no-nonsense cigars, packed with flavor.

This week JR is doing something unheard of and closing out the entire line of Villar y Villar. Every bundle of 25 is now JUST $15 BUCKS. Buy these before July 31st and the 99¢ shipping can get you a bundle delivered to your door for just $15.99!

La Primadora: Laguito & Presidente $10 OFF!

la_primadora_logoMade in Danlí, Honduras, this cigar is a blend of Honduran and Nicaraguan tobaccos with a charcoal-like flavor. The La Primadora is a consistent smoke at an economical price, and has proven to be a time-honored best-seller.

This week JR is closing out 2 sizes at unbelievable prices that make them under $2 bucks a stick! They are both available in natural Ecuador Connecticut and dark Mexican maduro wrappers.

Get ‘em now before they’re gone or before the offer expires on Wednesday, July 27th!

http://www.jrcigars.com/jr/index.cfm/hurl/evt=ws

Gurkha Viper

Monday, March 14th, 2011

I picked up a couple Viper’s at a local shop. I was drawn to the fact that this was a cheaply priced Gurkha. The wacky looking box press caught my attention as well. The non-flashy packaging and presentation is definitely not what Gurkha is known for. I paired this cigar with water, and here are my findings on the Gurkha Viper.

 

Wrapper: Dominican

Binder: Dominican

Filler: Nicaraguan & Dominican

Size: Grand Corona 6 x 46

Price: Around $5.00

1Gurkha_Viper

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The first thing you notice about this cigar is the odd rectangle shape. The wrapper was a little blotchy looking, with some small veins. The odor coming off of the wrapper and foot was almost non-existent. I could only pick up a note of spice and natural tobacco. The cigar was evenly packed, with no soft or hard spots. The pre-light draw was free, and had almost no taste. Perhaps a little wood and bitterness.

The burn required no corrections, and the ash held for about one inch.

2Gurkha_Viper

Flavor:

The first third had a slight peppery spice when exhaled through the nose. There wasn’t really any strong flavors, just some notes of earthiness, wood, and coffee. As I transitioned out of the first third, there was a slight bitter sweetness.

3Gurkha_Viper

The second third had an uptick in the peppery spice, which was noticeable when passing smoke through the nose. The smoke became smoother and thicker feeling. Like before, the flavors were a combination of coffee, wood, and earthy notes. That bitter sweetness picked up in strength to round things out, for awhile. As this third came to an end, the bitter sweetness took over the flavor profile.

4Gurkha_Viper

The last third had that dominant bitter sweetness. Woodiness and coffee remained way in the background. When exhaling through the nose, the spice remained the same as before. The spice also lingered on the lips and tongue after exhaling.

5Gurkha_Viper

Conclusion:

This was an OK lower medium to medium bodied cigar. At times I found myself being underwhelmed with the flavor. On the other hand, I did enjoy the smoke at times too. I think it meets the price point, but in the end this was just an OK cigar.

Gurkha Ninja

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

Ed had a Gurkha event at his shop, and the rep threw a few samples my way, which I always appreciate. I forgot his name, so if your out there, thanks! The Ninja is a new line from Gurkha, and is priced lower then most of their other lines. It is aimed at those who seek a lower price range and don’t care too much about presentation (like me). There really isn’t a lot of fluff to this cigar, so without any more delay, I bring to you my thoughts on the Gurkha Ninja.

 

Wrapper: Brazil Maduro

Binder: Cameroon

Filler: Nicaragua

Size: 6 x 52

Price: Around $5.00

 

Pre-Smoke & Construction:

The dark maduro wrapper had an oily, rugged look to it, with small to medium sized veins here and there. The odor off of the wrapper had hints of sweetness and reminded me of a mild pipe tobacco. The cigar was pretty evenly packed, and bounced back when squeezed. The pre-light draw was free, almost loose, and had a sweet natural tobacco taste.

The burn required no corrections, and the ash held for just about an inch.

1GurkhaNinja

Flavor:

The first third began with simple earthy and woody flavors. When exhaling smoke through the nose, I got a peppery, woody spice. It was simple and a little rough around the edges. The smoke volume was plentiful and dry.

2GurkhaNinja

The second third pretty much kept pace with the first third. One difference is the pepper mellowed out a little, but still felt a little rough. It wasn’t harsh, but it wasn’t smooth either. It was just kind there, and dry. I felt parched and craved water.

3GurkhaNinja

The last third: I hate to say it but not a lot happened. That core earth and woody component remained. The smoke feel was plentiful and left me feeling parched. When retro-haling, that same pepper was there. Everything pretty much stayed the same.

4GurkhaNinja

Conclusion:

This was an “OK” medium bodied cigar. I didn’t get any bad flavors. I had one a month ago and seemed to enjoy it more then the ones I smoked for this review. Maybe it was because I was hanging out at an event at Ed’s shop. The flavors, although decent, just felt unrefined. It reminded me of a bundle cigar. In the end, the Gurkha Ninja just wasn’t for me.

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