Gurkha is a well-known name in the cigar world. The company has carried MANY different lines over the years. This little beauty was in my humidor since 2-28-2014. I have never smoked this one before, so I was looking forward to lighting it up!

Blend Profile
Wrapper: Brazilian Mata Fina
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Peruvian/Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Vitola: Robusto, 4.7″x50

Appearance & Smell
The wrapper was nice and toothy, good feel and look to it. The cigar felt well constructed and the seams weren’t noticeable. The wrapper did not display or feel like it had a lot of oil on/in it. The pre-light smell was earthy, rich, and it had definitive cocoa notes.

Smoke Preparation
I used a Xikar Xi1 cutter to put a flat cut on the cap of the cigar. Pre-light cold draw brought up some pepper notes and that cocoa was very present as well.

Burn & Draw
The first few draws did not disappoint! The pepper was there but not overwhelming. I thought the cocoa would be much stronger since it was so strong on the smell and the pre-light but it was mellow once lit. I like the way the pepper and cocoa mingled. I was pleasantly surprised by the complexity of this stick. The cigar burned evenly throughout the entire smoke. The ash held together very well without much flaking as it burned.

Strength & Body
This cigar was definitely a medium to full in terms of strength. I feel as though the strength actually stayed consistent throughout the smoke rather than building like other cigars. It starts medium plus and stays medium plus. The pepper and cocoa stay throughout the whole cigar, they don’t really diminish. I wouldn’t necessarily say this is a complex smoke but I will say it was a tasty one!

Final Thoughts
The truth is that I’m not a big Gurkha fan, I never really have been but this cigar exceeded my expectations! I usually grab the toro size for my smokes but the robust was a really good size for this blend with the strength and body it possesses. It is important to note again that this cigar was aged for 3 and a half years which can significantly make a difference on the smoke. I smoked it until it started burning my fingers. The truth is I loved it and I would gladly purchase it again!

Source: Purchased Locally
Brand Information: Gurkha Cigars