Cigar Blog

Happiness is a good cigar

The Gurkha

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There are cigars and then there are cigars. Cigar aficionados would certainly understand what I mean and they would also probably feel a rush of excitement each time they hear the word Gurkha. For those who have no clue as to what I am talking about, the Gurkha is now being considered as one of the hottest cigars in the market.

The Gurkha, as popular and sought after as it is now, was not always considered so highly. It hails from India, where it was once looked down on – if you can believe that. But one man changed that perception. Kaizad Hansotia, an entrepreneur based in Miami, bought the brand many years ago simply because he liked what he tasted. His gamble has paid off.

Gurkhas are now considered way up there in the cigar world. To give you an idea of just how highly regarded they are, one cigar goes for $750! Thus, it is not a surprise that you normally find high profile Hollywood personalities puffing on one of them babies.

More on the Gurkha from The Courant:

They are cased in “frosted glass tubes in which Gurkhas are individually packaged, the gold caps on the tubes, and the unique design of each new line of Gurkha boxes, from hand-carved wood in one line, to boxes covered with leather and lined with suede for another.

As for the celebrity interest in Gurkha, Torano said, “Go into any humidor in any good cigar shop in the country, and you can’t help but notice the Gurkha, because of their look. Then you smoke one and find you like them, too.”

Anyone here who has tried a Gurkha?

Montecristo White Especial No. 1

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1If you are looking for a high quality mild cigar, I have the perfect suggestion for you. Why don’t you try out the Montecristo White Especial No. 1 cigar? The length of this cigar is 6 5/8 inches – just right for a long leisurely smoke. The ring gauge is 44 and it has an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper. That is, the wrapper has a pale creamy tan color, which gives you an idea of just how mild the flavor is. The binder is Nicaraguan while the filler is a mixture of Nicaraguan and Dominican.

Naturally, being a Montecristo, you already have an inkling of the high quality of the cigar. On the outside, the White Especial No. 1 is firm to the touch, without a doubt packaged excellently. But what about the flavor and the smoking experience itself?

The initial draw will give you a very light tobacco flavor. That’s about it, really. You do not get any hint of woodsy flavors or anything else. It’s pure tobacco, albeit very mild. As you continue smoking the cigar, you might find yourself expecting the flavor to develop or perhaps intensify. To be honest, though, the mild tobacco flavor stays consistent down to the last draw. Now this is not a bad thing if that is what you are looking for. However, if you want something stronger, then you might not be satisfied with this cigar. On the upside, the cigar burns very well all throughout.

There are also other variations of the white cigar at Altadis USA. Check them out and tell me what you think.