I haven't read a ton about Gurkha, other than it is a boutique brand, it is a more expensive than some smokes, and it generally gets good reviews. After my experience, I believe the reviews are totally just and deserved. The cigar is worth every dollar paid, and at the $3.20 I paid,that is one of the best values of which I am aware.
The cigar is very exotic looking- a nice dark brown wrapper with the beautiful band that exudes an eastern Asian vibe. The cigar is totally well-named as Gurkha. No substantial veins, great rectacular shape, firm feel, and a perferct draw for me (just enough resistance) seem to exhibit that the cigar was constructed very well.
On pre-light, I knew I was in for something interesting. The wrapper didn't smell overly spicy, but a draw through the cigar made me cough and nearly took my breath away from the spice. I must admit I was a little worried about lighting this cigar.
Upon lighting, however, I immediately got a burst of cumin, black pepper, a touch of licorice/anise over a base flavor of very dark, rich coffee. I was wowed with the complexity and deliciious taste. Coupled with the great cup of Kona coffee I was drinking, the taste was amazing.
That flavor stayed solid through the first 1/2 of the cigar. The cigar then lost most of the licorce/anise, and developed a nice cayenne spiciness and the coffee bitterness intensified. The spice flirted in and out until about the final inch of the cigar. The spice kicked it up, and I would have burned my fingers smoking the cigar had the smoke not gotten too hot. I got quite a good buzz from this smoke.
The ash hung on for about 2.5 inches prior to dropping. The smoke burned razor sharp, and smelled very spicy and deep.
I must say, if I could start every day with a cup of Kona and a Gurkha Class Regent, I would be king of the world in a matter of weeks. Very complex, spicy, delicious, and intoxicating. This is probably the most flavor and satisfying smoke I have smoked up to this point. Awesome smoke that I can't say enough great things about.
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The journey of a thousand miles sometimes ends very, very badly.
