Gurkha showed off the Nicaragua Series at IPCPR 2019 and it shipped that October. At launch, it was only sold to Gurkha‘s top retailers and each got a maximum of 5 boxes per size. Other retailers received them in 2020. This was the second of now three collaborations between Gurkha Cigars and Aganorsa Leaf.
This cigar was reviewed blind (no bands) by a panel of at least 4 reviewers. They did not know what they were smoking beforehand. The scores are an average of all the reviewers' scores with outliers removed. All of our cigars reviewed are shipped to the panelists with Boveda packs to ensure optimal smoking experience.
The cigars were blended and rolled at Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA), the factory owned by Aganorsa Leaf. The blend for the GurkhaNicaragua Series is a Nicaraguan Puro that uses a Aganorsa corojo 99 Clara wrapper from Nicaragua, Corojo 99 Aganorsa double binder, and Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 Aganorsa filler tobacco. It is described at medium to 3/4 full bodied. It comes in four sizes: Robusto (5×52) – $9.75, Toro (6×54) – $9.95, Magnum (6×60) – $10.95, Belicoso (6 1/8 x 52) – $10.95. All are sold in boxes of 20.
“I could be wrong but it looks like a slightly thicker than normal toro. The wrapper is nice and mostly uniform in color with a russet brown look. The seams are nice and tight with a well applied triple cap. ” –Alan (Eulogy)
Aroma: 93
“Earth and warehouse must. A moderate sweetness not quite sweet enough to be honey, mild floral is all I can describe it as.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Flavor: 92 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“The smoke output and draw are spot on from the beginning. I’m really enjoying the level of pepper that I’m getting from the draw as it’s assertive but not overpowering the other flavors. There’s a little bit of salt on the roof of my mouth, leather, cedar, and a slight natural sweetness from the tobacco. ” –Alan (Eulogy)
“Upon lighting up, I am greeted with a intense amount of black and green peppercorn with sweet hay-like aftertaste. This profile mellows out a half-inch in to become a very pleasant and relaxing profile that will keep me happy for days. The ash on the end, greyish and black, makes nice little ripples as the cigar is puffed as it holds strong. A top note of cinnamon and wood shavings join the fray on the backend of this third. ” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Flavor: 92 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“The level of pepper has backed down from the draw but it’s still in ample supply from the retrohale if you want a nice amount of heat to wake you up. The draw isn’t boring but it’s mostly a leather, pepper, cedar, and mineral kind of profile but it is doing it very well. The mechanics are still top-notch like the previous third aside from a slightly wavy burn. ” –Alan (Eulogy)
“Burn is good and straight no divots. The draw is also very good. Baking spices leave the profile, but the sweetened cream is still getting sweeter. Even though we are getting kinda singular note cigar but it is plenty enjoyable.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Final Third
Flavor: 90 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“Earth returns for the last third with cinnamon and some of the baking spices from before. A very easy cigar to enjoy. Burn correction in the last third. Could very easily be an everyday smoke.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“The last third starts with a more medium-full profile of leather with some light char on the aftertaste. This cigar becomes sneaky towards the end and ramps up in strength as I get to the final two inches left. Here the profile remains consistent to the very end.” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 87
“Fair draw, had a bit of resistance, no complaints” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Burn: 89
“Burn was good I don’t remember touching it up at all.” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
Construction: 91
“Cigar was put together very well. With a bunch so tight I figured draw would suffer this however was no problem.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Overall Strength: Medium Overall Body/Complexity: Medium Experience Overall: 91
“If the end didn’t fall a bit flat I’d say this is a very well done cigar. The notes are very classical to me and it smoked effortlessly. I wouldn’t recommend running out and buying a box but if I wanted a solid smoke while having a chat or playing a game I think it would do nicely. ” –Alan (Eulogy)
“Could very easily be an everyday cigar. Was a very enjoyable cigar.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“This cigar really had potential, then fell short in my opinion. Started out great with the cream and spices, and weird fruit flavors that were seeping through, but it never went anywhere from there. I was really wanting to explore more of those weird flavors, but the cigar never really opened up for me. Not sure I would smoke again ” –Mickey T. (irratebass)
“Overall, this was a pretty damn good cigar. Most complex during the first two thirds, this cigar provided an ample complexity that not many cigars offer. Tasty notes of leather, woods, pepper, and earth are omnipresent during the whole duration at different levels of intensity throughout the duration of the experience. I’d smoke this again in a heartbeat.” –John A. (Bostoneo)
Blind Cigar Review: Gurkha | Nicaragua Series Toro
Summary
"If the end didn't fall a bit flat I'd say this is a very well done cigar. The notes are very classical to me and it smoked effortlessly. I wouldn't recommend running out and buying a box but if I wanted a solid smoke while having a chat or playing a game I think it would do nicely. " -Alan (Eulogy)
