Cigar Info
Gurkha released a few new lines at IPCPR 2019, one of which was the Gurkha Real. This new blend uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper, Dominican olor binder, and Dominican criollo 98 ligero and seco and Nicaraguan secos fillers. It is described as a medium-bodied smoke.
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.
Gurkha Real comes in four sizes: Robusto (5 x 52) – $8, Toro (6 x 54) – $8.50, Churchill (7 x 52) – $8.95, and Magnum (6 x 60) – $8.95. They are rolled at Tabacalera Las Lavas S.R.L. (Casa Cuevas) in the Dominican Republic.
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro
Length: 6″
Ring Gauge: 54
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
Filler: Dominican Republic (Criollo 98 ), Nicaragua
Factory: Tabacalera Las Lavas S.R.L.
Blender: Undisclosed
Number of reviewers: 5 – Ryan H. (Ryan H.) Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard) Quinn (quinnpins269) Lauren S. (Lauren S.) Randy B. (randobush)
Price: $8.50
Age: 6 Months
Release Date: August 2019
Contributed by: Gurkha Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 91
“6 x 54 double cap very light tan wrapper minimal veins very smooth wrapper very firm bunch. Truly a beautiful specimen.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
Aroma: 92
“Earth is about all I get on aroma, but it's pleasant. Damn pleasant.” –Randy B. (randobush)
First Third
Flavor: 91
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Light-Medium
“Cigar is very light and smooth creamy a very oaky finish with just a touch of black pepper on the finish. Tons of smoke output. The draw is nice and open. A black coffee note developing on the finish taking place of the oaky finish. Ash is very weak and flaky. Leather note pushing its way in.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“First puffs are a very sweet musky flavor. The cigar quickly settles into a classic earthy flavor with occasional floral hints. The flavors are very subtle, slightly creamy and nuttiness sneaks in on certain puffs.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
Second Third
Flavor: 90
Strength: Mild-Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Draw is still fine with a bit of double puff required to get it going, but then ok. Flavor notes in the second third relatively unchanged, but toffee is gone and citrus zest is coming in. Smooth retro still and a bit of cinnamon is left on the finish. The draw is beginning to get cumbersome with a few puffs needed to get the cherry hot enough to produce desired smoke output. Ash holding firm at 2”. 9 puffs to get it going for a draw now.” –Randy B. (randobush)
“The second third profile changed a bit with the cedar notes fading and being replaced by some aluminum-like mineral notes. The white pepper continued to stick around during the second third. The smoke started to thicken up and become creamier which was a nice transition from the dry wispy smoke.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)
Final Third
Flavor: 89
Strength: Medium
Body/Complexity: Medium
“Leather and earth still are the stars of this blend. It's not the most complex flavor but has been rather consistent. The pepper is still showing up on the retrohale. The cigar began to load up a bit with about 3 inches left to go turning quite harsh.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
“Flavor profile was consistent throughout, hardly any changes.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 93
“From pre-light to the last puff the draw stayed very nice and consistent.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)
Burn: 91
“Nice even burn throughout, no relights required. Ash color medium gray.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Construction: 91
“The cigar was very nicely rolled. It had a slightly firm pack to it that leaned itself to an enjoyable experience that had no draw or burn issues.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)
Overall Strength: Medium
Overall Body/Complexity: Medium
Experience Overall: 90
“I could see me buying a box of these in a different size maybe.” –Ryan H. (Ryan H.)
“Awesome construction and burn, flavors were good but very mild, and smooth. A great morning smoke.” –Joseph S. (Bearded Bastard)
“I would enjoy this cigar as a first stick of the day. It did not have much complexity or body. But it was a solid Connecticut.” –Quinn (quinnpins269)
“While not a very complex blend there was a good consistency in the flavors that were here. A solid earthy and leathery blend with just a bit of pepper to switch things up. A great draw with good smoke production that sadly loaded up with a bit left to go.” –Lauren S. (Lauren S.)
“This was a good cigar overall. Had the draw been less cumbersome, it would have been a treat.
Nice transitions in flavor while maintaining much of the original flavors at the beginning with just a couple of additions and subtractions. I would buy this cigar in the hopes that the next one would not have the same multi-puffs necessary on the draw.” –Randy B. (randobush)
Smoking Time (in minutes): 104
| Reviewer | Appear. | Aroma | 1/3 | 2/3 | 3/3 | Draw | Burn | Constr. | Overall Experience |
| Ryan H. | 92 | 92 | 90 | 90 | 83 | 90 | 88 | 92 | 90 |
| Joseph S. | 90 | 90 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 95 | 100 | 92 | 90 |
| Quinn | 90 | 90 | 90 | 88 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 | 90 |
| Lauren S. | 92 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 88 | 97 | 92 | 95 | 92 |
| Randy B. | 95 | 92 | 92 | 92 | 90 | 85 | 92 | 90 | 88 |
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.