Earlier this year, Gurkha announced another new line being produced at Aganorsa Leaf, following last year’s collaboration Trienta, or Thirtieth year celebration cigar. This new line is called San Miguel. The brand is grandfathered meaning it was originally released before 2007 and is exempt from some cigar regulations.
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.
San Miguel is a Nicaraguan puro and the blend uses a Nicaraguan shade grown corojo, double Nicaraguan binder and Nicaraguan fillers. Each vitola has a price tag under $10. San Miguel comes in boxes of 20 and in three vitolas: Petite Corona (4 ¼ x 42), Robusto (5 x 52), Toro (6 x 54).
Vital Stats:
Vitola: Toro Length: 6″ Ring Gauge: 54 Country of Origin: Nicaragua Wrapper: Nicaragua Shade Grown Corojo Binder: Nicaragua Filler: Nicaragua Factory: Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA) Blender: Undisclosed Number of reviewers: 5 – Kevin A.(Kevin A.) Sean F.(fullermaine) Kevin J. (maninblack77) Matt Cade(CadeTNCC) Doug S.(Unpossible_1) Price: $9.95 Age: 4 Months Release Date: September 2020 Contributed by: Gurkha Cigars
Initial Impressions
Appearance: 93
“A beautiful presentation with a twisted cap upon the top of an already impressively rolled cigar. The wrapper had a somewhat oily sheen to it… so that’s nice and sexy.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Aroma: 89
“Cocoa, campfire, ginger, and cinnamon are some of the notes I pick up off the wrapper. The aroma from the foot is mostly cocoa and campfire. The pre-light draw, which is perfect, has a combination of the baker’s spices with a citrus and red pepper on the finish.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
First Third
Blind Cigar Review: Gurkha | San Miguel Toro
Flavor: 94 Strength: Medium Body/Complexity: Medium
“I clip the pigtail off with a v-cut and check out the cold draw. Greeted with peanuts and raisins which work well together. Upon lighting, the peanuts and raisins stick around with a touch of mild pepper. There’s also a nice sweetness building as well, dried apricots. Retrohale takes an unusual turn with strong notes of gingerbread.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
“First impressions are of face-tingling spice and a hint of mint of the nose and notes of dark earth and French Roast coffee on the draw. There’s a sweetness present but I’m not sure if it’s true to the cigar or a side effect of the wine I’m sipping… I give it some space and I think it’s the cigar delivering the sweetness. Some cedar and mineral shows up on the draw about an inch in. ” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Second Third
Blind Cigar Review: Gurkha | San Miguel Toro
Flavor: 93 Strength: Medium-Strong Body/Complexity: Medium
“While the profile has not really changed getting into the second part of the cigar, the knockout punch of flavor from the first is still there. The pepper on the retrohale has transitioned to more of a fresh ground peppercorn, and that spiciness is helping elevate the flavors in the main profile of the cigar. The combo is literally wanting to make me retrohale each and every puff, which I know is a no-no. Getting a little farther into the second third, dark roast coffee creeps into the picture, and enhances the overall experience even more. The only downside thus far is the wrapper split right about the halfway part of the cigar. We will see if this affects anything moving forward. Burn and draw are still perfect at the moment.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“Sweet and spicy notes. A nice mix of sweet oak with a subtle hint of black pepper.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“The spice ratchets up a bit more and reminds me a lot of wasabi, along with a touch of bread notes as well.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
“The final third is very similar to the second as cedar woodsiness, dark coffee, earth, and a faint muted sweetness dominate the draw and the spicy retrohale continues the bold march towards the finish line with the inclusion of a very nice mineral component.” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
Overall Impressions
Draw: 93
“Nice draw but almost too open.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“Definitely one of the better cigars I have smoked this year. The cigar started off with a mouthful of flavor and developed into a full-strength earthy, peppery slugger. I would love to pair this with a barrel proof bourbon, as the power and punch from it would elevate the flavors of this cigar to a higher level than what they already are. Color me impressed, I really enjoyed this cigar.” –Kevin A. (Kevin A.)
“As a fan of things different, the pigtailed cap is a nice touch. A nice simple smoke with great notes. Sweet, spicy, and wood notes are the main events of this stick. Didn’t want this stick to end. Another great stick for your humidor.” –Sean F. (fullermaine)
“I had fairly high hopes for this cigar but it didn’t deliver on many different levels. Flavors were muted to nearly nonexistent and the wrapper issues really ruined the experience for me. I’d give this a “poor” for a rating and to me, that is being too kind.” –Kevin J. (maninblack77)
“This cigar was top-notch from start to finish. It looked great prior to lighting it on fire AND it delivered a slew of really nice flavors once the foot was torched. Add in excellent construction from start to finish and this is easily a cigar that will satisfy the majority of smokers out there…” –Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
“Excellent transitions and flavors that work well together make this cigar noteworthy for me. I’ve always been a fan of cigars that build up as you smoke them as well. This checks that box. My only complaint would be a lull that hit about the halfway point, where all notes are a bit muted. Other than that, I’d recommend checking this one out.” –Doug S. (Unpossible_1)
To view the complete scores and notes, click here.
Blind Cigar Review: Gurkha | San Miguel Toro
Overall Score – 93 – Great
Blind Cigar Review: Gurkha | San Miguel Toro
Summary
"This cigar was Top Notch from start to finish. It looked great prior to lighting it on fire AND it delivered a slew of really nice flavors once the foot was torched. Add in excellent construction from start to finish and this is easily a cigar that will satisfy the majority of smokers out there..." -Matt Cade (CadeTNCC)
