The Best Manufacturer + A Great Tobacco Blend = A Damn Good Cigar
In my last Bullz-Eye review, I recognized the Torano family as one of the best manufacturers in the cigar business. Back in May of 2007, I discussed the merits of a boutique cigar and the unique blends they can often provide. Today, I write about the combination of good construction with a master blend of cigar tobacco. Needless to say, this can be a powerful synergy and when you find a smoke like this, you can begin to appreciate the cigar smoking hobby. Today, I focus on the Gurkha line of cigars produced by blender Kaizad Hansotia. As far as legend goes, it has been reported that he bought the Ghurka brand name for 143 dollars in the late 80’s from an obviously struggling company. The brand fought its way to the top through the boom years and today claims many fans that are willing to pay top dollar for Hansotia’s boutique cigars.
I’ve tried numerous blends from Hansotia’s extensive line of boutique cigars and I have to admit, the Gurkha line is near the top in my book. Hansotia often utilizes Torano to construct his cigars, which furthers the overall enjoyment and experience. In this review, I discuss the merits of the Gurkha Class Regent, a flavorful blend rolled by Torano.
So, lets get smokin’!
Cigar Review:
Gurkha – Class Regent
Size: Toro (6.0” in length; 50 Ring Gauge)
Price: $8.50 – 11.00 range
Gurkha boasts an extensive line of the boutique cigars. The rolling process is usually outsourced, in the case of the Class Regent, to the likes of the Toranos’ factory in Honduras.
Tobacco blend:
Wrapper: Honduran grown Havana 2000
Binder: Indonesia
Filler: Dominican Republic, Honduran
Context
I smoked the Class Regent by myself sitting on my side porch. This was the first time that I smoked a Class Regent, the first in a 5-pact that I recently invested in. As with virtually all Gurkhas, its ornate band with the machete wielding, mustached warrior made it clear that I was smoking a Gurkha.
Look and feel
The dark Havana 2000 wrapper was more silky and smooth vs. the dark and shiny veined variety. Again, it was evident that I was holding a cigar that was very well constructed. It is a “box pressed” cigar so the shape was not circular in nature, instead it is much more box shaped. Throughout the smoke, the burn was even and never too hot. Being a more full bodied smoke, I tended to smoke it a little slower and the cigar is to be complimented for not going out.
Aroma and Taste
Upon flaming it up, there was an initial sharpness that dissipated as you got into the smoke after about 5 minutes. This initial taste was an almost overwhelming cocoa / espresso blend of flavor, as the smoke settled down, a slight leathery note became occasionally evident; I could not resist pairing this smoke with a cup of black coffee, which turned out to be an excellent choice as this smoke was fairly rich and played in the medium to full bodied range. I thought the cigar was fairly complex as the flavor profile suggested it would be. If you like coffee, I would highly recommend the pairing in this case.
RATING: 8.8 (on a scale of 1 to 10) – the construction and complexity drove a very good overall experience. However the opening flavor and the closing nicotine strengths were somewhat of a detriment. Between the harsh opening and strong closing, the middle was top-notch.
This blend is very good and unique with some strong flavors, as you get to the final 3rd of the cigar, be aware that the nicotine strength spikes upward. Up until that time, the nicotine seemed to be at reasonable levels. In fact, I staggered upon getting up out of the chair after I “nubbed” this one. The combo of the nicotine strength with some strong flavors may not be the best choice for the newbie smoker, but keep it in mind as you progress through to these types of smokes.
By Bob Hritsko
Cigar Quote
“After a truly good meal, an outstanding cigar is still the most satisfying after-dinner activity that doesn’t involve two human beings.” – Brad Shaw, Radio Announcer
