Well here is the first of what will be many cigar reviews brought to you by the AACC. I recently enjoyed the Gurkha Sherpa which is a cigar with a great price point, I picked this stick up for only $4 and I believe you can find bundles of therse for between $40-$70. Even at this price though this cigar has many of the tell-tale features of a Gurkha, perfect construction, no soft spots, a georgeous wrapper, a perfectly applied cap (see pic), great smell and taste, etc. So getting down to it here are the specs;
Size: Toro (6×50)
Strength: Medium Bodied
Wrapper: Nicaraguan Habano
Binder: ?
Filler: Nicaraguan and Dominican Cuban-Seed long-leaf
Pre-Light Draw: A very nice and almost sweet tobacco taste, also can get hints of vanilla, woody notes, and a cocoa/expresso type after taste on the palate.
1/3: First puff was very smooth and sweet, it lit well and easily, had a very good draw that was not too loose or tight. It billowed out white creamy smoke that had a very pleasant aroma that even my fiancee enjoyed. The finish was initially very light almost non-existant but pleasant for what was there. At this point I was thinking the stick was mild for sure, not in a bad way but it was just really light and creamy and you could really start to get hints of vanilla.
2/3: After getting further into the smoke it was definitely starting to evolve on me. The strength began to move up a few notches, not necessarily becoming full bodied but it was a nice medium/full that developed. The ash, although it hung on for a bit (longest was about 3/4 in.), was flakey and was starting to make a mess, so at that point I gave up on keeping a long ash. With the increase in strength there had also been a change in flavors, the vanilla had definitely moved to the background and the predominant flavor became a semi-sweet tobacco flavor and earthy notes of cedar, and a taste that reminded me of honey roasted peanuts. I must say it became at this point much more complex than it had been up until then.
3/3: By the time I started the final third I began to notice that all the sweet tastes and nuances had left the smoke and what was left was, still complex but, a leathery taste still partnered with a cedary note and a much stronger tobacco flavor. There was also bits of spice that would jump out every puff or two. After this point though the cigar did not change at all or so it seemed, it remained decently complex with a bit stronger and harsher undertones for the final third but still a pleasant cigar that was a pleasure to smoke.
Final Score: 7.5/10
Summary: For the price you are getting a sweet deal on a great brand name cigar that is known for it’s quality and the extreme measures that are taken to ensure perfection on every single one. I say pick one up today and enjoy what this well priced Gurkha has to offer.
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