CRQuarto
Brrraaaiiinnnsss.....
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2009
- Messages
- 1,850
(First, I apologize for the lack of pictures, I was too involved in this cigar to run inside to grab the camera...)
I recently participated in my first cigar pass, which was a first pilot test pass hosted by a great BOTL on CalGuns.net, and when I was up I made a strange decision...
Firstly, let me say that my experience with Gurkha has been less that stellar, though that is almost certainly due to the ones I have smoked just not being to my liking. I have only had two different ones prior to this, the Master Blender and Vulcan, both of which I couldn't even get halfway through. I just found them one dimensional, almost flavorless save for just a strong tobacco taste and harshness to them that I couldn't put a finger on. I smoked the few that I had, and never gave the brand another look until I was up on the pass. Included in it was a Gurkha Regent Toro, which was a beautiful but strangely boxed pressed stick that resembled more of a rectangle. I found myself taking that in lieu of some smokes that I had been dying to try! Perhaps it was the sweet, yet earthy scent that the stick had, or the supple, colorado hued wrapper, but something compelled me to take it...boy, was I glad I did!
Stats:
Gurkha Regent Toro
Size: Toro 6.0 x 50 ring
Strength: Medium bodied
Wrapper: Havana 2000
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan Ligero
I fired that baby up tonight on a whim, despite the late hour and being exhausted. I got home around midnight from work, and decided that a beer and short go to stick would be a great way to unwind and relax before showering and bed. I started digging around in the humidor and accidentally grabbed the Gurkha (it was dark in the house, didn't want to wake my roommate who was passed out on the couch). I almost put it back, but decided, "What the hell, why not!" I grabbed a Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier out of the fridge, my cutter, torch, and went outside on the balcony. It was beautiful outside, with a slight, cool breeze blowing, with the clouds moving quickly overhead.
I smelled the foot, and was greeted with a sweet, earthy scent that made my mouth water, just as it did prior to taking it from the pass. The construction was flawless, with a supple wrapper that was devoid of any real veins save for the usual tiny ones. A gentle squeeze revealed a softness that was not overly so, but enough to let me know that the draw on this was promising. I did the duty with the cutter, and the prelight draw was perfect, and I tasted that sweet, earthy taste that the wrapper smelled of, as well as a very, very faint floral bit that I later discovered to be something delicious. I fired up the torch, toasted the head, and took that first draw. I was blown away immediately by the floral tones that I had smelled on the prelight becoming a prominent vanilla taste mixed with a buttery, sweet finish. Oh man, I could tell right off the bat that this was going to be a hell of a stick! I wanted to smoke it fast, but forced myself to slow down and take a minute to let the burn settle in.
The first third was delicious, with vanilla, earth, and slight wood notes lasting throughout the long finish. The smoke was creamy and billowed out in a hugely satisfying way. The burn was straight, and the ash was tight with a dark gray color. I was loving this cigar, and the beer was complimenting it perfectly, cleansing my palate perfectly so as to give me a fresh taste each time. The crispness of the beer, the wonderful breeze, creamy smoke, and surreal quietness was amazing.
The second third kept extremely consistent with the first, and the strength was staying in the medium range. The burn started to go a little lopsided, so I corrected with the torch and ashed. I was in complete bliss by this point, and thinking of ways to thank the BOTL that had given me the opportunity to try this gem. More on that to come after I move this weekend... :whistling:
The last third I started to pick up a hint of old leather, like the kind that you smell a lot because it is so subtle and delicate, yet at the same time so perfect. The notes of vanilla started to subdue a bit, with the wood and earth becoming level with it. The strength picked up a tad, almost not at all, but detectable just the same. The burn was still perfect after the correction, and the ash was rock hard and staying for the duration until I nubbed this stick.
I am truly changed in my opinion on the Gurkha brand, this smoke blew any prior negative opinion about them out the window. I won't be trying the Master Blender or Vulcan again, but I definitely will be buying more of the Regent Toro, and sampling the other lines as well. Thank you again to Sned45, who set up the pass on CalGuns. :thumbs:
*Edit* Updated with stats.
I recently participated in my first cigar pass, which was a first pilot test pass hosted by a great BOTL on CalGuns.net, and when I was up I made a strange decision...
Firstly, let me say that my experience with Gurkha has been less that stellar, though that is almost certainly due to the ones I have smoked just not being to my liking. I have only had two different ones prior to this, the Master Blender and Vulcan, both of which I couldn't even get halfway through. I just found them one dimensional, almost flavorless save for just a strong tobacco taste and harshness to them that I couldn't put a finger on. I smoked the few that I had, and never gave the brand another look until I was up on the pass. Included in it was a Gurkha Regent Toro, which was a beautiful but strangely boxed pressed stick that resembled more of a rectangle. I found myself taking that in lieu of some smokes that I had been dying to try! Perhaps it was the sweet, yet earthy scent that the stick had, or the supple, colorado hued wrapper, but something compelled me to take it...boy, was I glad I did!
Stats:
Gurkha Regent Toro
Size: Toro 6.0 x 50 ring
Strength: Medium bodied
Wrapper: Havana 2000
Binder: Indonesian
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan Ligero
I fired that baby up tonight on a whim, despite the late hour and being exhausted. I got home around midnight from work, and decided that a beer and short go to stick would be a great way to unwind and relax before showering and bed. I started digging around in the humidor and accidentally grabbed the Gurkha (it was dark in the house, didn't want to wake my roommate who was passed out on the couch). I almost put it back, but decided, "What the hell, why not!" I grabbed a Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier out of the fridge, my cutter, torch, and went outside on the balcony. It was beautiful outside, with a slight, cool breeze blowing, with the clouds moving quickly overhead.
I smelled the foot, and was greeted with a sweet, earthy scent that made my mouth water, just as it did prior to taking it from the pass. The construction was flawless, with a supple wrapper that was devoid of any real veins save for the usual tiny ones. A gentle squeeze revealed a softness that was not overly so, but enough to let me know that the draw on this was promising. I did the duty with the cutter, and the prelight draw was perfect, and I tasted that sweet, earthy taste that the wrapper smelled of, as well as a very, very faint floral bit that I later discovered to be something delicious. I fired up the torch, toasted the head, and took that first draw. I was blown away immediately by the floral tones that I had smelled on the prelight becoming a prominent vanilla taste mixed with a buttery, sweet finish. Oh man, I could tell right off the bat that this was going to be a hell of a stick! I wanted to smoke it fast, but forced myself to slow down and take a minute to let the burn settle in.
The first third was delicious, with vanilla, earth, and slight wood notes lasting throughout the long finish. The smoke was creamy and billowed out in a hugely satisfying way. The burn was straight, and the ash was tight with a dark gray color. I was loving this cigar, and the beer was complimenting it perfectly, cleansing my palate perfectly so as to give me a fresh taste each time. The crispness of the beer, the wonderful breeze, creamy smoke, and surreal quietness was amazing.
The second third kept extremely consistent with the first, and the strength was staying in the medium range. The burn started to go a little lopsided, so I corrected with the torch and ashed. I was in complete bliss by this point, and thinking of ways to thank the BOTL that had given me the opportunity to try this gem. More on that to come after I move this weekend... :whistling:
The last third I started to pick up a hint of old leather, like the kind that you smell a lot because it is so subtle and delicate, yet at the same time so perfect. The notes of vanilla started to subdue a bit, with the wood and earth becoming level with it. The strength picked up a tad, almost not at all, but detectable just the same. The burn was still perfect after the correction, and the ash was rock hard and staying for the duration until I nubbed this stick.
I am truly changed in my opinion on the Gurkha brand, this smoke blew any prior negative opinion about them out the window. I won't be trying the Master Blender or Vulcan again, but I definitely will be buying more of the Regent Toro, and sampling the other lines as well. Thank you again to Sned45, who set up the pass on CalGuns. :thumbs:
*Edit* Updated with stats.
