K. Hansotia Brazilian Gran Envoy

[AVB]

I had a chance to fire up one of these this weekend, my box arrived Friday afternoon and I could't wait.

CI says the list is $400 for this box of 20 but everyone knows how they inflate things, even they sell it for $250 and you can get it at auction for $120-160. No way these are $20 cigars but I don't think any cigar is so take that for whatever it's worth. Once you get down to the $6-8 range they become pretty attractive.

This is a Churchill size cigar at 7x50 with a gorgous dark brown wrapper, firm to the touch and no soft spots that I found. Pre-light draw was good and the aroma from toasting the foot gave a good idea of what was to come. This was a very consistant cigar, from the first puff filled with a pepper mixed with dark chocolate flavor it stayed that way down to the nub. If anything it may have gotten smoother as it burned down. Even the one re-light I did didn't change the flavor profile as it does for some cigars. Overall I liked this but then I'm a Gurkha whore anyway.

The box is pretty nice but it can't be used as a small humi once it is empty due to the lack of a seal around the edges. It would make a great box for just putting stuff in sitting on your dresser or desk.

 

[cigardawg]

Nice review. Was hoping you would do one after the weekend.

 

[cigardawg]

Alright, smoked one of these fairly massive cigars last night. Product of K. Hansotia (Gurkha) and rolled by the Torano family.

Very well packed cigar, solid as a brick S@#$house. The wrapper had a great medium-brown color with just a hint of rosado to it. Very good looking cigar. The pre-light nose was mild and slightly spicy and the pre-light draw was firm, but passable.
The cigar burned even and cool throughout. The ash was stark white and very firm. The draw, while a little firm, was acceptable and each puff produced ample smoke. The smoke was medium-bodied and thick. The cigar required absolutly no touch-ups and stayed cool to a nub. Very well constructed cigar.
The initial flavors were a little spicy (maybe some cinnamon or nutmeg). This quickly settled into some creamy coffee flavors that dominated the remainder of the cigar. At different points in the smoke, the cigar developed some nutty notes, some more spice, and even some raw cocoa. All in all, a very good tasting cigar.
I am really enjoying the gurkhas here of late. Thanks for the trade, AVB.