Cigar:            Gurkha G3 Maduro

Size:             50 x 6.0"

Country:          DR

Wrapper:          Nic

Binder:           Cameroon   

Filler:           Nic, Ligero

Flavor Strength:  Medium-Full

NicotineStrength: Medium

Date Received:    2007-03-07

Suspected Age:    NA

Vendor/Price:     Gift, Scott Richmond, ASC.  Thanks!  About $135/20, cheapest $94/20.

Hype:       Kaizad Hansotia, masterful blender, calls this his most complex and richest cigar that he has ever made. The Gurkha G3’s are available only in a toro size, due to the shortage of the wrapper leaves used for this cigar. Manufactured in famous Torano factory in Hondurus, these cigars are in limited supply, as there were only 1000 boxes made for Gurkha G3 blend. The cigars are beautifully presented in a leather bound box, like all Gurkha cigars are know for, amazing packaging.  Debuting at the 2006 RTDA trade show, the Gurkha G3 was one of the premier releases.  With its stylish leather box packaging and beautiful maduro wrappers it was impossible to resist.  The G3 is very robust with an extremely full body that stems from its triple ligero filler.  The cigar is spicy and peaty with an even burn and nice balance that hits the palate hard from the first puff to the last.

Beverage(s):      Water, Hales Pale Ale

Smoke time:       1:15

Date:             2007-04-11

Posted to ASC:    2007-04-11

Overall score:    2.5 / 5.0

Sock color:       Yellow

Hat:              Mariners, Old style

Overall:    A rather bitter stick, starting bitter-sweet, then becoming hard-woodsy sweet, then returning to some bitterness with the redeeming sweetness vanishing.  Might be more palatable to a leather-tongue or perhaps paired with a sweet drink.  Excellent construction.  For maduros, and for me, the Cusano C18 Paired maduro is still the stick to beat.  Not a box puchase.  2.5 / 5.0

Ambience:   In the sunroom in the early evening.  Mariners just beat the Red Sox, 3-0, in a one-hitter.  Sweet revenge after last night's 14-3 drumming.  Overcast, cold, and windy with scattered showers. 

Appearance: Nicely presented with a half-length cedar sleeve finished with a black satin ribbon at the foot.  Simple black and gold band.  Relatively dark, mottled wrapper with small veins.  Firm along length with a couple soft spots.  Triple cap. 

Cut & Prelight:   Sweet, leathery aroma.  Cut well yielding a slightly restricted draw with a molasses-like dry grass flavor - not sweet. 

First third:      Initially bitter sweet with a low smoke volume and sweet aftertaste.  Woody (hardwood, not cedar) but still with a bitter edge.  At an inch in most of the bitterness has vanished.  Nice white ash holding to about 1-1/2".  Mostly a sweet woodiness. 

Second third:     Sweet and woody.  Pleasant.  Not leathery.  No coffee.  No cocoa. Sweet after.  It is still early in the smoke.  Smoke volume has increased.  Occasional fruitiness in the smoke.  Very even burn. 

Third third:      Has not been a particularly smooth smoke, and it has sharpened considerably, losing its sweetness.  Rather palate fatiguing.  Sharpness has turned to bitter.  Abandoned at 2-1/2" due to bitterness.  Some nicotine buzz.