The Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

With a name like Evil, you’d expect this cigar to pack an extraordinary punch. It really doesn’t. While strong, the 6-inch Toro isn’t especially so. There’s little complexity in what is an OK smoke. More distinctive is the humongous band and the thick Brazilian wrapper that could almost pass for leather. I’m not sure whether Gurkha’s lack of attention to the blend’s description on the website—the same as that for the Assassin, a similar cigar, except for misspellings and improper word usage—reflects its feelings for the line.

Verdict = Hold.

–George E

photo credit: N/A

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

An amazing combination of full strength and full flavor, this 7.5-inch cigar uses tobacco from four countries to create a slow-burning, satisfying smoke. The rough Brazilian wrapper has a wonderful pre-light aroma and combines with the Peruvian and Nicaraguan filler to drop flavor after flavor on the tongue like a tobacco piñata. The Assassin has been part of the Gurkha line since 2009. I should have smoked one sooner.

Verdict = Buy.

–George E

photo credit: Cuban Crafters

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

It’s tough to judge a cigar’s qualities when you can’t smoke it. That was my recent experience with two of these six-inch sticks. I tried every trick I could with the first Gurkha Vintage Shaggy—clipping farther down the head, massaging the length of the stick, using a poker. Nothing helped, and after I encountered even greater difficulty with a replacement provided by the shop, I didn’t have the energy to keep trying this $6-8 Dominican puro.

Verdict = Sell.

–George E

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief verdict on a single cigar of “buy,” “hold,” or “sell.”

Sometimes creamy and often nutty, the Gurkha Legend Robusto (6 x 50) is a satisfying smoke with excellent physical properties. It employs a seven-year-old Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper, eight-year-old Dominican filler tobaccos, and a Cameroon binder to turn out a musty, woody profile. While enjoyable, it  doesn’t have the complexity to back up its price tag, which hovers around $9.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick A

photo credit: Stogie Guys

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This six inch by 53 ring gauge cedar-wrapped Torpedo has a toothy, deep black maduro wrapper with splotches of gray. Spanish for “double maduro,” it features singular black coffee notes with some occasional bitterness. There were no problems with construction. Altogether this is a pleasant, if uninspired, medium- to full-flavored maduro.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

This assertive Toro had a highly ornate double band wrapped around an oily greenish-brown wrapper. The 6 inch by 52 ring gauge smoke had a predominant flavor of coffee bean and earth with an oaky finish. Unfortunately, it also had a consistent and unpleasant bitterness. Combined with a burn that was uneven and a draw that was a bit too firm, I’m afraid this smoke didn’t make a good first impression with me.

Verdict = Sell.

–Patrick S

Each Saturday and Sunday we’ll post a Quick Smoke: not quite a full review, just our brief take on a single cigar.

The Gurkha Black Puro Torpedo (6.5 x 53) features an attractive black wrapper and dual silver and black bands. The cigar is noticeably soft on one side, but that does not seem to affect the draw, which was easy, or the burn, which is even with a solid ash. Flavor wise, I found a toasty smoke with cocoa and cedar. The finish was a bit dry. Overall not a bad smoke, but it just seemed uninspired.

Verdict = Hold.

–Patrick S