Gurkha 125th Anniversary

The cigar brand Gurkha was brought back to life in the 1980s by the native Indian Kaizad Hansotia. The name goes back to the Nepalese soldiers who fought for the British Empire on the Indian subcontinent (the original name of the Kingdom of Nepal is "Gorkha"!). The logo actually features one of these fighters with the characteristic curved dagger.

For a long time, the brand was better known for its exclusive, elaborate, and eye-catching packaging and boxes. The company also produces cigars, for example, that are sold for well over $1000 per piece or are enriched with extremely expensive cognacs, making them available in the market for several tens of thousands of euros. However, a few years ago, they moved away somewhat from the "super-premium" track by adding more affordable series to their portfolio. This includes this one as well: The Gurkha 125th Anniversary XO was launched in 2012 to celebrate the 125th anniversary of the brand or the Gurkha fighters. Therefore, the "year of founding" marks the "peak" of British occupation and also the peak of the Gurkha tradition in India.

These cigars are made by our friend Abe Flores in his factory in the Dominican Tamboril. He is responsible for sensational cigars like the outstanding PDR or the Flores y Rodriguez, as well as the Gurkha Ghost. This cigar impresses us time and again; it has a beautiful, aromatic flavor of dried oranges, a bit of leather, and some cedarwood. Well-balanced with satisfying smoke and a great deal of elegance. In 2012, these cigars received a Top 25 placement on the Cigar Aficionado's list of best cigars.

The Gurkha 125th Anniversary series features a very special wrapper: 'Cubra' from Brazil, a hybrid breed. The binder is also a tobacco from Ecuador, while the fillers come from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and Brazil. Medium-bodied yet very aromatic and complex with notes leaning towards caramel, vanilla, nuts, and wood, with a subtle sweetness and a very pleasant tobacco spice.