Gurkha Evil

There isn't much more to say about Gurkha cigars. The founder of the cigar brand, Kaizad Hansotia, acquired the brand name in the late 1980s and has since created a stylish, exciting, and visually outstanding brand. There are now a large number of different series, mainly rolled in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. Some aficionados might find the boxes a bit too extravagant at times, but we don't see this as a major issue; one can simply overlook it!

The Gurkha Evil cigars are rolled with a Brazilian wrapper, more precisely a Mata Fina grown in the shade. A leaf from the Dominican Republic was used as the binder, and all the filler tobaccos come from Nicaragua. The most striking aspect of this blend is the Brazilian wrapper grown in the shade, as this variety typically grows in the sun and becomes much darker.

Despite their somewhat lighter appearance, these cigars are not for beginners. They start off very strong and have reminded us at times of the blends from Pete Johnson's Tatuaje: coffee, toast, wood, and pepper. However, they mellow out during the smoking process, and the initial intensity transforms into a subtle woody, peppery dominance. Currently, the availability of these cigars is somewhat limited, which might also be related to a change in the distributor. Since the summer of 2015, the company Kleinlagel from Bruchsal has been distributing these unusual cigars and has not yet made a decision regarding the full portfolio and further offerings.