Today's reviews feature two cigars on the smoother side of the spectrum: the Gurkha Doble Maduro Toro and the Macanudo Prince Philip Maduro. While one was very enjoyable, the other was disappointing. Keep reading to find out which was a winner.

Gurkha Doble Maduro Toro

Gurkha is considered to be a boutique cigar company that produces smaller quantities of premium cigars. Many Gurkha offerings have been noted not only for their extravagant presentation, but also for their higher price tags. The Doble Maduro line is not one of the higher priced lines from the brand, but it does still retain the great looks one would expect from a Gurkha. While great looks are a plus, how does this stick perform, and does it provide good value? The only way to find out is to light one up.

The Doble Maduro Toro measures 6 x 52. The cigar receives its name from the fact that it comes with two Costa Rican Maduro wrappers. Hence the term “doble,” which is the Spanish word for double. One could say that the use of double wrappers on a Maduro cigar is rare, as most of that variety usually only come with one wrapper. The Doble Maduro also strays from the pack in its strength. Most often, Maduro cigars tend to offer a stronger profile. The Doble Maduro is considered to be a smoother stick that sits in the medium-bodied category.

It's hard to beat Gurkha when it comes to presentation, and the Doble Maduro is no different. The cigar comes wrapped in a cedar sheath. Gurkha tends to have some of the most visually appealing bands on their cigars, and the Doble Maduro comes with two. The smaller band in the middle is black and gold and has the Doble Maduro name. The band near the head is much larger and features the Gurkha name as well as the company logo in a flashy red and gold color scheme. The cigar itself is quite dark and has an oily sheen when placed under direct light. There are quite a few veins present. Feeling the cigar reveals that it is well-packed for the most part. Prior to lighting, it has a sweet cold taste and a cedar scent.