Having smoked Gurkha cigars in the past, I’m not surprised by the presentation of the Special Ops. It’s a beautiful stick that’s accentuated by two bands. The top band is large and displays the Gurkha name and logo. The smaller band beneath it displays the Special Ops name in gold and black. The cigar itself is dark, oily, and very smooth. There are only a few minimal veins that are noticeable. It feels firm to the touch with zero soft spots. The pre-light aroma is of barnyard, while the cold taste is woody.

The Special Ops Maduro lights with ease and produces very thick smoke. The draw is perfect. The ash is white in color and solid in form. There are no touch-ups or re-lights necessary, which allows me to take in all the flavors the cigar has to offer.

Sticking with the flavor theme, this is one tasty stogie. It begins with a mix of tobacco and earth in the first third. Things get more complex in the second third with more earth, as well as chocolate and spicy pepper. It seems to hit full-bodied strength at this point. The final third tones things down a bit with coffee and cream. Medium to full-bodied seems like the perfect description for the Special Ops.

The Gurkha Special Ops is a nice example of a cigar that has both style and substance. It impressed me with its appearance, and that positive impression carried through with the burn and complexity. If you are a Gurkha fan or want something that is full of flavor, put the Special Ops Maduro on your list. The Churchill comes in unique cases of 20 and sells for around $10 per single.

The Gurkha Special Ops Maduro Churchill earns a rating of 3.5 out of four stars.