Kaizad Hansotia, Beach Cigar Group’s C.E.O., has introduced the new Gurkha Signature 1887 premium cigar, in one shape and two wrappers. “1887 was the year my family entered the world of business and commerce,” he explains. “Their first venture was a long-lived, successful import-export business. Commerce and prestige items have been a part of my family’s heritage ever since. My father founded a watch-manufacturing company in India in 1950 ... I learned true craftsmanship and creativity in watch design with him, which have served me well in designing Gurkha’s presentations.”

The Signature 1887 Black uses a Nicaraguan wrapper, while the Signature 1887 bears an aged Connecticut Shade wrapper. Both have a Dominican binder and a filler of (East) Indian and Peruvian tobaccos. These exotic tobaccos are rarely seen in premium cigars, and this is the first time Hansotia has chosen them. He selected the Indian-origin filler complement to pay homage to his Indian heritage. The Signature 1887s are available in 6-1/2" x 55 only.

The cigars are presented 48 to the box, in strikingly beautiful red or black lacquered boxes, depending on the contents. Manufacturer's suggest retail price is $384 for a box of Reds ($8.00 a cigar), or $400 a box ($8.33 a cigar) for the Black iteration. According to Hansotia, “We have reduced the company’s profits on the Signature 1887s, reducing the cost so everyone could afford to try and enjoy this unique and beautiful cigar. We launched the line with 300 boxes of each, which were sold out in 4 days. We plan to produce 1,500 more boxes of each in 2008, although we expect shortages as we expect customer’s demand will exceed supply.”

Gurkha Cigars’ new Signature 1887 blends select East Indian and Peruvian filler tobaccos in either a Connecticut Shade or Nicaraguan wrapper