Gurkha Grand Master Review

[chip]

This is my first review here, but after dedicating myself to this monster I needed to write this to justify the 90 minutes.

This is a striking cigar. 8.5 inches by 50 rg, with the barberpole look of Cameroon and Habano 2000 wrapper leaf. Like any Torano rolled cigar, this was well constructed and burned evenly despite the wind gusting on my patio.
I suppose I expected something different, this is a very mild cigar. Even while lighting, which I like to make sure is an even start, this puppy exhibited nothing but a tame taste. I guess this makes sense, a cigar this size probably would kill you if it was a full bodied powerhouse.
The first half was very mild, with a slight woodsie taste, but by no means very flavorful. It got slightly, and I mean slightly, more flavorful in the second half but was still a mild smoke. Extremely one dimensional, not bad by any means, but nothing special. I was smoking a bit fast, perhaps the sheer size (and the 95 degree temp) made me try to hurry, and it never got hot. In fact, it just never did much of anything. I enjoyed it, it certainly did nothing wrong, but by the same token it did not make me excited to have another.
I generally like Gurkha's, and I have a few more of these that came in a sampler, but I won't purchase any more. It seems a bit gimmicky to me, but it may well appeal to those that like a mild smoke and can dedicate an hour and a half to two hours.

All in all, just OK at best, but if you like a mild smoke and the unique appearance appeals to you, then by all means give it a try.

[Warhorse545]

Sorry it did not work out at well as ya thought it would. And nice to see ya finally fired it up.


Stacey

[Darb85]

gurka is a torano?? damn good to know. sorry didnt work out

[donp]

I'm a fan of Gurkhas too dart, but I haven't gotten an urge to try those. Hell, I'm worrying about the East India Ltd.s I bought recently without trying them first.
A good review though, and helpful to me I'm sorry it didn't work out for you though. Hell, you took one for the team

[adamh_25_]

Originally Posted by Darb85

gurka is a torano?? damn good to know. sorry didnt work out

[craigchilds]

If you want to try another Gurkha, you might try the Master Select toro. I found it to have a good amount of flavor (sort of a medium-strength cigar)

I've never had the Grand Master. Thanks for warning me away in time.

[chip]

Originally Posted by craigchilds

If you want to try another Gurkha, you might try the Master Select toro. I found it to have a good amount of flavor (sort of a medium-strength cigar)

I've never had the Grand Master. Thanks for warning me away in time.

The Master Select in the toro size is a very good smoke, as are almost all of K Hansottia's blends. If you have never had a Legend, that is the cream of their crop IMO.

[only on the weekend]

I had a gurkha gengis khan on the golf course the other day, scored a couple fivers on the devil site that smoke was excellent....tried the double maduro also loved it too.

[neoflex]

I bought a 5ver of these a few months ago and have been saving them for my childhood buddies wedding that is coming up real soon.

[JMAC]

I won 10 of these on Cbid for $11.00 (?!?!?!) and smoked the first one last night. I was a little worried after seeing some unflattering reviews but...

I liked it a lot. Didn't love it, I generally prefer stronger cigars but this one was mild in the best possible way. Lots of earth and cedar throughout with a little nuttiness in the last third. A surprisingly consistent smoke given the size and double wrapper construction. The cigar burned well adn did not require any touch ups. I will be happy to let the others rest in my humi and smoke one every couple of months when the mood strikes. I can see this being a killer Sunday morning smoke with a big pot of coffee and the paper.

This was my first Gurkha, I had not heard of Gurkha until stumbling on this site, and now I think I will have close to 50 that I've won off the Devil Site ...Gorillas... but I am really looking forward to sampling all they have to offer.

[TechMetalMan]

Man Im not sure about Gurkhas- they get sooo many mixed reviews.

I have only had two myself and I was excited about both until I smoked them- a Boer and a Doble Maduro. Not a ton of flavour in either *shrugs*.

[dunng]

I picked up a bunch of these from CBid around May... I enjoy them once and a while, and yes they are mild. If anything they are atleast impressive looking...

[JHawk]

A buddy of mine gifted a few of the Grand Master's to me a while back. I thought it was a pretty good smoke... a bit longer than I normally like to spend smoking a cigar, though.

[JMAC]

As far as smoking time, mine burned down in about an hour. It takes me roughly 2 hours to smoke the Gran Habano Gran Robusto.

So for time, I think girth is more important than length.

[mhillsing23]

I have a couple of these that were gifted to me. I have yet to try one, but I have heard that they are pretty mild, which doesn't excite me a whole lot. I agree that this cigar seems kind of gimmicky. I wouldn't really make an opinion on the Gurkha brand off of the one cigar.