Gurkha Black Ops Berserker

The Black Ops Berserker is from a name you might not be able to say three times fast, but the name Kaizad Hansotia has rapidly swept through the cigar industry. Known as the master blender behind the Gurkha brand, he's admired for his mastery of fine tobacco blending and creativity in developing attractive packaging for his cigars. To go a step farther, for the Black Ops, Hansotia has paired with the legendary Abdel “A.J.” Fernandez and his esteemed factory in Estelí, Nicaragua, Tabacalera Fernandez, which produces premium lines for Rocky Patel, Padilla, and Man O’ War, just to name a few. Speaking of premium, the Berserker is a refined, intense, and delicious puro chocked full of premium long-fillers, binder, and a luscious habano wrapper all from the lush fields of Nicaragua. This medium to full-bodied handmade has flavors of toasty tobaccos, zesty hot pepper spice, rich dark chocolate, and salty leather that will stay consistent all the way down to the nub. Enjoy this bad boy as an after dinner smoke with your favorite cabernet.

The Nicaraguan cigar industry originated when Cuban cigar makers escaped the revolution and re-established their livelihood in Nicaragua with Cuban-seed tobacco. Blessed with dark, rich soil, their new home was ideal for tobacco cultivation and Nicaragua quickly became known for cigars that rivaled Cuban quality. Unfortunately, revolution and war came to Nicaragua in the 1980s and devastated the industry, but it’s rebounded dramatically and is once again producing tobacco considered by many to be the finest in the world.

The Esteli Valley is in many ways the heart of Nicaraguan production and is known for its very powerful and spicy tobacco. The Jalapa Valley produces arguably the finest tobacco in the country: somewhat sweeter and less intense than Esteli, but extremely complex. The tobacco of the Condega Valley is often described as a blend of the other two regions.