Gurkha Classic Havana Toro

The Gurkha legend comes from when colonial soldiers, at the height of British rule in India, started making their own cigars from local tobacco, some of which was produced in the Portuguese territory of Goa. Expatriates from Britain who were still living in India continued smoking the cigars, but eventually the cigars began to wane into history and legend as did the rajas’ rule. Today the Gurkha brand stays true to the original essence of those first cigars made so long ago, so the legend will live on.

The Classic Havana may hail from Nicaragua but the taste will take you straight to Cuba. Story has it that the guys at Gurkha have been searching for years for the perfect concoction for a Cuba-esque smoke. In fact, this one was tweaked over twenty times before they knew they had achieved the ultimate Havana smoke. Boy did they. Starting from the inside and working our way out, this blend starts with Nicaraguan fillers and binder that are secured by a handsome milk chocolaty Mexican San Andrés wrapper, and the cigar is finished with a perfect box press. Light ‘er up and find a medium bodied smoke that will envelop your palate with notes of nuts, spice, and earth. Try accompanying this smoke with your favorite red wine, like a Syrah.

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.