Gurkha Crest Churchill Maduro

There's no doubt that Gurkha is one of the premier boutique brands on the market today. Their limited-edition cigars are vastly outnumbered by the millions put out by the big national brands, but that's where they capitalize: they use their small, boutique-brand maneuverability to produce numerous cigar blends that epitomize the craft that is cigar making. True craftsmanship goes in to all elements of these cigars, from growing, harvesting and fermenting the tobacco to creating intricate leaf blends to rolling each cigar by hand and, of course, packaging (they're instantly recognizable with their old Cuban-style packaging and intricate label designs). In fact, Gurkha’s infamous Gurkha His Majesty's Reserve Cigars are one of the most expensive cigars out there today; at last check: $750 for a single cigar! They are that expensive because they're enhanced with Louis XIII cognac which sells for about $1,500 a bottle. Obviously, our Gurkha offering isn't in the same league price-wise but the Gurkha Crest Maduro does benefit from the same standards for quality and flavor.

Also known as Gurkha Le Grande, the Crest Maduro easily ranks among Gurkha’s finest creations. High in demand, the Crest is hand-rolled in Nicaragua and is crafted with a vintage mixture of Cuban-seed long-fillers from Nicaragua's top growing regions that is hugged by a premium Nicaraguan binder. On top is a chewy and thick Connecticut maduro wrapper that is aged for over nine years! Medium to full in strength, this one-of-a-kind smoke has velvety smooth, deep, and roasted notes with nuances of toast, leather, and oak, with a long, sweet, chewy finish. You can expect a razor-sharp burn and impeccable construction. Our panel loved this smoke and recommended pairing it with your favorite IPA.

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.