Gurkha Crest Torpedo

Throughout the cigar industry, the Gurkha brand has remained a favorite with novices and aficionados alike with its exquisite packaging and countless high ratings. 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 these smokes 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.

Though Gurkha makes many different lines of boutique cigars, the Crest (also known as Le Grande) 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 broadleaf maduro wrapper that is aged a minimum of 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 or Pinot Noir.

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.