Gurkha Expedition Series

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). The Expedition Series Toro we've sent you is a medium-bodied cigar consisting of extensively aged Dominican long leaf fillers and a unique Connecticut-seed, Ecuador-grown, Colorado-colored wrapper. The cedar sleeve that encases the body of this cigar protects the cigar's construction while imparting a distinct cedary note—expect flourishes of cedar from start to finish in this tasty cigar. Part of Gurhka's appeal is their characteristic flavor—it's hard to pin down, but you know you're smoking a Gurhka—another mark of an artisan's cigar. Our panel members have described it as a smooth nuttiness with woody, nearly floral notes intermingled. We suggest pairing this cigar with a nutty brown ale or a mellow cabernet; two completely different experiences, either will work nicely.