Sherpa Black Toro

Kaizad Hansotia is known as the master blender behind the Gurkha brand. In addition to being known for his mastery of fine tobacco blending, he’s known for his creativity in developing attractive packaging for his cigars. One other claim to fame—he makes one of the most expensive cigars in the world: His Majesty's Reserve. This cigar retails for an astonishing $14,995 per box of 20. That's $750 smackers a stick! The reason it's that expensive? Well, in our opinion, there's no real reason for a cigar to be that expensive, but their rationale is the fact that they infuse an entire bottle of Louis XIII cognac into each batch! Needless to say, club members won’t be seeing a $750 stogie. Instead, we’re bringing you a great cigar from the same maker that you can afford to enjoy daily! The K. Hansotia Sherpa Black Toro is a great smoke without the Ferrari price tag. The meticulous construction and superior tobaccos that comprise the Sherpa brand attest to its quality. Draped in a warm, chocolate, lightly-veined, and perfectly oiled Connecticut Broadleaf, the pre-light aroma is wonderful. The Sherpa blend consists of select long-leaf Cuban-seed Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan fillers and a Connecticut Broadleaf binder. Densely packed and slow burning, the medium-bodied Sherpa is a smooth, toasty cigar. After an easy light, look for notes of dark chocolate with hints of spice. A hoppy Pale Ale or robust Porter will go well with your Sherpa.

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.