Fourth-generation cigar and tobacco producers, Toraño Family Cigar Company, has introduced its second Vault premium cigar. The new handmade Blend D-042 joins the top-rated Vault Blend A-008 which was launched in 2011.

This latest “Blend from the Vault” combines select Central American tobaccos, but with an unusual addition. According to President Charlie Toraño, “My father and I discovered a rare Pennsylvania leaf, while on a 1998 tobacco trip. Extensive experimentation revealed it to be an excellent enhancement to the filler tobaccos in Blend D-042, which we recorded in the blend book in 2004. The Pennsylvania tobacco’s flavor perfectly balanced the Nicaraguan filler combination. The original blend had a Sumatra Ecuadorian wrapper which was a popular choice at the time and widely available. In making some small adjustments to the original blend, we added a Habano Ecuadorian wrapper and the result was impressive. Blend D-042 is a powerful smoke, but with long and lingering sweet spice notes, it is very rounded and flavorful. It’s a fitting addition to our Vault line, complementing our runaway top-seller and widely distributed Vault Blend A-008.”

Vault Blend D-042 is available in three parejo shapes ... a BFC (6" x 60), Robusto (5" x 52) and Toro (6" x 50) ... plus a Torpedo ( 6-1/8" x 52).

Smokers can see Vault blend D-042 on retailers’ shelves in early August . Manufacturer’s suggested retail pricing for the line are $7.20 to $8.50.

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Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Proprietary Kanú (based on perfecto)
Size : 6 x 54
Wrapper : Brazilian Maduro
Filler : Dominican
Binder : Their binder is proprietary and they simply refer to it as ‘MBC’
Hand-Made
Price : ~$10

This new and unique shape by Iconic Leaf, the Kanú, was inspired by a Kayak boat. Iconic Leaf sent me a couple samples last autumn for review along with some promotional material. I wanted to give these cigars some resting time and as our winter hit early, I decided to put off smoking them until the time was right.

All of Iconic Leaf's cigars are produced in their factory; Tabacalera Leyendas Cubanas in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. They roll all of their cigars entubado style and every leaf in the Recluse is fermented for two years.

At first glance the cigar resembles a box-pressed perfecto but to my eyes it actually resembled an Italian made 'Toscano' in a larger, more refined format. Don't snip it in the middle though as you would a Toscano! (*wink*) Thankfully the company offers instructions on where to snip the cigar in their boxes. I did not get these with my two review samples and as such I found the draw on the first one quite tight. I did snip more off the second one and found the draw much improved.

The function of a perfecto is that the different components from wrapper to filler allow for the cigar to go through subtle flavor transitions. Iconic Leaf Cigars advises that by developing this one of a kind shape the smoker is able to get a slow, cool burn as a result of the benefit of pressing along with flavor transitions. Iconic Leaf refers to their process as "specific and unique; a one of a kind process". Their company literature provides that "Every cigar has a story to tell. You have to read this book page by page. This one will not allow you to jump chapters. It is a novel."

Remember I rated their Recluse Toro higher than the Alec Bradley Prensado in flavor so I was more than curious as to how this shape would fare and whether it would alter the flavor profile at all.

The promotional material shipped with the cigars indicated that the cigar has "subtle cornering and is aerodynamic in fashion. It was a painstaking process to perfect this new shape but we have mastered it. The shape smokes razor sharp with a full easy compliment of flavorful smoke on the draw. It is a masterpiece!". Let's put this to the test shall we?

Appearance : 4.25 out of 5 stars (4.25)
As I already noted, on first glimpse the cigar reminded me of a larger version of a Toscano. The nicely crafted "pig-tail" end is meant to be snipped and the company, as stated, offers instructions on where the perfect snip should be. The wrapper had visible veins and some seams. The rustic looking cigar had a nice oily sheen to it though and the visible veins and seams never impacted the burn. The pig-tail was nicely crafted.

Construction : 4.75 out of 5 stars (4.75)
The burn was excellent. Two touch-ups were needed to even out an otherwise consistent burn on my first sample. The second sample burned without need for any touch-up, possibly because I cut it at the correct spot. The pre-light draw was tight on the first sample, easily remedied by snipping a bit more on my second sample to create a larger opening.

The cigar had excellent smoke output for the most part but on both samples was a bit lacking at the start. As expected, the volume increased as it approached the middle (thicker) part of the cigar. Overall, it needed no relights, the ash was nice and firm with no flaking or other major complaints.

Flavor : 4.5 out of 5 stars
I must commend Iconic Leaf for manufacturing an extremely tasty cigar and you really do owe it to yourself to try a cigar from this newcomer to the scene. Fans of Maduro cigars should love this. I actually enjoyed the flavors of the Kanú more than I did the Toro and wonder if this perhaps was in part attributed to the fact these Kanú cigars sat in my humidor for 6 months before I smoked them.

The cigar starts off quite complex and remains that way. It is perfectly balanced with sweetness, salt, bitterness and spice. It has distinct maduro 'nuttiness' to it and much of the first third was an explosion of flavor going from sweet to creamy, nutty and a very mild hint of orange peel. The smoke was very velvety offering a nice oily sweet residue on the tongue.

The first third revealed flavors of cocoa, semi-sweet chocolate, coffee and toasted almond. There was some sweet earthiness on the palate and an occasional hint of orange peel. There was some pleasant saltiness on the lips and the cigar had enough spice to be noticeable and complimentary but not distracting. The finish was long with the sweetness hitting the front of the palate first and more spice lingering in between puffs. Due to its shape there wasn't a lot of thick smoke at the outset but this increases as you reach the thicker part of the cigar.

As I approached the halfway mark there were notes of toasted caramel that I likened to the ‘crispy crackle’ on a creme brulé. As expected, the cigar's smoke output increased and the smoke took on a sweet cappuccino-like texture. The cigar remained very pleasant, taking on some semi-sweet coffee and cocoa like flavors with hints of dark chocolate.

There were still some sweet tones present as I passed the halfway mark but the Kanu morphed into an earthier cigar with notes of toasted almond, sweet wood and leather notes. The spice remained consistent. It was a nice jalapeño-like heat with a medium finish.

By the final third the flavors continued to shine but more occasional bitterness did enter the profile. It wasn’t an unpleasant bitterness but because the majority of the cigar is on the sweeter side, you can really notice the diminished sweetness. However, the flavors were of dark chocolate, roasted coffee bean and unsweetened espresso and were still enjoyable. I did get a couple puffs of unpleasant hints of tar and some bitterness that put me off but these were very few and closer to the end of the cigar. There remained the occasional burst of toasted caramel sweetness with cocoa and spice that made it through in the final third but most of it was definitely more on the ‘earthier' side.

Value : 4.25 out of 5 stars (4.25)
These cigars are still hard to find but the online retailers I've seen carry them have posted prices of between $180-$188 for a box of 20 and singles for approximatelty $10-10.50 staying pretty much consistent with the MSRP. It is priced as a premium cigar but thankfully it carries with it the enjoyment of one. I often state, value is relative to the enjoyment one gets from the product they purchase. I was quite pleased and as such I would pay $10.00 for one of these again but wonder if the price tag might put people off for a brand that they don’t recognize given the general public’s love affair with established “name brand” cigars. Buying by the box will save you some money. I've been sent disappointing cigars for review before but Iconic Leaf seems to have a winner on their hands and, compared to some other over-marketed cigars in this price range, this one actually kept me interested during the entire smoking experience.

Overall Rating : 4.5 out of 5 stars
The Recluse Kanú 1 Maduro was a very enjoyable complex cigar with enough flavor changes and flavor notes to keep you interested. It is certainly full bodied and medium strength. It was extremely tasty offering a variety of different flavor notes throughout that ranged from sweetness to pleasant earthiness. There was just enough spice and the cigar transitioned quite nicely. Admittedly when you did hit some bitter parts they were truly ‘bitter’ but thankfully these spots were very few and very short lasting in both samples that I smoked. For the most part the cigar was nicely balanced and consistent.

This is a cigar that the avid cigar smoker should seek out and try. I always encourage fellow cigar smokers to venture out of the comfort zone and try the new brands and blends. Admittedly with today’s rising tobacco prices, paying $10.00 for a cigar they never heard of might put some people off but they are worth trying even at this price because in my opinion, they will not leave you feeling ripped off. It is truly an above average cigar. It paired well with a cappuccino and would go well with a port or iced tea.

Having had both their Toro and now their Kanú, I am a fan. Their cigars are becoming easier to find and one can find a retailer near you on their website here. I look forward to further releases from Iconic Leaf.

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Origin : Honduras
Format : Torpedo
Size : 6 1/8 x 54
Wrapper : Nicaragua Jalapa (Colorado Maduro)
Filler : Honduras and Panama grown Jamastran tobaccos
Binder : Sumatra (Grown in Equador)
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8 each
More info about purchasing Alec Bradley Black Market cigars...

Introduced in 2011, the Alec Bradley Black Market line is handmade in Danli, Honduras and sports a Jalapa-grown Nicaraguan wrapper "cured to a dark, shimmering patina". The cigar is a blend of Honduras and Panama-grown Jamastran tobaccos.

Appearance : 5 out of 5 stars
As is the trend lately with cigar companies, packaging and marketing seems to be the name of the game. It is often said we eat with our eyes first (all in the presentation) and today’s non-Cuban cigar market is infiltrated with sexy packaging in the hopes of luring buyers. While I am not a fan of over top packaging but care more for the product itself, I cannot utterly dismiss it when it comes to rating appearance. This cigar is packaged beautifully with a nice looking paper sheath around the cigar stamped with the manufacturer and the brand along with a matching band on the cigar. No glue is used on the sheath so it slides right off. The band also came off with relative ease so as not to damage the cigar. The cigar is made exceptionally well and it shows in its appearance. Boxes come in “wooden crates” that look like weapon crates. I have to admit they look cool. The cigar itself offers a very attractive Colorado maduro wrapper which is inviting. The cigar has a beautiful sheen to the wrapper, minimal veins and nice tight seams. It really does look outstanding as does the packaging.

Construction : 4 out of 5 stars
The cigar held up well to my straight cut. For the most part it burned well and provided thick smoke output but it did need more than a couple touch ups to correct the burn and one re-light just past the halfway point. Smoke diminished in the second half compared to the first half. The ash was firm but did flake more than usual. For the most part it would hold for about an inch before falling off. The draw started off fine but seemed to open up a tad too much in the final third. It was packed well, firm to the touch and without noticeable soft spots.

Flavor : 2 out of 5 stars
This review might be a tad controversial only in the sense that I know there are a lot of Alec Bradley fans out there. Keep in mind that taste and flavor is purely subjective and no two palates are alike. I would be lying if I simply wrote a respectable review and feel that it is important to at least get my impression of the cigar written in an honest manner. Good or bad, I encourage anyone interested in the cigar who hasn’t tried it to at least give it a try. Don’t let my review of the cigar put you off on trying one if it is truly what you want to do. This is what makes the hobby fun: comparing each other’s experiences.

The pre-light aroma provided some cedar, mint, tea and earthy aromas. The pre-light draw was good and offered up earthy notes with a touch of peppery mint and some mustiness.

The cigar lit well and gave off some thick clouds of smoke. The flavors were a tad muted on lighting which was surprising given the pleasant aromas the cigar had when unlit. There was some mild pepper on the tongue but this was very subtle. The first flavors that hit me, in order, were must, wood, earth and a faint hint of tea on the finish. It had a long woodsy/musty finish with barely any spice. As I reached the end of the first third a little more pepper came into the flavor profile and while no particular flavour changes caught my attention during the first third, the peppery finish got noticeably longer as I smoked it. The spice wasn’t really “peppery” but more of a subtle background “spice”.

The draw gained a little more resistance as I approached the second third. The smoke remained thick but the smoke’s texture was quite dry, leaving no flavourful residue on my palate. The primary flavors remained earthy and woody with hints of unsweetened coffee and cocoa entering the profile here and there along with some bitter citrus flavors. I also picked up the occasional but very brief toasted nuts and leather. I did pick up some semi-sweet chocolate in the smoke near the halfway point but this was not very long lasting at all. While the cigar’s smoke did leave a slight residue on my palate at this stage of the cigar, overall it was quite dry. It was also a tad on the bitter side.

As I reached the halfway point, the cigar offered up pretty much the same flavors noticed in the first half. The sweetness was gone from the smoke and other than the transition to a more neutral smoke texture, the overall flavor profile remained the same. Strength was definitely there and although this cigar is marketed as medium strength, I would tend to lean to the stronger end. All in all, the flavors, while noticeable, were not that really enjoyable with a very noticeable mustiness and earthy profile dominating the cigar.

The final third offered more of the same. The smoke output decreased and the draw opened up a bit too much. The cigar became even more bitter as I approached the band. For the most part the flavors had absolutely no transition at all. I don’t have any particular problem with a one dimensional smoke if the flavors I am getting from a cigar are enjoyable. I cannot say that for the Black Market Torpedo. Perhaps a little age might help this cigar sweeten up a bit but for what I got out of my tasting, I was rather unimpressed and would rather spend my money elsewhere.

Value : 2 out of 5 stars
This cigar’s MSRP is $7.90. It comes in boxes of 22 and buying by the box will make the per/cigar price a bit lower. I have seen these retail online for between $7.50 to $9.00 with discounts given if bought by the box. Value is always a tough thing to rate. It’s hard to find any value in a cigar that I did not find enjoyable. I could only guess how the advertising, packaging and glitz adds to the cost of the cigar but for my money, there are many better tasting cigars out there in this price range. With the price of cigars rising, it’s getting hard to justify paying $8.00 for a cigar when the overall experience was poor. As such, I was compelled to rate the value of the cigar as I rated the flavor experience.

Overall Rating : 3.25 out of 5 stars (3.25)
I was really looking forward to trying this cigar. The fact it is blended with tobacco from 4 countries intrigued me and really sparked my curiosity to see how the tobacco from those 4 countries would marry with each other. To be quite frank, I question how popular this cigar (which reportedly sold out on release) would have been if not preceded by the AB Prensado cigar of the year award that pre-dated this.

I’ve been smoking cigars for over 20 years. No more than over the past few years have I noticed cigars marketing become more prevalent than it has today. From fancy creative packaging to all kinds of promotional events attached to releases. This cigar, with its wooden crate style box and extra protective sleeve is a prime example of additional costs that are passed on to the consumer. Even if only minimal, they do add to the price. There is nothing wrong with simply packing cigars in a cigar box and letting the taste of the cigar speak for itself. These little things annoy me because they ultimately impact the cost of the cigar and as smokers will note, this is becoming a more expensive hobby by the day. As companies jump over each other to release the next “big thing”, far too much money is spent (in my opinion) on marketing and fancy packaging when really, all the cigar smoker wants is a fine tasting cigar. However, it is the glitz and glamour that usually attracts one’s eye at the cigar shop and unfortunately, this sometimes gives a cigar a reputation it doesn’t deserve.

Like I’ve written in my other reviews, the fact that a cigar doesn’t change flavors, or remains one dimensional is not something to get overly worked up over so long as the flavors are enjoyable during your smoking experience. Where this cigar fails in my view is that while it remains one dimensional, I did not actually find the cigar’s flavour profile to be overly appealing or enjoyable. In fact had I not been smoking the cigar for the purpose of a review and taking notes while smoking it, I would probably have put it to rest a lot sooner than I did. The mustiness and dry flavors dominated the cigar and were not particularly enjoyable.

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Corona
Size : 5 5/8 x 42
Wrapper : Nicaragua
Filler : Nicaragua
Binder : Nicaragua
Hand-Made
Price : $5-6 each
More info about purchasing Casa Magna cigars...

Casa Magna Colorado Corona was just the right size for my first week-end of outdoor smoking in 2013 (I'm a bit late in writing this review). This is a well-known blend since 2008, when it was named top cigar of the year by a well-known lifestyle magazine. This Nicaraguan puro is supposed to be a good bang for your buck, providing a high-end flavor profile for an affordable price (it can be found between $5 and $6). Let’s see whether this is true.

Appearance : 4.5 out of 5 stars
This is a nice-looking cigar with a rich, oily wrapper that has a beautiful, deep brown color. The color of the tobacco is deepened by the oily sheen. There are a few fine veins, but otherwise the wrapper is pretty smooth.

Construction : 3.5 out of 5 stars
The construction overall was not bad, but the draw was a bit tight, and the burn was not all that even. The ash was a bit flaky, but neither the ash nor the burn posed any real problems. I didn’t even need to correct the burn. The draw however posed annoyances throughout, though it didn’t stop me from enjoying the cigar.

Flavor : 4 out of 5 stars
Right off the top this one has a powerful kick of pepper. The pepper dies down a bit, replaced by a medium-bodied sweetness. Leathery notes and wood notes take precedence during the middle third of the cigar, and the sweetness takes on a more definable caramel flavor. The final third tastes like coffee, with the other notes still lingering to add some more complexity. The finish, like the start, is very peppery and spicy.

Overall, the flavors are really enjoyable, but for a more complex profile feel free to check the Casa Magna Domus Magnus.

Value : 4.5 out of 5 stars
While I can complain a bit about the tight draw, the flavors of this cigar are very enjoyable, and it’s a pleasant experience overall. The price, around $5-6, is excellent, and makes this a steal.

Overall Rating : 4 out of 5 stars
The construction flaws are the only real drawbacks with the Casa Magna Colorado Corona, which otherwise is a beautiful cigar which provides a pleasant smoking profile. The notes are artfully blended and produce an enjoyable and varied experience from start to finish. If the price had been higher, the tight draw would have probably irritated me more, but for $6, the issue seems pretty insignificant, making this cigar a very solid 4/5 stars.

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Origin : Nicaragua
Format : Torpedo
Size : 5 1/4 x 52
Wrapper : Nicaraguan
Filler : Nicaraguan
Binder : Nicaraguan
Hand-Made
Price : ~$8-9 each
More info about purchasing Illusione cigars...

The Illusione ~2~ looks feisty. Short and stubby but a deep brown that exudes power and as I turn it to peer down the foot, I see a dense weave of ligero throughout the bunch.

As I light it, I find myself a bit surprised. At first it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be as spicy as I thought and certainly not as spicy as the ~mk~ (which is a limited release with an extra oomph thrown in).

Maybe this is like the Bolivar Belicoso Fino from Cuba? The BBF is a thick torpedo that sub-delivers on purpose and gives you a nice mellow mild smoke.

As I smoke further I realize this is not going to be a BBF, but it will not be as strong as the little firecracker known as the ~mk~. This cigar actually has some sweetness, but there is also a mesquite meatiness to the flavor (maybe I should back away from the grill). But really, this is a sweet, meaty smoke, with just a touch of pepper and cedar.

The smoke is voluminous and the ash is very flaky which is typical of a lot of Nicaraguan tobacco. The burn is mostly even though it does partially canoe in a few places.

The really cool thing is that this cigar is so different from the ~mk~, which hopefully means this is the case throughout the whole line.

As I smoke thru the halfway point, the cigar gets even sweeter and woodier. I am enjoying this cigar referred to “and crowned of thorns” from the Illusione website.

The finish is nice and long and I pick up the standard licorice/anise notes at the end (this is pretty common as the cigar heats up, tar is produced which often gives off a licorice taste).

I like this quite a bit more than the ~mk~, as I prefer refined to power. Great cigar!

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Espinosa Premium Cigars is proud to announce they will be introducing a limited edition cigar for their full bodied 601 La Bomba line called "Warhead" at IPCPR this year. This is the first time the 601 La Bomba line is offered with a Connecticut Broadleaf maduro wrapper. The Warhead measures 6 1/2 inches by 54 ring and is semi-box pressed with the familiar fuse-like pig tail that is found on the 601 La Bomba line. "Although the wrapper is different, we are using the same powerful blend as the rest of the line." said Erik Espinosa.

Warhead is limited to 2,000 boxes of 10 and the packaging is inspired by several themes in the World War II era. When unraveled, the foot band on the cigar is revealed to be in the form of a bomb. This "bomb" features nose art or aircraft graffiti, which was common in this era. Most prominent is the shark-face which is a reference to the Flying Tigers, the 1st American Volunteer Group, who would paint the shark-faces on their military aircrafts.

The 601 La Bomba line was first introduced in 2011 and is considered to be one of the strongest cigars in the market.

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The Caol Ila 18 Year Old is a smooth, warm, well-balanced Islay single malt. The Caol Ila distillery is located near Port Askaig and was founded in 1846 by Hector Henderson. Initially the Caol Ila struggled, and changed hands a couple of times before it was acquired by Bulloch Lade & Co. By the late 19th century, Caol Ila’s fortunes had changed, and the distillery was producing more than a hundred thousand gallons of whisky every year. The Caol Ila 18 Year Old is evocative of the scenic cove where the distillery is located, overlooking the water, with beautiful green hills in the backdrop.

In the bottle, the Caol Ila 18 Year Old is warm gold in colour. When I uncapped the bottle, I was greeted by a nicely blended, warm aroma of peat, flowers, lemon, and apricot, with overtones of burnt oak. There’s something herbal in here too, or maybe that comes from those floral notes I can detect.

The Caol Ila 18 Year Old tastes as smooth as it looks, and despite the presence of peat, it is very well balanced and quite mellow. Beginning whisky drinkers sometimes have difficulty with peat (in fact, some veteran whisky drinkers find it overpowering). Personally, I enjoy peat, but I also like when it doesn’t take over a dram. I can also taste that burnt wood, but I don’t taste the flowers and fruits very clearly. They are probably part of what is balancing out the peat, but they are so well blended it is hard to detect individual notes. There is a sea-like saltiness adding even more flavour.

It’s a very balanced dram featuring a lot of different elements which interact to form a delicious, warm, comforting whole. I think the Caol Ila 18 y.o. would appeal to a lot of different palates, including those who love peat and those who enjoy it, but in moderation only. A great drink for new or veteran whisky connoisseurs. The only drawback is the price, which can range around $100.

Summary

Colour: Warm gold.

Nose: Burnt wood, flowers, lemon, apricot, peat.

Palate: Burnt wood, peat, salt, subdued notes of flowers and fruits.

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Origin : Dominican Republic
Format : Robusto
Size : 5 x 50
Wrapper : Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro
Filler : Cameroon
Binder : Dominican
Hand-Made
Price : ~$5.00 each

Appearance : 4 out of 5 stars
The Gurkha Legend Robusto looks good enough. A nice band, a matte wrapper with minimal veining and slightly visible seams. The cigar is comprised of Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper of medium brown color with a pale reddish tint. It is a blend of various aged Dominican filler leaves bound with Cameroon leaf. A very bold band covers this cigar.

Construction : 2.75 out of 5 stars (2.75)
The burn was inconsistent. The smoke output was thick but I did find a hollow spot approximately halfway into the cigar that affected the draw, burn and the smoke output. I needed to touch it up a “few” times once I reached the halfway point. The cigar held up nicely to my straight cut and needed a re-light after the halfway point.

Flavor : 1 out of 5 stars
Sometimes when writing a review I do so to draw smokers' attention to good cigars that sometimes get overlooked. Unfortunately, honesty rules the roost in my world of cigar reviews and if a cigar deserves to be trashed, I will not hesitate. This is one of those rare reviews that is really meant to inform a smoker to "look away" and "avoid" a cigar.. save your money on better smokes that are out there. This was the first Gurkha I tried and while they may have better smokes in their line-up, this smoke still deserves to be reviewed.

Where to begin?

The pre-light aroma was woodsy and earthy. The pre-light draw emitted some cocoa and hay like flavor.

I toasted the foot and got some woodsy aroma. I took my first puff and was greeted with bitter hay like flavors. No spice, no sweetness, just plain bitter hay. I knew from the start what I was getting myself into but for the purpose of writing a proper review I wasn't going to put the cigar down and made it a point to be fair and smoke the entire cigar. Thankfully, I had a nice scotch with me to help ease the pain of what was to come. Note that in order to ensure a decent enough palate, I always sip ice water after sipping my scotch during a cigar review to ensure no effect on the flavors of the cigar.

There is no need to break down this review into thirds because this entire cigar never changed in flavor profile.

As for flavor, the cigar started woodsy and grassy with a dominating overtone of damp hay. This never changed. I was expecting (desperately hoping) that it would evolve into something more complex but it never did. The cigar remained harshly bitter and quite uninspiring.

It did offer some occasional albeit rare hints of coffee and cocoa but these few moments were quickly overpowered by bitterness. At times I thought I was smoking a cigar with an homogenized wrapper. I can't remember having such a bad tasting cigar in a very long time.

I was not impressed. The Legend Robusto was perhaps one of the most one dimensional cigars that I ever smoked. I know Gurkha has its fans and perhaps others cigars from their line-up are better but I cannot in good conscience recommend this cigar. In fact, scanning their website I noted that this cigar isn't even mentioned as part of their regular line-up so this cigar may just be a regional variety or distributed to select cigar stores. This cigar came to me through a relative who was travelling through the United States and picked up a few cigars for me.

I've never recommended avoiding a cigar outright in a review but there's a first time for everything.

Value : 1 out of 5 stars
This Gurkha cost my friend $5.00 and running a quick web scan I note that these do retail for as low as $5.00 but at some places as high as $10.00 or $200 for a box of 20. There are countless cigars that are far better for these prices. I cannot recommend anyone spend anywhere close to $10.00 for this poor cigar experience. No matter the price, save your money. If a decent $5.00 cigar is what you are after, try the CAO Osa Sol Robusto. A much better smoke for the money.

Overall Rating : 2 out of 5 stars
There are many better cigars. In fact one can probably blindly select any other cigar in this vitola and price range and get a better tasting cigar.

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In May 2013, Belgian cigar aficionados got some exciting news - another La Casa del Habano boutique was opened, now in Gent. This country now boasts three 'casas' - the other two can be found in Antwerp and in Knokke. You might already have heard about the Knokke's boutique, managed by Dominique Gyselinck and Frédéric Dechamps. The same team is behind the Gent's shop, so if you're passing by don't forget to have a look (Google Maps >) at their range of fresh Habanos.

Photo (left to right): Dominique Gyselinck, Tony Hoevenaars (Cubacigar's CEO), Frédéric Dechamps, Madame Mirtha Hormilla Castro (Cuba's Ambassador in Belgium) and Monsieur Néstor Valera ("La Casa del Habano" franchise director).

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