Basic Information: Gurkha Cellar Reserve Aged 15 Year
Manufacturer – Gurkha Cigars
Size – Solara – Robusto
Wrapper – 1998 Criollo
Tobacco Blend – Dominican
Pricing – $10.50
Body – Medium (+)
Construction/Appearance:
This is a short and chunky stick that is reddish brown in color. I see minimal veins and no seams. There is a pigtail cap.
Pre-Light:
Aroma – Cedar, Caraway Seed
Type of Cut – Straight
Cold Draw – Wet Cedar and Raisin
After Toast:
First Third – Notes of nuts, spice and rich earth and a slight kick of pepper start this smoke off. Once this settles, the spiced earth mixed with woody notes push through. The burn is slightly wavy and ash holds through the third.
Second Third – This third starts out strong with earth, spice and leather. Similar to notes you would see in an aged Australian Barossa Valley Shiraz. Really rich on the palate. The burn remains wavy and ash falls at the halfway point.
Final Third – Earth, spice and wood really take this one home while remaining full bodied through the finish.
Suggested Pairing:
Scotch – Glenlivet 12
Wine – Luc Pirlet Corbieres
Overall Experience:
This Gurkha Cellar Reserve Aged 15 Year was a great smoke. The earthy notes are generally nice, but I found them to be a bit much in this stick for my personal preference. The nuts and spice were phenomenal though. Would I have this again? Sure! Would it be the one I choose out of a walk-in humidor, probably not.
Ratings:
Cigar Aficionado – 88pts.
About Gurkha Cigars – http://www.gurkhacigars.com
