This Gordo-sized beast from Gurkha hits the scene with a 60-ring gauge Maduro wrapped around 15-year-aged Dominican fillers. At 6" long and packed in wine crate-style boxes of 20, the Kraken's dark Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper immediately signals serious depth. Priced at $267.32 per box, it's positioned as a special occasion smoke for fans of bold flavors.
The pigtail cap reveals cold notes of damp earth and molasses. First puffs deliver an espresso blast with black pepper sting - typical Gurkha aggression but tempered by the aged fillers. Smoke production starts modest but builds quickly.
Black coffee dominance with charred oak undertones. Occasional sweet flashes of burnt caramel cut through the intensity. Draw remains firm despite the 60-ring gauge, requiring deliberate pacing. Ash holds solid in 1" segments.
Flavors soften into milk chocolate territory with roasted almond texture. Pepper shifts to back palate while cedar notes emerge. Burn line stays razor-sharp - no touchups needed. Retrohale shows surprising vanilla bean sweetness.
Leather and mineral tones dominate as nicotine builds. The last inch introduces a licorice twist before tar accumulation forces surrender. Expect 90min+ smoke time with heavy nicotine lingering post-finish.
Rolled in the Dominican Republic using Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrappers cured to near-black sheen. The 15-year-aged filler blend combines Dominican Olor binder with Nicaraguan/Dominican core leaves. Box-pressed variants tend toward better combustion than round-parejo versions.
Priced 20-30% above comparable ultra-premium Maduros, the Kraken justifies its cost through extended aging time and massive smoke output. Best paired with bold spirits - try it alongside a 12-year rum to complement its sweetness.
