Let's cut straight to the smoke - the Gurkha Ghost Shadow comes in 5x52 Parejo format with Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro wrapper that feels oily to the touch. This box of 21 sticks punches above its $151.20 price point, showing PDR Cigars' Dominican craftsmanship through precise triple caps and box-pressed edges that stay firm even in 65% humidity. The holographic band gives ghostly vibes that actually match the smoking experience.
Cold draw brings damp earth through the perfect punch cut. Initial puffs release espresso grounds and charred oak - the kind that coats your tongue without bite. Smoke production stays modest despite the 52 ring gauge, leaving pepper residue only in retrohales.
At 25-minute mark, Nicaraguan fillers reveal themselves through developing leather tones. Burnt caramel sweetness emerges to balance the earthiness, though I wished it came stronger. Burn line stays razor-sharp without touch-ups in this section.
Last two inches intensify with black cherry nuances battling bitter cocoa powder. Tar builds up quicker than expected - had to ditch it with 1.5" left. Retrohale gets spicy enough to make eyes water, suggesting stronger nicotine than the "medium" rating implies.
The box-pressed shape holds ash better than expected - made it to 2" before first drop. Wrapper stayed intact despite thin veins, though I noticed slight tunneling in two samples from same box. Triple cap performed better with straight cut than punch in my testing.
After 6 weeks at 65% RH, the Maduro wrapper developed tiny oil beads. Smoke output increased marginally but sweetness remained subtle. These seem to benefit from longer rest - best results came after 90+ days of aging based on second box testing.
