This chunky 6x58 grand robusto from Gurkha's Cellar Reserve series demands attention with its wine-crate inspired wooden box and oversized ring gauge. Wrapped in an oily Dominican Criollo '98 leaf, these sticks feature 15-year-aged Dominican filler tobaccos and a distinctive pigtail cap. At $229.24 for 20 cigars, it's positioned as a premium indulgence for bold flavor seekers.
Initial puffs deliver heavy earth tones with dark chocolate undertones. The thick smoke carries a peppery kick that tingles the nostrils, while the tight draw requires deliberate pacing. Burn line stays surprisingly even despite the massive ring gauge.
Hazelnut and coffee bean flavors emerge as the cigar settles, coated in a creamy texture that softens the initial intensity. Retrohale reveals subtle baking spices - think cinnamon and allspice dancing behind the main profile.
Tar accumulation becomes noticeable past the halfway mark. Lingering sweetness battles with growing bitterness, the telltale sign that this heavyweight demands shorter smoking sessions despite its physical size.
The San Andrés Maduro wrapper shows moderate oil sheen with visible tooth. Cold draw produces distinct raisin sweetness. Cut reveals perfectly concentric cap layers, though the pigtail foot makes initial lighting slightly trickier than standard parejos.
At $11.46 per stick, it competes with boutique brands in similar price brackets. While not achieving the refinement of higher-priced Padróns, it offers novelty through its wine-cellar presentation and unusual size configuration that will appeal to collectors.
