The KC/DW Review Series

[King Catfish]

Another contribution from the generous Deedubya.

Gurkha’s Connecticut Reserve is a variant of the Master’s Select (which employs a mixture of Nicaraguan, Dominican, and Honduran fillers) with a Connecticut wrapper instead of the Habano 2000 wrapper used for the rest of the Master’s Select line. The Habano-wrapped Master’s Select is among my very favorite cigars, so I was looking forward to this one.

This is a long cigar for a Robusto, (6 x 50), more like a Toro, really. It had a light golden brown wrapper with a very smooth texture and even color. It was very firm and evenly packed. It sported the red Master Select Gurkha Band. Prelight aroma was mild and tangy, perhaps a little cedary. Despite being in my humidor for several weeks under perfect conditions, my cut cracked the cap. This crack did not worsen significantly or unravel the cigar, but it did prevent me from smoking it to the finger-burning nub stage.

Note: I have cut several cigars since my last review (more than 10, I would guess) without cracking the wrappers, so I have my doubts that the cutter or my technique is to blame… although there seems to be a trend that when I sit down to review a cigar the wrapper fails to survive the cut. When I hastily cut one in the car on my way to or from work, it always seems to survive. Go figure.

Toasting the foot provided no insight into the coming experience. The first few puffs delivered that tangy Connecticut taste, with no noticeable undertones. Soon, a nutty taste emerged as my palate grew accustomed to the tang of the Connecticut wrapper, but was gone as soon as it appeared. The first third continued on in this fashion, with a very white ash that fell off before an inch had been smoked. Smoke volume was immediately respectable (but not huge), and remained so, and the burn was respectably even. Draw was medium to easy.

The middle third carried on as did the first third with no real evolution, except for the slightest appearance of leatheriness. In the final third, the smoke volume increased, as did the leatheriness. The Connecticut tang was mostly gone. The cigar never held a long ash, but I do not put a lot of stock in ash length. Strength did pick up at the very end, but not very much. Those who like a mild cigar can smoke this one to the finger-burning end; it did not get strong, harsh, or bitter at all, and if you like a cigar to be consistent, then perhaps this cigar should be on your wish list. Smoking time was an admirable 2 hours and 10 minutes.



Score: 15.45 (x5) = 77.25, losing 1 point for construction issues (cracked wrapper at the cap end) and another point for being one-dimensional, for a final score of 75.25. Gurkha makes some of my very favorite cigars ([regular] Master’s Select, Class Regent, Nepalese Warrior, Royal Brigade, Symphony, etc.), but this cigar did not impress. It makes me wonder if the wrapper really does make up such a large proportion of the flavor that the mere change of wrapper separates this respectable but unimpressive cigar from the fabulous complexity and rich flavors of the rest of the Master’s Select line.

I would like to see this cigar reviewed by someone who likes a milder cigar, as my tastes run to the fuller-bodied. My recommendation for this cigar is to smoke it early in the day with a nice cup of mild coffee or after a modest lunch with a glass of sweet iced tea; anything more flavorful than that will overwhelm this mild stick. In the end, the lack of complexity is the deal-breaker for me, and I will not go out of my way for another Gurkha Connecticut Reserve. This is by no means a bad cigar, just too mild and plain for me.

Many thanks to Deedubya for this fine experience.