The KC/DW Review Series

**DeeDubya** · 03-04-2008, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by King Catfish

Cool, I'm looking forward to your reviews. I hope you find a reviewing guide you like. Here's a link to the one I used:
http://www.tabacordillera.com/docs/AnalysisSheet.doc

Onyx Reserve #4 (5x44)

KC,
I smoked the Onyx first because I was most interested to see what my son was going on about liking them so much. I had just sent him a box but had not tried them myself.
Anyway, now I can say that the Onyx is a very good value. The cigar is box-pressed with an extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper somewhat coarse in texture. I toasted the foot which emitted a subtle hint of chocolate. I was a little concerned with the softness but it commenced to burn slowly and evenly. About midway I could definately detect coffee/cocoa and roasted nuts characteristic of many maduro's. The medium gray colored ash was not white like many maduro's but was certainly firm and even. I was nearly half-way through before I tipped the ash. The finish was rewarding with memorable spicy overtones.
The Onyx Reserve #4 is a rich full-bodied cigar and a very good value. I will give it 8.9 on a scale of 1-10.

DW

**King Catfish** · 03-04-2008, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by DeeDubya

Onyx Reserve #4 (5x44)

KC,
I smoked the Onyx first because I was most interested to see what my son was going on about liking them so much. I had just sent him a box but had not tried them myself.
Anyway, now I can say that the Onyx is a very good value. The cigar is box-pressed with an extra-dark Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro wrapper somewhat coarse in texture. I toasted the foot which emitted a subtle hint of chocolate. I was a little concerned with the softness but it commenced to burn slowly and evenly. About midway I could definately detect coffee/cocoa and roasted nuts characteristic of many maduro's. The medium gray colored ash was not white like many maduro's but was certainly firm and even. I was nearly half-way through before I tipped the ash. The finish was rewarding with memorable spicy overtones.
The Onyx Reserve #4 is a rich full-bodied cigar and a very good value. I will give it 8.9 on a scale of 1-10.

DW

Excellent! I'm glad you liked it; I'm a big fan of these myself. Nice work on the review.

EDITED TO ADD: I'll try to get to the review of the Gispert in a day or two.

**DeeDubya** · 03-05-2008, 08:50 AM

Thanks again to King Catfish for sending some cigars for review. I have enjoyed a Gurkha Regent Torpedo, one that I had not smoked.
The Regent is a model cigar. Regular roll with no lumps, smooth firm wrapper with very fine veins and even color.
As always, I toasted the foot and immediately detected a spicy, sumptuous "black pepper" aroma. An easy draw first led me to think that it would be fast burning and maybe to loosely rolled but came to find a very consistant, even, slow burn. So, for about an hour I enjoyed a medium-bodied, perfectly balanced, creamy and complex cigar. Never bitter or biting on the tongue even at the finish. As a matter of fact it was so consistant that it tasted exactly the same at the finish as the start. I tipped the medium gray (I like salt & pepper) ash twice during my enjoyment. I believe this cigar is aged for 5 years which evidently achieves the perfect blend between the Dominican Piloto filler, Indonesian binder and Nicaraguan Havana 2000 wrapper.

On a scale of 1-10 I will rate this cigar at 9.2.

**DeeDubya** · 03-05-2008, 09:19 PM

I wanted to compare the Regent that I smoked last night to the Napalese Warrior, mostly because the wrappers look so similar.
Maybe it's because that's what I was expecting or maybe it's so: If I were blindfolded I would not know the difference between the Regent and the Nepalese Warrior (taste of course, different shape). From start to finish, the same spicyness, burn rate, ash color, finish, everything. IMO the same cigar in a different shape.
Oh well, maybe I blew this one but that's my opinion. Both are excellent cigars and I enjoyed them.
Thanks again to KC for another good choice.
Tomorrow, it will be the Gurkha Black Puro.
I'm thinking 2 fingers of Macallan before, during, and after.

**King Catfish** · 03-06-2008, 06:15 PM

Well, I am practically speechless. The postman has brought me a another gift, from guess who. In the box was really just a huge pile of really primo sticks for me to try. I guess I have quite a few reviews to write! Thanks, D.W. You're quite a Prince.

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Nice reviews, D.W. I am in agreement. i find little difference between the Regent and the Nepalese Warrior... perhaps I will take a more in-depth look at each, try them again and see if I can qualify or describe the differences.

**DeeDubya** · 03-06-2008, 08:13 PM

OK, Let's see, I followed through with the Black Puro this evening, along with 2 fingers of MaCallan. I finished the Black Puro but am on the second 2 fingers of MaCallan. I'll try to be cordial but at the same time bluntly honest.
I am not impressed with the Gurkha Black Puro. I have had lesser cigars but cannot bring myself to brag about this one.
Wrapper (dark and no veins but a little lumpy)
Toasted (no special aroma).
Draw (heavy to medium but I didn't re-cut)
Burn (somewhat uneven but not at all unmanageable)
First half (some spicyness but not impressive)
Second half (flavors emerged progressively, none pronounced)
Finish (better than I was anticipating but still not impressed)

On a scale of 1-10 I would give this cigar a 7

IMO the Gurkha Black Puro does not live up to it's name.

**King Catfish** · 03-06-2008, 08:50 PM

Originally Posted by DeeDubya

OK, Let's see, I followed through with the Black Puro this evening, along with 2 fingers of MaCallan. I finished the Black Puro but am on the second 2 fingers of MaCallan. I'll try to be cordial but at the same time bluntly honest.
I am not impressed with the Gurkha Black Puro. I have had lesser cigars but cannot bring myself to brag about this one.
Wrapper (dark and no veins but a little lumpy)
Toasted (no special aroma).
Draw (heavy to medium but I didn't re-cut)
Burn (somewhat uneven but not at all unmanageable)
First half (some spicyness but not impressive)
Second half (flavors emerged progressively, none pronounced)
Finish (better than I was anticipating but still not impressed)

On a scale of 1-10 I would give this cigar a 7

IMO the Gurkha Black Puro does not live up to it's name.

Actually, I rather liked this one... although I agree it is only really good at the finish, and certainly is not as good-tasting as it is good-looking. Its impressive looks warrant a little more in the taste department, I have to concede.

**King Catfish** · 03-14-2008, 05:49 PM

Originally Posted by DeeDubya

OK, Let's see, I followed through with the Black Puro this evening, along with 2 fingers of MaCallan. I finished the Black Puro but am on the second 2 fingers of MaCallan. I'll try to be cordial but at the same time bluntly honest.
I am not impressed with the Gurkha Black Puro. I have had lesser cigars but cannot bring myself to brag about this one.
Wrapper (dark and no veins but a little lumpy)
Toasted (no special aroma).
Draw (heavy to medium but I didn't re-cut)
Burn (somewhat uneven but not at all unmanageable)
First half (some spicyness but not impressive)
Second half (flavors emerged progressively, none pronounced)
Finish (better than I was anticipating but still not impressed)

On a scale of 1-10 I would give this cigar a 7

IMO the Gurkha Black Puro does not live up to it's name.

I decided to have another one of the Black Puros this evening, and I am smoking it now. It is much less good than I remember the last one being. I agree on all points you mention above, except that I would say the burn was very even, the draw horrible, and the taste disappointingly flat.

I wonder why I remember this one as being pretty good....