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.

[DeeDubya]

My last review was the Gran Robusto, big brother of the Rothschild.
Meet Paps. Big daddy of the Gran Habano Corojo family.

KC slipped this one in the last package he sent. I purposely let it hibernate in my humi for a couple weeks to balance. Unlike the other Gran Habanos with large bands this one has only a red & gold foot band with "Corojo #5", maybe a "premium" cigar trademark, I'm not sure.

This is a very impressive looking vitola with a dark, reddish-brown Corojo wrapper. Smooth, oily and very tight. This beaut is well packed with a robust blend of Nicaraguan and Costa Rican long-fillers. I alloted a couple hours of self-indulgence just in case.

Toasting took some time, about half a lighter of butane and some patience before I got a good ember. But, one cannot skip this little pre-nuptual ritual. A good cigar needs a little foreplay to get it in the mood.
Like the other Gran Habano Corojos it is a medium to full flavored stick but not at all harsh or bitter. This larger size makes it burn slightly cooler, with a lot of creamy, aromatic smoke. Shades of coffee, spice and everything nice justify taking time between puffs and just letting it burn at it's own pace. Midway the flavors changed a bit to a nutty, woodsy, earthy flavor and still fairly even burn. The last half started to burn down one side but not unmanageable.
I usually touch the unburned leaf with my lighter to help even things out. I can't tell that this changes the flavor but it does help a little with the burn.
After about an hour and twenty minutes of relaxing and rewarding contemplation, I have concluded that the Gran Habano family of cigars are consistantly good. Although my favorite is still the Rothschild, there is actually very little difference across the size range of Corojo's. Per Ashauler's recommendation I will be trying their Connecticut series as well.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 8.3.

Thanks again to KC for a good cigar.

[bigwhiteash]

Great reviews, guys

The Corojo #5 are some of my all time favorites!
I'm not really a Connecticut Shade fan, most taste like burning paper to me.

[DeeDubya]

On page 4 KC and I both reviewed a cigar in this series. He gave the Natural a 95.5 and I gave the Brazil a 9. In this series there is also a Corojo, Camaroon and Connecticut. These are basically the same cigar with different wrappers. There is no need to recap the previous reviews but I would like to point out some subtle differences.

The Connecticut is by no means a mild cigar although the light, silky-smooth wrapper might lead one to think so. Beneath the skin lies a hearty Nicaraguan Corojo binder and under that the Nicaraguan & Peruvian Ligero fillers. The "Old World" full-bodied kick holds true for the whole series.

These are incredibly robust cigars, but so well-balanced and rich in flavors that they are a pleasure to smoke. They are a perfect size and burn for about an hour. In the same vitola a very similar tasting cigar is the Gran Habano #5 Corojo. However, it does not meet the qualities of this cigar. Instead of rating the Connecticut I would just like to say that I prefer the Corojo, Camaroon, Brazil, and Connecticut in that order. Someone else may very well prefer the Connecticut over the Corojo or whatever. As a series I would like to rate them all at 9 or above.
I can highly recommend giving one or two of these a try.

[DeeDubya]

Probably one of the most popular in the Arturo Fuente Reserva line and rightfully so. You will find this cigar "Out of Stock" at most locations.
I have always kept a few in the humi and tend to hoard them. I don't know why other than because they are getting harder to find and more expensive. But then just looking at them doesn't do much me, so I pulled one out last evening and once again realized that these are really good cigars.
I guess the commonality of the Reserva line is the Dominican binder and filler. They offer several wrappers including a sumptuous Connecticut shade grown, a delicious maduro, and Ecuadorian sungrown.

At 71/4" it is an impressive looking cigar. The oily wrapper on this African camaroon was a perfect roll with few veins and a very smooth cap. It cut perfectly and drew easy.
Actually, I have never been dissapointed with a Fuente, but of course some are just better, or simply appeal to one's taste.

It toasted well and lit quickly, immediately producing a spicy aroma without any bitterness or harshness. Once again I love the spiceness of this cigar. There is a little earthiness as one would expect from a Dominican. It is a good taste; a subtle undertone that permeates the entire cigar. The ash was a light grey, sitting a very uniform burn. Also, for a smaller ring guage it burns cooler than one might expect.

In this price range I believe it should be a standard by which others are judged. I know there are equals but not too many for a great cigar under 5 bucks. I plan to add a box to my collection soon.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 9.3.

[DeeDubya]

This is a new cigar for me and I think fairly new to the market. I thought I would post a review for those who haven't tried it.

The Robusto (one of 4 shapes in the line-up) seemed to be a good choice to try. And, it was. The wrapper is as close to perfect as any I've seen. Firm, smooth roll, nice oily sheen, it was a pleasure just to roll between the fingers and feel the texture. The Corojo '99 leaf adds a noticeable spicyness to the already flavorful Nicaraguan filler.

The thick and hearty smoke produced is potent and full-bodied but well-balanced. I would not recommend it for beginners. What I really liked was the special spicyness that had a hint of anise, white pepper and cedar. It's a stick that should be savored, puffing just often enough to keep it alive. Very clean burn, light grey ash that I only tipped twice and consistant flavors throughout. I usually burn through a robusto in about 45 minutes but enjoyed this one for over an hour.

At around $3.50 per stick it is a good deal for a better-than-average cigar. Another really good buy that I will post soon is the Georges Reserve.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 8.4.

[DeeDubya]

This cigar received 5 out of 5 stars from the European Cigar Cult Journal (the leading authority on cigars in Europe) in 2001. A little research indicates that it is distinguished by it's large ring guage and painstaking blend of 5 different filler tobaccos from the Jalapa, Condega and Esteli regions of Nicaragua. The wrapper is a lustrous Nicaraguan sun-grown Rasado. Personally I wouldn't know if it were 5 different tobaccos or just 1, but I do know that it is probably the most flavorful and robust cigar that I have smoked to date. It is definately full-bodied and really packs a punch. I am somewhat frugal in some ways, one being that I nearly always smoke a cigar till the very end as I did this one. Around the last 2 inches I was not sure if I could handle it. Although frugal, I don't relish passing out from a nicotine overdose.

I cut this one with my new V-cutter and took a dry draw which was perfect. I really like the V-cutter and now use it on everything except of course figuardo type sticks. Toasting took some time but is always worth the extra effort. Finally, with a good ember I took a draw and new in an instant that I had a special cigar. Thick, creamy smoke and so full of intensly rich and complex flavors and yet no harshness or bitterness. I know that a large ring guage like this 62 will attribute to some of this but oh what a pleasure.

I'll skip the next 45 minutes because I don't remember them. I think I was strolling through a tobacco field somewhere in Nicaragua (I haven't been there so I didn't recognize the place). My point is, I just kicked back and really got into this cigar. It burned perfectly and the intensity of the flavors didn't stack up like many full-bodied cigars I've had.

Toward the very end it did seem a little stronger but I'm sure is was simply the quantity and not the quality that started to kick my butt. This big boy deserves a Rib Eye, fully dressed baked potato and a glass or two of Merlot before settling in for full enjoyment. I had it with a couple beers (Sapporo) which could account for part of my dizzyness but they really did work well together.

A couple of vendor (customer) ratings put this cigar at 9.4. For those who really like a stick this big I can believe that is so. But here, I am doing the rating and don't normally smoke a half pound of tobacco at one sitting. So I am basing my rating on flavor and taste alone, not on value, size or other flambouyant visual characteristics. So here goes.

On a scale of 1-10 I rate this cigar 9.4.