Cigar Mission #22

My name is Agent 8. My mission was to review the Gurkha Triple Ligero. As an asset of The Cigar Spy agency, I promise to respect the A.S.H.E.S. code of honor. The information below is my debrief.

Target Name:
Gurkha Triple Ligero

Target Vitals:
Wrapper: Brazilian Maduro
Binder: Aged Ligero
Filler: Aged Ligero
Vitola: Toro 6.1 x 52
Strength: Medium to Full Bodied
Price: Around $5 per stick; $59.95 per 15 pack at Cigars International

Background Info:
Formerly known as the K. Hanostia Triple Ligero X3, this cigar is now an “internet exclusive” on the Cigars International and Cigars.com websites.

Mission Debrief:
Arriving home this past weekend, I found a package addressed to me sitting on my desk. Not remembering if I had ordered anything recently, I opened it, realizing it was a gift pack of cigars from a friend (thanks again @dannysguitar). Being that the Gurkha was the largest of them all and I haven’t had as much “interrogation time” with the Gurkha brand as others, it was chosen first.

The band of the cigar, mostly gold hued with some black and reddish highlights, really helped highlight the dark and slightly oily cigar. The cigar also has a cedar sheath protecting its body; a nice added touch to the overall appearance. No soft spots or chips in the wrapper found, but I do think this is the first time I have across a noticeably bent cigar, starting about a half inch from the end of the cap.

Using a punch and butane lighter this time around, I was met with a solid draw with a minimal amount of resistance. Hints of coffee and leather came to my palette. While this cigar is a maduro through and through, in my opinion, it’s a lighter feeling maduro. The overall finish to the cigar was shorter than expected. The flavors, while having a nice balance, were not as strong as other maduros I have smoked in the past. I also felt that there was less overall smoke from the cigar itself. Perhaps the added resistance to the draw had something to do with it, I don’t know. Not a bad thing necessarily, just an observation. Expect the last third of the cigar to slightly increase in overall strength, but nothing that is harsh or overbearing.

I did notice that over the almost two hour thirty minute smoke time that the wrapper around the cap started to flake off pretty easily. It could be from the travel. The burn did have to be correct a bit in the middle of the smoke a couple of times. Nothing drastic, just a simple light to fix. As I mentioned above, I didn’t feel that this cigar, to my palette, was worthy of full-bodied status. However, my wife came home while I was smoking this and commented that she could smell the cigar quite clearly from the garage. So your results may vary.

Recommendations:
This is a pleasant maduro, for sure. You can count on great flavors with a nice price point that would make anyone happy. Yet, why did I feel underwhelmed? Perhaps I was expecting a bit more fuller bodied smoke. Blame the many CAO Brazilias and Edge Maduros I have smoked over time. For those looking for a maduro that won’t kick your ass, here it is. But for the full-bodied veterans who want to feel the cigar long after it’s been smoked, look elsewhere.

- 8 -