Gurkha Empire Series I: Review

Wrapper: Honduran Habano

Fillers: ligeros fillers from Nicaragua and Peru

Size: 5.5 x 52

Sweet, earthy, touch of pepper

Back on March 22 of 2010 I did a fun review of the Gurkha Empire Series in my March Matching format.  I paired each of the cigars in this line-up with an Ale (Petrus Gouden) and the idea was to see which cigar paired up the best with this Ale.  See March Matching Post.

Since then, a year later, I still had some of these cigars left from that writing and I started to write a full review on each. 

(click on the name below to see posting)

Gurkha Empire II

Gurkha Empire III

Gurkha Empire IV

Gurkha Empire V

Gurkha Empire VI

So, I am finally finishing this line-up. 

Off the Light: How funny is this – it is plugged up.  The draw is as tight as can be.  The same reason it got kicked out of the final round of the March Matching Contest. In the first round I had a plugged one and I had to get a second one to smoke.  (Obviously a construction problem with that batch) The draw has opened up a bit, it is still firm, but not as the first ¼ inch.  This is draw where you have to puff so much to get any smoke that you miss the actual flavor experience and you get a head ache. 

Pass that ¼ inch mark I start to notice a mild-medium earthy style and a touch of sweet tobacco.  I am trying to remind myself to puff at a slower rate to work with this very firm draw. The best I can tell the smoke is a 4 on my strength scale. 

Well, I am going to break this down into halves instead of thirds.  There is not much going on here except the draw.  And, because of the draw this is burning really slow.  I hope I don’t fall asleep before the halfway point.

Second Half: finally got there.  A pretty simple cigar.  A nice earthy style.  I could even call it earthy coffee style.  Other than that nothing else.  The draw is still a little firm not as bad as the first half. 

My Strength Rating: 4

To the Point: I know I will never buy another one.  3 out of 4 cigars plugged.  Do I need to say more.   

Petrus Triple Ale & Gurkha Empire Series Cigars

March Matching – The Contest

First Bracket

Right off the opening tip off there is a big foul. The Empire I that I selected is plugged and rock hard and yes this is dirty talk in cigar language. Back to the humidor for another cigar, perfect draw and solid flavors from this new one. The balance of sweet and earthy notes from the cigar works well with the bitterness and sweetness of the ale. I’ll give this cigar a 5 rating on strength for now. I really like this with the Petrus.

The Empire VI has a perfect draw and goes on a scoring run right after tip off. The coffee and cocoa notes are nice with the ale. This is definitely a medium to full flavored cigar. I am rating it a 6.5 for now. The roasty notes start to build and kicks it to the fuller side. I really like this cigar but, for matching it to the Petrus Triple Ale, it does not maximize my experience. The Empire I take the first bracket.


Second Bracket

The Empire II is a very handsome looking cigar. Nice sheen from the oils on the wrapper, just like the hair on some basketball coaches. This cigar had game time written all over it in the first 10 minutes. The Cuban-like sweetness was coming thru with nice earth tones coming off the bench. After 10 minutes I was left with the bench players playing. Not enough to win the game here. I’ll give it a 4.5 strength rating.

The Empire IV lit up the court right off the bat. After a few puffs, wow, this cigar converts on the fast break. The Brazilian wrapper gives it a wonderful smoke and the meaty and rich ligeros tobaccos are flavorful. The first 10 minutes was a battle as I expected. Both cigars matched well with the Petrus Ale. But, the IV had the depth to go the distance to take the game away from the odds on favorite. I am planning a filet mignon dinner with this ale and this cigar! This was an excellent matching.


Third Bracket

Well Johnny, I am not speaking Dutch here, this should be a classic. We have two mild-medium bodied cigars being matched up to an Ale that is ‘mild and easygoing.’ If you want a delicious and refreshing triple pick up a 750 ml bottle of Petrus, right! (Commercial break)

(nothing subliminal here: pick up two bottles)

The Empire III is a good looking Costa Rican Madura wrapped cigar. It lights up well and the first inch of the cigar I am thinking – MILD? – not me, I am going medium bodied here. A straight out 5 rating for me, today. As I smoke the cigar to half time the intensity does not build and this is a good thing. I am enjoying all my flavors of the cigar and the ale. The puff of the cigar makes me want another drink of the ale. Then, the refreshing taste of the ale makes me want to taste the cigar again.

The Empire V has a beautiful Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper that coats this cigar. It looks like one of those expensive suits some of those coaches wear. The mildness of the cigar is detected right away and the flavors are very nice. In the first inch of the cigar I am thinking a 4 rating and I could go to a 3 strength rating, let’s see as this cigar develops.

This is going to be a tough matching; I think my pre-game odds were pretty good here. Both cigars have the game to go well with the Petrus Triple Ale. I think the cigar smoker who enjoys a cigar on the milder side of medium would like the Empire V with this ale. Both have a smooth mouthfeel to them.

This was a classic; I smoked the cigars down to the nub. The flavors of the III make me want more ale and the ale cleans the palate and I am ready for another puff of that cigar. The #III maximized my pleasure but, it was a fight to the finish.

The Final Round Analysis will be posted later this week. So, pick yourself up a bottle of Petrus Triple Ale, fill the chalice and stay tuned for the final dance.

March Matching - Petrus Gouden Triple Ale vs Gurkha Empire Series Cigars

The Set-up:

The Petrus Triple Ale is a 7.5 abv. that is described as, “mild and easygoing, with a flowery hoppy taste that is balanced between the bitterness and sweetness and a smooth mouthfeel.” For me this ale rates 4 or maybe even a 3.5 on my strength scale for beers.

The Petrus Triple should match up well with the Gurkha Empire Series Cigars. The Empire Series offers six different blends for a mild to medium bodied smoke.

This should be fun for me for I have not had these stogies yet. I plan to make three brackets consisting of two cigars being smoked at the same time to see which smoke goes best with the Petrus. Then, I’ll smoke the final three contestants while consuming another fine bottle of the Petrus to see if there is a clear winner for the March Matching.

Let’s take a quick look at each of the cigars and how I am pairing them up for the March Matching Brackets.

I am matching the Empire I with the VI.
Empire I: described as a medium bodied cigar with a Habano wrapper and ligeros fillers from Nicaragua and Peru. Taste is sweet, earthiness with some black pepper. Empire VI: Medium-Full body. It has a Brazilian wrapper with ligeros fillers that carry a hearty flavor of roasted coffee and cocoa to your palate. I am going to handicap this bracket, saying: the Empire I will be my favorite at 2-1 odds. The Empire VI: I’ll give 5-1 odds going well with the Petrus Gouden Triple Ale. I think the Brazilian wrapper will kick the taste up to the stronger side and the hearty flavors may not work with the smooth mouthfeel of the ale. Empire I is the top seed in this bracket.

I am matching the Empire II against the IV. Both cigars are medium in strength according to the reviews. Empire II: has a dark Connecticut wrapper with Cuban-like sweetness and a cedar finish. The Empire IV: employees a Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper – wow, I don’t know if I have had that before. Meaty and oaky flavors. I am handicapping this one giving the #II even odds, the dark Connecticut wrapper should work well with this ale. The IV with the oaky flavor (depends how strong) may take away from the flowery hoppy taste of the ale. I give it 3-1 odds.

The final bracket consists of the III and V and if you have been following along you knew that. These two are both given a mild to medium taste indicator here. The Empire III: has a nice looking Costa Rican Maduro wrapper that has chocolaty notes with a toasty and sweet finish. The Empire V: An Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with notes of creamy-buttery, sweet tobacco and white pepper – sounds like a soup. This last description makes the V the odds on favorite: 1-9 odds. I’ll give the Empire III: 1-1 odds.

How will the top seeds in each bracket do, when paired up with the Petrus Triple Ale? Will the number one seed, Gurkha Empire V, with stand the tough competition from his brothers.

Empire I: Medium Body 2-1 odds
Empire VI: Medium-full Body 5-1 odds

Empire II: Medium 1-1 odds
Empire IV: Medium 3-1 odds

Empire III: Mild-medium 1-1 odds
Empire V: Mild-medium 1-9 odds

Stay tuned for the contest! (Visit Posting 3-22-10)