The Gurkha cigar brand is a symbol of luxury and craftsmanship, harnessing the essence of cigar-making art that has captivated enthusiasts globally.
Gurkha pioneered the "ultra-premium" cigar category by offering exclusive products with unique packaging, earning them a reputation synonymous with elegance and refinement.
The packaging of many Gurkha cigars is a true work of art, featuring intricate designs presented in beautifully crafted boxes or casings. Unsurprisingly, they are a favored choice among the upper echelons of society, including the elite, celebrities, and nobles.
The Gurkha label has expanded to an impressive selection of over 105 brands, offering a wide range of options to suit any budget and taste preference.
If you're interested in delving into the history of the Gurkha cigar brand and discovering which cigars are worth your time, continue reading!
To skip straight to our top picks, click here: Skip to Best Gurkha Cigars
The Grand Vision of Kaizad Hansotia
Although Gurkha cigars were first created an entire century ago, the brand experienced a revival in the late 1980s. It all started when the soon-to-be new owner and visionary, Kaizad Hansotia, was intoxicated on a beach in Goa, India, in 1988.
On the beach, Hansotia encountered a man in a hut selling cigars under the name "Gurkha." Initially, he ventured into the shop to purchase gifts for his family's duty-free supplier clientele. After trying a cigar and loving it, his interest was piqued, and he ended up buying the entire brand for only $149. At this point, the company was lifeless.
As Hansotia observed his clients relishing the cigars and eagerly requesting more, he realized that there was a significant opportunity in the cigar industry before him. With his father already established in the duty-free watch distribution business, Hansotia recognized the potential for luxury cigars in that market and decided to capitalize on the opportunity.
Hansotia aimed to differentiate the Gurkha brand from others, as he noticed that most cigars were packaged similarly and a limited number of truly high-end options were available. His goal was to focus on quality over quantity.
In 1989, the brand underwent a revolutionary transformation that would change the cigar industry forever.
Gurkha Begins Selling Exclusive Cigars at Duty-Free Shops
Hansotia dedicated his time and resources to understanding the intricacies of cigar production in the Dominican Republic, ensuring he could consistently deliver an exceptional product. In doing so, he was able to find the perfect factory to subcontract the cigar construction process.
Leveraging his family's connections in the duty-free sector, Hansotia introduced ultra-premium cigars with steep prices and exquisite packaging, appealing to an untapped market at the time. Another first for duty-free shops, Gurkha cigars were available in single units and not just by the box like other brands.
Most cigars in the late 1980s retailed between $2 - $2.50, with high-end cigars around $5 - $6. When Hansotia debuted cigars to duty-free shops in 1990 at around $12 - $17 each, industry players thought he was crazy and were skeptical that they would ever sell. But Hansotia was determined to shift the perspectives of retailers and consumers towards cigars.
Some Gurkha cigars were infused with cognac through a special process that Hansotia claims to have invented. The first release of Gurkha cigars sold out within five days, and duty-free retailers wanted more. Initially, these cigars were only offered to international travelers, earning them a reputation for exclusivity and luxury. In the same year, 200,000 Gurkha cigars were sold in duty-free stores.
Hansotia was well on his way to revolutionizing the super-premium cigar industry with his innovative vision to differentiate and challenge the norm.
Ornate Packaging of Gurkha Cigars
While other cigar brands mostly used boring packaging, Hanzotia wanted something more elegant. After all, if he wanted to attract the attention of prestigious consumers, he needed the most visually captivating presentation.
Hanzotia is quoted as saying, "When I came into the industry, quite honestly, all I saw was a bunch of crap. Everyone used those cheap paper cigar boxes, and the packaging was boring."
From the boxes to the bands and overall design, Hanzotia gave his brand a stunning makeover. The most famous portrait on the cigar band depicts a legendary Nepalese soldier with a distinctive mustache, brandishing a classic Khukuri short sword.
Some noteworthy boxing includes a decorative wooden chest humidor for the Genghis Khan cigar that resembles an ancient artifact from the time of the famous Emperor. Another humidor was beautifully constructed of carved camel bone that retailed for $115,000 per box.
Hanzotia crafted impeccable premium cigars and paired them with glamorous artistic packaging, delivering a memorable smoking experience that lasted long after the final cigar in the box was finished.
Gurkha Cigars Widely Regarded as a Symbol of Luxury
The Gurkha brand initially filled a space in the cigar industry by offering luxurious super premium cigars at the top of their class in terms of quality. These cigars helped to create the indulgent, elegant image that many cigar smokers have of the brand today.
The highest-end Gurkha cigars are ultra-rare and produced in small batches. They still sell for $150,000 to $250,000 a box. Hansotia has always had a gift for pairing the right buyer with the highest-priced cigars. Some buyers included Middle Eastern Royalty and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies that would buy the cigars for special occasions.
For Hansotia, every aspect of the Gurkha cigar experience mattered, from the first impression of the packaging to the exceptional quality of the cigar and the lasting impact of the artistry.
Our Picks for the Top 5 Best Gurkha Cigars
Gurkha creates some fantastic products we are always eager to try, so you can imagine how difficult it was for us to narrow down our review to five cigars. With some consideration, we were able to limit the list to our top 5 favorite options.
You can see this as a helpful list of the best Gurkha cigars you need to try right now if the brand is on your radar. At least one of these cigars is bound to strike a chord with you and enhance your smoking experience, just as Hansotia intended.
1. Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Blender: Kaizad Hansotia
Strength: Medium - Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado Maduro
Binder / Filler: Dominican Republic / Dominican Republic
Wrapper Type: Criollo 1998
Among the dedicated smokers of Gurkha cigars, the Cellar Reserve 15 Year is one of the most impressive smokes. In 2016, the International Cigar Association rated the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15-year as their #1 cigar.
These cigars are made from Dominican long-filler tobacco aged 15 years. Then, the leaves are sealed up in an oily, 15-year aged Nicaraguan Criollo ‘98 wrapper.
The Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year subtly pays tribute to the company’s history by focusing on the quality of old-school tobacco blending and craftsmanship. The aged leaves display the classic love of materials that had the time to mature and develop in flavor.
The patience and respect for the ingredients appropriately represent the vintage techniques Gurkha stands by. The result is a medium to full-bodied smoke with notes of earthiness, wood, leather, and cocoa beans emerging from the aroma.
In line with the unique packaging of Gurkha cigars, the Cellar Reserve 15 Year comes in an aesthetically pleasing wooden box.
With such a skillful blend of tobacco flavors, it is no surprise that this cigar has become the most popular Gurkha cigars at Atlantic Cigar Co.
2. Gurkha Ghost
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Blender: Kaizad Hansotia, Abraham Flores
Strength: Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro
Binder / Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua, Dominican Republic
Wrapper Type: Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro
The Gurkha Ghost cigar is a premium medium-bodied smoke with a beautiful, dark and rich Brazilian Arapiraca Maduro wrapper. First introduced at the 2012 IPCPR tradeshow in Orlando, the Gurkha Ghost is constructed at the renowned PDR Cigar Factory in the Dominican Republic by master blender Abraham Flores.
The blend of tobacco in the Ghost includes a combination of meticulously selected Nicaraguan and Dominican fillers held together by a sturdy Criollo 98' Nicaraguan binder.
When smoking the Gurkha Ghost, your palate is greeted with a pleasing balance of earthiness and sweetness. You'll find undertones of cocoa, honey, and cinnamon spice accentuated by a touch of black pepper to round off a smooth and satisfying finish.
3. Gurkha Grand Reserve Cognac
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic, Honduras
Blender: Kaizad Hansotia
Strength: Medium
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Maduro, Colorado Claro
Binder / Filler: Dominican Republic / Dominican Republic, Honduran
Wrapper Type: Connecticut Broadleaf, Connecticut Shade
The Gurkha brand's commitment to quality and luxury is evident in every aspect of the Grand Reserve Cognac's creation and is considered to be Gurkha's "flagship" cigar.
Depending on the cigar size, the wrapper and filler come in different options. The wrapper is either a 5-year-aged Connecticut shade or a maduro wrapper. The filler is either from the Dominican Republic or Honduras.
All options deliver a masterfully crafted blend of aged Dominican or Nicaraguan long-fillers with a complex and flavorful taste profile.
The wrapper is brilliantly infused with high-quality cognac that adds unmatched flavor and sophisticated aromas to your smoking experience. Experience a rich, creamy taste with a hint of spice, culminating in a balanced and light finish.
Kaizad Hansotia gifted these cigars in a military-style box to Navy SEAL Team 6 after a successful mission in 2011.
4. Gurkha Nicaragua Series
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Blender: Kaizad Hansotia
Strength: Medium - Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Colorado
Binder / Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Nicaraguan Corojo
The Gurkha Nicaragua Series is a limited edition cigar produced exclusively for Gurkha by Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A. (TABSA). It was the first Nicaraguan puro released by Gurkha and contains tobacco from the highly acclaimed Aganorsa tobacco conglomerate. The TABSA factory is responsible for some of the best produced Nicaraguan tobacco in the world.
Complexity is a characteristic of the Nicaragua Series as it features a corojo 99 clara wrapper, two corojo 99 binders, and a filler of corojo 99 and criollo 98.
The cigar feels solid and is tightly packed with tobacco, allowing for a firm draw and slower burn. The smoke is bold and woody, with hints of leather, nuts and a smooth, citrus finish.
5. Gurkha Treinta 30th Anniversary Series
Country of Origin: Nicaragua
Blender: Kaizad Hansotia
Strength: Medium - Full
Grade: Hand Rolled / Long Filler
Color: Rosado
Binder / Filler: Nicaragua / Nicaragua
Wrapper Type: Ecuadorian Habano
The release of the Gurkha Treinta 30th Anniversary marked the celebration of 30 years since Kaizad Hansotia revitalized the Gurkha cigar brand.
It consists of a mix of ultra-quality Nicaraguan-grown tobacco except for the wrapper, a beautiful oily Ecuadorian habano rosado. The binder is a Nicaraguan Corojo '99, and the filler is a Nicaraguan Criollo '98 grown in the Estelí and Jalapa regions. This was the first cigar released in the partnership between Aganorsa and Gurkha from the TABSA factory.
The Gurkha Treinta 30th Anniversary is easy to draw and burns evenly, putting on display the flawless construction of the cigar. For the taste, you'll experience a medium-full body with a creamy, light sweetness accompanied by hints of wood, nuts, and black pepper.