Gurkha Widow Maker

Purchased: XO Natural Gordo
Store: Cigars International
Price: $34.99
Buy Again? Yes!

This is a big fat cigar. And even though it’s listed as a medium-full to full body cigar, at least to me, it’s much more towards the mild side of medium. Perhaps that has to do with the light Connecticut broadleaf wrapper. Perhaps. But I do know that I dig this cigar.

Lots of cedar and hay and a bit of white pepper. But there’s a sweetness in the smoke that reminds me of vanilla extract. Mouthfeel is amazingly light and short but it’s nice and creamy. I know that I’m providing just a simple overview, but there’s a lot going on with this stick.

I expected a bit more spiciness but it’s not spicy at all! It’s just a smooth mellow smoke that I’m deriving great pleasure from. As you finish the second half, the spice makes itself known

Construction is solid. It feels a little bit spongy but that could be due to being a little bit too close to my Boveda pack. The burn line is razor straight and the burn itself is nice and slow. It gets a tad wavy at times but corrects itself nicely. As for the slow burn, that’s a good thing because amazingly enough, the draw is super easy; much easier than expected with such a solid cigar.

The ash is a bit delicate and in the first third, drops off with little coercion every three quarters of an inch. That’s not a negative, it’s only what I’m observing and does not in any way take away from this gorgeous cigar. By the second third a nice, solid ash forms and I let it grow to over two inches before I gave it a gentle roll.

Based on this stick and other Gurkhas I’ve smoked, I’m amused that there are so many people that hate this brand. It’s like Rocky Patel. Perhaps it’s because they each have so many product lines. I don’t know. Well, haters gonna hate. More for me!