Gurkha Seduction

Overall Score

1 review for Gurkha Seduction

  1. A****

    Gurkha Seduction

    Origin : Wherever they make GurkhasGurkha
    Format : Fat Robusto
    Size : 5 x 55
    Wrapper : Ecuadorian Habano
    Filler : Colombian Corojo
    Binder : Dominican Olor
    Hand-Made
    Price : ~$7.00 each

    This is another one of the cigars that Gary Hyams, president of Gurkha Cigars, sent me in my Christmas package. Much like the Royal Challenge I just reviewed recently, the box presentations are ridiculously nice. The Seduction has a gilded felt box that makes this relatively inexpensive stick look like a cigar made for royalty. The Royal Challenge had a favorable review, so can this new Gurkha seduce me?

    Appearance : [rating:2.5/5]
    There isn’t much seduction happening in the looks department of this stick. The wrapper is very toothy with a blotchy dark brown exterior. It looks more like binder material than anything else. But like all the other Gurkhas, the band is beautifully ornate. The veins in the wrapper are small and don’t look to pose any problems for the burn. The wrapper aroma is of sweet molasses mixed with dirt and potpourri.

    Construction : [rating:4.75/5] (4.75)
    The Seduction appears perfectly cylindrical and pretty squishy when given a good squeeze. The wrapper has some visible seams and the double cap looks roughly applied. The filler tobaccos are plentiful and pack out the inside of the cigar nicely. On almost every Gurkha I have smoked the draw has been tighter than I like, but at least with the Seduction, the smoke production was adequate. The burn line was very straight and self corrected itself when wavering ever so slightly. The ash held up well too, dropping off in 1-2 inch clumps. Gurkha seems to have their sh** together when it comes to construction.

    Flavor : [rating:1.5/5]
    1st Third: The initial blast is very approachable with almost no pepper. The flavor profile is very sweet and earthy. It reminds me a lot of the J. Fuego Sangre de Toro but without the peppery spice. It was noticeable that this cigar burns very quickly and I was done with the first third within 15 minutes. At the end of the first third the sweetness died out along with a lot of the flavors I found at the beginning of the cigar.

    2nd Third: I am having quite a bit of trouble finding any other flavor than toasted wood. At this point, the cigar has definitely hit a bland spot for me. Some yeasty bread notes do find their way of weaving in and out of the last part of this third though and I am having trouble deciding whether I like it or not.

    3rd Third: The toasted wood notes continue into the last part of the cigar. There is a weird chemical, sour note that I don’t like that appears every now and then as well. Some of the sweetness that had left in the first third has made a triumphant return, thankfully, to balance out some of the unsavoriness of this last part of the Seduction. The conclusion left a wet paper taste in my mouth.

    Value : [rating:3/5]
    I don’t really see much value in this smoke. The pricetag may not be eye shocking but the flavors don’t match the ticket price for this experience.

    Overall Rating : [rating:2/5]
    Smoking this cigar up against Gurkhas other release, the Royal Challenge, is like night and day. While the Royal Challenge had good flavor and was priced well, the Seduction is just,… priced well. The flavor profile was bland and the weird chemical, potpourri thing is just off putting. While I could see myself definitely enjoying a Royal Challenge, I was not allured by anything the Seduction had to offer.

    Helpful?
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    • m***

      I agree with this review. I saw several really good reviews so I picked one up. Mine was um nasty to say the least. It sat in my humid for 3 weeks. I had a very harsh flavor and feel the whole time the good thing was construction so I agree there. I would like to try then Royal challenge one day

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