The Gurkha cigar company, which is renowned for producing some of the world’s most expensive cigars, created the Gurkha Beast. The Beast is a complex, full-bodied cigar that begins with a burst of sweetness before gradually developing its taste profile throughout the course of the smoke.
The Beast is a very well-balanced cigar that anybody who enjoys smoking cigars would like, despite its strong nature. This cigar is also included on the brand’s Gurkha Cigarnivore #3 Sampler.
| Wrapper Origin: Costa Rica | Shape: Gordo |
| Length: 6.5 | Ring: 58 |
| Wrapper: Costa Rican | List Price: $7.50 |
| Origin: Costa Rica | Strength: Full |
Appearance of Gurkha Beast
The long-fillers for the Gurkha Beast cigar were a combination of Dominican, Honduran, and Columbian tobaccos that were cultivated in Costa Rica. The cigar’s wrapper is oily to the touch and is in a very deep shade of brown. It also has minimal veins and almost no seams. Upon touching the cigar, it’s not that overly firmly packed, and it’s something evident to its weight since it’s light to carry.
There are two bands on the Gurkha Beast cigar. The first band is at the customary location, almost at the top, while the second band is below. The first band is an old-fashioned design with a man or soldier clutching a little sword in the center. The word “Gurkham” is printed below it in full capital, and there are two swords at the man’s back, positioned like an “X.” Rich, deep gold is the initial band’s defining color.
The word “Beast” is inscribed using a silver font color on the Gurkha Beauty cigar’s second band. This band features a black backdrop with some silver elements. Regarding color and mood, the second band contrasts sharply with the first band.
Smoking Experience
Upon lighting the Gurkha Beast cigar, it started with a heavy bang of sweetness; flavors of graham crackers and marshmallows came at the front. On the other hand, aside from its sweet notes, there’s also a heavy wood flavor going on, especially at the finish. Moreover, right off the bat, this cigar is indeed medium in terms of strength. It also produces a tremendous amount of smoke, and the draw is quite good.
For my first third of smoking the Gurkha Beast cigar, so far, it is doing pretty well with construction. The burn is almost razor sharp, it produces a lot of smoke, and the ash is holding itself well. Although the draw has a little bit of resistance, it’s not something that’s bothering me so far since I’m able to pick the flavors nicely. Speaking of, the flavor profile of this one continues to be great. I appreciate the heavy bang of the sweetness of this cigar upon lighting it up, but I’m happy with how it mellows down at this point to give way to new flavors. Now, aside from the heavy wood flavor becoming the cigar’s dominant flavor, it is accompanied by cedar and oak notes. And despite the sweetness mellowing down a little bit, it became present in the background and at the finish.
During the second third of smoking the Gurkha Beast cigar, the flavors continued to be dominated by the heavy wood note, and it actually leaned more toward becoming an oaky wood not, which I find a good flavor transition. The sweetness is still there and at the same mellow rate. On this part, there’s another new flavor emerging, and that is cocoa and salt. The salt flavor is actually present close to the oaky wood note, almost as if they are combined. The cocoa flavor is not yet rich; it’s more subtle but slowly making its way through the front of the flavor palette. As for the construction of this cigar, the ash already fell off at this point, but it’s okay on my end since it didn’t ruin the burn at all. The draw also started to loosen up a bit, making my smoking experience so far delightful. I can’t say anything bad at all.
For my final third of smoking the Gurkha Beast cigar, unlike the second third, nothing much changes at this point except for the richness of some flavors. Basically, the flavors remained the same; it’s still the oaky wood note being the dominant flavor. It still has a hint of sweetness, salt, and cedar. The cocoa flavor is also present still. In terms of strength, it is in the medium range. Lastly, the construction of this cigar up until the end is excellent. I have nothing to complain about when it comes to it. This cigar did a good job, and I had a delightful time smoking it.
Overall
Overall, the Gurkha Beast cigar is just a good cigar for me. I was fascinated by the flavor transitions of this one, but I find the flavors too common for an expensive stick. Still, I had a great time smoking such a premium cigar which I find great to pair with Scotch or smoke after dinner.
The ending flavor notes are oak wood, cedar, sweet, cocoa, and salt. This cigar is medium in terms of strength, and it did incredibly well regarding its construction. However, despite such good features, again, I find the flavors too common for an expensive cigar, and I think I could buy a much more great stick with its price range that has a lot to offer, especially in terms of flavors.
If you’re someone who is looking for a cigar to try under the Gurkha brand, this is something I will definitely recommend since it didn’t disappoint me at all. However, if you’re on a tight budget, I don’t think this stick is worth splurging on.
Other Cigars Reviews
Other Gurkha Cigar Reviews
Gurkha Centurian Double Perfecto
The Gurkha Centurian Double Perfecto is a premium Dominican cigar with a unique appearance characterized by a toothy, brown Connecticut broadleaf wrapper and a distinctive band featuring a golden “Gurkha” inscription against a red-orange sunrise-like background. Its smoking experience begins with a creamy, nutty flavor, transitioning through various stages where the strength escalates from mild to medium, and the palate experiences shifts from nuts to hay, then to richer notes of coffee and earth, all balanced by an enduring creaminess. Despite lacking a “wow” factor and having a tight draw during the second third, its solid construction even burns. The evolving flavor profile makes it a commendable choice, particularly for morning enjoyment or pairing with coffee, appealing especially to those preferring milder to medium strengths and an array of engaging flavors, encapsulating the overall experience of the Gurkha Centurian Double Perfecto.
Gurkha Beauty
The Gurkha Beauty cigar, handcrafted in the Dominican Republic, boasts a rich lineage in tobacco craftsmanship. Exhibiting a medium-bodied profile, this cigar is encased in an Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper with Dominican and Nicaraguan blends inside, presenting a velvety and light brown exterior. It uniquely features two distinct bands; the primary displays an antique soldier motif, while the secondary highlights the word “Beauty” against a sleek black backdrop. As for the smoking experience, it unfurls with sweet and creamy undertones, evolving gradually into nuttier notes with hints of pepper, especially in the final third. Although some minor inconsistencies in burn and ash were noticed, its overall performance and flavors made it a satisfying smoke. Pairing well with an espresso, this review of Gurkha Beauty is a commendable choice for both novices and seasoned cigar aficionados.
Other Full-Strength Cigars
Rocky Patel Edge Habano Torpedo
The Rocky Patel Edge Habano Torpedo, introduced as a part of six new blends in 2012, distinguishes itself within the Edge line as a Nicaraguan puro, delivering a rich tapestry of flavors, including creaminess, coffee, nuts, cedar, and pepper. Its medium to full body profile is encapsulated in a medium dark chocolate-colored wrapper with a velvety finish, promising a densely packed and meticulously crafted smoking experience. Once lit, this torpedo-shaped cigar offers a smooth, creamy smoke with a balanced draw and an earthy aftertaste, evolving through a complexity of flavors from the first to the final third. The burn is consistent, and the cigar maintains its structural integrity throughout, making it a satisfying smoke with a good burn duration, and it leaves a lasting impression with its seamless construction and full-flavored profile. Its excellence in flavor and construction makes it a must-try for aficionados, with a final nod to its quality provided in this review of the Rocky Patel Edge Habano Torpedo.
CAO Italia Ciao
The CAO Italia Ciao is a full-strength cigar from Honduras with an attention-grabbing band and a wrapper with a noticeable oily sheen. While the cigar presents a well-constructed appearance with its brown, veiny wrapper, the smoking experience starts with a tight draw and a somewhat disappointing flavor profile, predominantly bitter tobacco that lacks complexity and depth. As the smoking experience progresses, the draw improves, and notes of wood and spice emerge, but the flavors don’t leave a lasting impression. Despite transitions in flavor and improvements in construction, the CAO Italia Ciao seems to fall short of expectations, especially considering its price point. The flavors, which include wood and spice, mellow down rather than peak, and the construction issues in the final third, such as an uneven burn and a drop in smoke output, further detract from the overall experience. This particular CAO offering may not live up to the anticipation of a standout smoke, which is reflected in this review of CAO Italia Ciao.
