I've had one in a Connecticut wrapper. Not bad if you like Connies, but too mild for me. The Doble Maduro and whatever the barber pole one was were awful. They both tasted like dirt (a heavy earthy flavor).



We started this out with PI and Reyes, move on to Rocky Patels, and now Gurkhas. Where did we go wrong?:-)
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I've had behind the scenes looks and conversations with more than just the Reyes group and I can tell you this may have been the case 10/15 years ago but not anymore - at least with most manufacturers. Consumers are becoming too educated and expecting better.

I can't speak for ALL manu's but there are fewer and fewer of them that dye their cigars.
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Well, Andy took me up on my offer. EEE, you have first shot at the other position since you graciously put on round one. If not, Mark or someone else that has followed this thread can step in.

I'm more interested in which cigars you enjoy more than picking the Gurkhas. My biggest issue with gurks is construction. Several have flavors I've enjoyed, but they have fell apart on me more than any other cigar manufacturer. I always believe that in a blind review without any hype, you are more prone to find what you like.

So, who else wants to play?:-)
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Is this a question for me? What do I like right now?

I'm into strong sticks. I like about anything Nicaraguan at this point. I mellow out with some Padrons and a few CCs that people gift me, but if I'm picking it out, I go for the power and strength. I haven't found much power in Gurkhas yet.
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CIGAR #10


Robusto with an ugly blemished wrapper. Pre-light draw is grass and hay.

First few draws...



I would guess that this cigar IS a Rolando Reyes cigar.
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I meant what you think of the ten blind sticks versus just "gurkha or not" as an answer, but this will help with a lineup.
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Mark # 10 - hoya de nicaragua

Very interesting.

This was the only cigar that Andy didn't get because he was the one I was actually challenging to the Reyes part of this. I'm wondering if you psyched out and thought you were smoking a Reyes stick and your brain told you what to taste vs what you were actually tasting. Almost like if were given an Opus X with a Mac label.... Would we still think it tasted like an Opus X? This is very interesting.
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Lou - sure, I'm game. I will send over my addy.
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Very entertaining thread guys. EEE, WTG offering up like you did. Andy and Mark, nice job on the reviews.
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You have great tastes in your baseball team and that you football and hockey choices follow suit.:-)
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Ditto...you all did a great job of it. Thanks!!

:-)
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If you're referring to me, yes indeed. Four sport Philly guy here (yes, I even pull for the Sixers). I also pull for the city schools during the NCAA's.:-)
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:-)


I love some JdNs, especially the Antano. Maybe you're on to something with the label thing. I beleive I got psyched out on the DPG blue label. Never had any grass or hay from a JdN.
Not a Phillies fan here, but I'm damned proud of them for bringing a championship home to the National League. Now if only we could win an All-Star Game.
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I think the next round I do this it will be completely blind and not a single brand name given prior
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I think that would be a good idea. I was thinking that every stick I smoked was going to be a PI, therefore I was expecting the worse out of all of them.
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while typing on a blackberry - the English language is ruined. LOL

Next month - two more volunteers for a fiver blinder. Maybe I'll do this every month???
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Not a big fan of JdN...that might explain it. Smoked a few Celebracions and did not like them at all, smoked a few Antanos that were OK but nothing special. I found that they needed too much humi time for a NC. I guess I coulda been a little bit psyched out though. :-)

My final word on Reyes cigars:

I've smoked a lot of them over the past few years, and they all had a familiar flavor and aroma that I just don't like. Obviously they have fans or they wouldn't have been in business this long. Maybe it's the way they cure or ferment their tobacco, I dunno.

But hey, that's what makes this hobby/obsession of ours so interesting. Different smokes for different folks. It's the same with food. I don't like asparagus. To me, PIs are the equivalent of smoking asparagus. :-)



EEE -- thanks for the challenge, bro. It was an eye-opening experience.
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Hmmm, asparagus is my favorite vegatable. wonder how it would smoke? :-) :-)
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I'll go with that on this one. No sense having you worry that every cigar is going to be a Gurkha. Plus, most the ones I had several of were going to be dead giveaway figurados! You could have called em before you even lit em. But a couple will be Gurkhas, just not many.

Just printed out labels, they will ship tomorrow morning.

DC#'s
01038555749798980307
01038555749819951828

I will start a new thread for the next round. Hope something hits your taste profile and you find something interesting to try. Almost every cigar is one I keep around and is part of my regular rotation.
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Yup that the way to do it. Mix em up.. .put some great inexpensive smokes and some great semi-expensive ones in there. Alway fun to watch people's reviews.
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