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The Cigar Almanac

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Home · Brands · Gurkha

Dominican Republic

Gurkha

Original entry · Not for sale · Prices are approximate

Still life of wrapper colors for the Gurkha entry. Not that brand’s packaging.
Still life of wrapper colors for the Gurkha entry. Not that brand’s packaging.

Known for extreme list prices and ornate boxes; origin and blend change by line.

BrandGurkha
CountryDominican Republic
Typical strengthMedium-full
Typical price bandLuxury
Founded1989 in present form
Typical wrappersSeveral

Flavor tendencies often mentioned

  • sweet spice
  • wood
  • rum-like sweetness
  • cedar
Flavor notes summarize public talk. They are not scores from this almanac.

Five-axis editorial estimate

Strength follows the strength field; price follows the price band or approximate USD. Body, flavour richness, and smoothness are editorial estimates from the taste notes—not ratings.

StrengthBodyFlavourrichnessPriceSmoothness
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength4 / 5
Body4 / 5
Flavour richness5 / 5
Price5 / 5
Smoothness5 / 5

Gurkha appears in “world’s most expensive cigar” advertising. Claims about barrels and rare stock are brand marketing and are not checked here. Real products run from ordinary mid-price to luxury stickers. Watch the leaf, not the number on the plaque.

Notable models

Approximate price per stick. Tax varies widely.

Ghost Shadow

StrengthMedium
Typical vitolas6 × 52
Taste notescedar, cream, mild spice
Approx. USDapprox. US$10–18
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$80–140
Price bandPremium
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength3 / 5
Body2 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness4 / 5

Royal Challenge

StrengthMedium-full
Typical vitolas5 × 52
Taste notessweet wood, spice
Approx. USDapprox. US$7–14
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$55–110
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength4 / 5
Body4 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

Heritage

StrengthMedium
Typical vitolas6 × 50
Taste notesnut, cedar
Approx. USDapprox. US$8–15
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$65–120
Price bandMid
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength3 / 5
Body3 / 5
Flavour richness3 / 5
Price3 / 5
Smoothness4 / 5

His Majesty's Reserve

StrengthFull
Typical vitolas7 × 52 (as advertised)
Taste notessweet spice, wine-like marketing notes
Approx. USDapprox. US$200–500+
Approx. HKDapprox. HK$1,600–4,000+
Price bandLuxury
StrBodyFlavPriceSmooth
Editorial estimates, not ratings or lab scores.
Strength5 / 5
Body5 / 5
Flavour richness4 / 5
Price5 / 5
Smoothness3 / 5

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