Another telework day at the Wharf....and another cigar to review while working.  Jordan passed me a cigar they had been backordered on for a while.  The Gurkha Red Witch.  I had read about them but never seen them in the area.  Let's get right to it....

Construction: The witch is a nice big rustic looking cigar.  It's a soft boxpress with a square foot and round edges and a nice mottled red-brown wrapper.

Pre-light Aroma and Draw: The unlit aroma is heavy on spice with a sweet tobacco undertone.  I was shocked at the perfect draw as well.  It's wide open enough to be used as a drinking straw.  Very nice.  I had a minor blemish around the foot of this cigar so I had a small wrapper split.  However, the burn passed by uneventfully.

Light and Burn: Because of the wide open draw this baby lights up fast and easy.  The burn is perfectly square at the start.

Tasting: I am getting a nice spice to the opening of this smoke.  Lots of coffee and paprika.  The spice and strength in the first third is pretty powerful and I am impressed with the complexity so far.  Into the second third the strength and spice seem to drop by about half.  There is another wrapper split and some flake coming off the wrapper leaf.  Rather disheartening but it appears to be holding together at least.  I am getting a nice woody spice in the middle third now and the finish is dry on the palette.  This would be a good cigar with a pint of lager.  Okay, I am past the wrapper issues and they were not even a blip on the radar.  Into the final third and the strength and spice are popping back up a notch.  More coffee, wood, cocoa, and leather are making an appearance here.  There is a very prominent milk chocolate flavor in here as well.  Very nice Gurkha experience. 

Value: At around $6, the Red Witch is an absolute steal!

Final Thoughts: As I nub this cigar into oblivion, I am reminded of something I heard recently.  Gurkha sells their name to other manufacturers and that is why there are so many different Gurkha labels out there.  Most of the ones I have had over the past few years were these un-Gurkhas - wrapper explosions, bland taste, etc.  The past two I have had are authentic Gurkhas and it shows.  They are quality blends and terrific quality.  This one had a couple of wrapper issues but the cigar performed through them easily, which is the mark of a good cigar.  Some folks might balk at a premium label having these issues at all but let's face it....These are leaves we are smoking.  A little blemish here and there happens.  In fact, it is amazing you don't see it more often - a sign of how well the packaging works in the cigar industry.  So with that, the Red Witch is a great smoke and one I can highly recommend.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Rosado
Binder: Dominican
Filler: Nicaraguan

Strength: Full

Size: 6 x 54

Groovy band on this one....love the East India Trading look