IPCPR 2018: Gurkha

I didn’t make it over to the Gurkha booth until day four, but to very little surprise, the company was still writing orders. I suppose that’s sort of the story of all the talk about attendance: if you are busy then it doesn’t matter.

As for the booth, there’s not much change: it’s a larger booth with plenty of tables, display areas and even a private office. One noticeable addition was the wall of humidors, more on that below.

Gurkha Chateau de Prive

One of the prettier, albeit not the most retail-friendly packaging, the Chateau de Prive continues Gurkha’s long tradition of packaging excellence. I suspect this will be a regular item, though it’s formally listed as quite limited.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Desflorado)
• Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
• Filler: Dominican Republic

 

• Gurkha Chateau de Prive Bishop (5 x 50) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Gurkha Chateau de Prive Rook (6 x 46) — $10 (Boxes of 20, $200)
• Gurkha Chateau de Prive King of Warriors (6 1/2 x 52) — $11 (Boxes of 20, $220)

Production: 300 Boxes of 20 Cigars (18,000 Total Cigars)*

Launch Date: October/November 2018

*Gurkha says there are 300 boxes per size for the initial run, it’s unclear if there will be more.

Gurkha Ghost Gold

Gurkha’s popular Ghost line gets an extension in the form of Ghost Gold. While the bands are gold, the boxes are black, not exactly the easiest thing to make sense of.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Criollo 97
• Filler: Dominican Republic, Nicaragua & U.S.A.

• Gurkha Ghost Gold Shadow (5 x 52) — $8 (Boxes of 21, $168)
• Gurkha Ghost Gold Asura (6 x 54) — $9 (Boxes of 21, $189)
• Gurkha Ghost Gold Exorcist (6 x 60) — $11 (Boxes of 21, $231)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Gurkha Marquesa

Gurkha says this release is inspired by pre-embargo Cuban cigars. That includes the blend, which is heavily Nicaragua, as well as the packaging, which looks very Cuban.

• Wrapper: Sumatra
• Binder: Nicaragua
• Filler: Nicaragua (Estelí & Ometepe)

• Gurkha Marquesa Robusto (5 x 52) — $8 (Boxes of 20, $160)
• Gurkha Marquesa Toro (6 x 54) — $9 (Boxes of 20, $180)
• Gurkha Marquesa Belicoso (5 x 54) — $9 (Boxes of 20, $180)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year 10th Anniversary Boxes

Last year, the Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year 10th Anniversary was sold, but only in humidors. Now the cigar returns—albeit with slightly different blend descriptions—and in boxes of 24.

• Wrapper: Ecuador (Habano)
• Binder: Dominican Republic (Olor)
• Filler: Dominican Republic

 

• Gurkha Cellar Reserve 15 Year 10th Anniversary (6 x 52) — $12 (Boxes of 24, $288)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: August 2018

Gurkha Café Tabac

This year, Gurkha returns a trio of flavored cigars. Café Tabac is described as a coffee flavored cigar.

• Wrapper: Dominican Republic
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Gurkha Café Tabac 5 x 52 — $6.40 (Boxes of 25, $160)
• Gurkha Café Tabac 4 x 34 — $2.80 (Tins of 5, $14)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: 2018

Gurkha Red Head

Red Head is described as a cherry flavored. Gurkha says the flavoring in the cigar is a bit different than other cigars, slightly milder.

• Wrapper: Dominican Republic
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Gurkha Red Head 5 x 52 — $6.40 (Boxes of 25, $160)
• Gurkha Red Head 4 x 34 — $2.80 (Tins of 5, $14)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: 2018

Gurkha White Rascal

White Rascal is described as the bourbon flavored cigar.

• Wrapper: Dominican Republic
• Binder: Dominican Republic
• Filler: Dominican Republic

• Gurkha White Rascal 5 x 52 — $6.40 (Boxes of 25, $160)
• Gurkha White Rascal 4 x 34 — $2.80 (Tins of 5, $14)

Production: Regular Production

Launch Date: 2018

Gurkha Promo Humidors

These are used as promo humidors with retailers. There’s a new trio of design options this year.

Humidors

Gurkha has a new collection of humidors coming later in the year. They aren’t going to be branded as Gurkha. These will be sold.