Lord Baltimore Brings Back Gurkha’s Red Witch

Lord Baltimore Distributors has announced that it has come to an agreement with Gurkha Cigar Group, Inc. to bring back the latter’s Red Witch blend.

Technically, the Red Witch is part of East India Trading Co., a sub-brand within the Gurkha portfolio. The line was introduced in 2012 with the aim of targeting the then-popular $5 cigar market. Lord Baltimore says the line was phased out in 2020.

While Lord Baltimore is now responsible for selling the cigar, most of the details around the cigar appear to be the same. It uses an Ecuadorian rosado wrapper over a Dominican binder and fillers from Nicaragua. Previously, Gurkha listed them as three-year-old fillers from Jalapa. It is made at American Caribbean Tobacco S.A., the same factory as before.

Also staying the same are the three vitolas, though, after a dozen years, the prices have increased. All three vitolas are ready to begin shipping:

• Red Witch Robusto (5 x 52) — $7.39 (Box of 21, $155.19)
• Red Witch Toro (6 x 54) — $8.79 (Box of 21, $184.59)
• Red Witch XO (6 x 60) — $9.39 (Box of 21, $197.19)

Lord Baltimore is owned by Steve and David Castro, two brothers who also the Davidus Cigars, a chain of cigar stores in Maryland.