All tagged Non-Cuban Cigar Reviews

Gurkha 125th Anniversary Rothchild – Lustau 125th Anniversary 1996 Añada Vintage Sherry

Gurkha 125th Anniversary Rothchild – Lustau 125th Anniversary 1996 Añada Vintage Sherry

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2022

Well, this certainly did not go to plan. In the bundle of Kenfessions cigars, a Gurkha (actually, two). Never had one. Mind you, if I were an alien and FoH was my reference point for cigars (which, of course, it is), I would assume that Gurkha cigars were only smoked by the Four Horsemen and that the makers made Bernie Madoff look like Mother Teresa. These are, I have been assured, extremely expensive cigars, for the most part, and yet they are more or less described on FoH as toxic excrement.

As I mentioned, I’ve never had one. The reason for that is mostly that I have never encountered one before. I am 99.9% Cubans only, because that is what I like and what is available to me. It is not because there is simply no FoH love for Gurkhas. To be honest, I’ve always been a little keen to find out if they are as bad as many claim or if it is just a value thing.

This one was marked on the cellophane as the ‘125th Anniversary Rothchild’. I have no idea where that sits in the Gurkha pantheon, but, according to my research on the ever-reliable internet…

Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4) – Ayala No 7 2007. 

Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4) – Ayala No 7 2007. 

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

Some time ago, the very kind people at Tres Hermanos sent me some cigars. one has already appeared in Kenfessions and others will surely follow. Now, as a person known for a preference for the long and skinny, this might get awkward (is there a cigar equivalent for cacomorphobia?). Among their offerings is their No 4, Tres Hermanos Short Gordito (No. 4). Let me assure you that it does not resemble the Monte 4 in any way. But I am all for judging on merits, hence I was determined to do so with this cigar.

We are getting close to square cigars, but I do understand that people love the shorter fatter styles. And it does not get much shorter or fatter than this. A cigar ten centimetres in length and with a 70 ring gauge. Yes, that is not a misprint. I had to use a punch – I normally do, anyway – as no clipper is…

Tres Hermanos Robusto (No. 3) – Taylors Vintage Port 1980 (half bottle).

Tres Hermanos Robusto (No. 3) – Taylors Vintage Port 1980 (half bottle).

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2020

I am the first to confess that my expertise, such as it is, is almost non-existent when it comes to non-Cubans. I honestly doubt that my total for NC’s smoked would make 1% of the cigars experienced.

And so when kindly presented with an array of NC’s for review – in this case from Tres Hermanos – I do what any ex-lawyer would do and completely fake it!

More seriously, this intriguing selection arrived recently and I am working my way through them, though a few have been, at first glimpse, a little daunting – a 70 ring gauge? That was only a 100mm cigar, but also awaiting is a 66 ring gauge in a 180mm cigar called ‘Big Hermano’. The mind boggles and I think I might need to leave half a day for that one. There is also a Salomones – 57mm ring gauge and 190mm in length. I'm looking forward to that one as I do believe that if…

Nudies No 1 Lonsdales/Last Drop 1971 Blended Scotch Whisky (and possibly some Flor de Cana 25-Year-Old Rum)

Nudies No 1 Lonsdales/Last Drop 1971 Blended Scotch Whisky (and possibly some Flor de Cana 25-Year-Old Rum)

Ken Gargett
By Ken Gargett - 2019

Couple of interesting things touched down at the swamp recently. I had been talking to the people behind a rare spirits company and they were going to flick through a sample for review. And Rob left me with a mystery cigar. No clues at all. 

The whisky sample turned up and it was, wait for it, a 10ml thimble. I thought how on earth does one get to taste anything from such a minute sample? I found out later that a full 700ml bottle comes in at around £4,000, so suddenly 10mls is looking very generous. And it was such a stand out, no issue at all…