I was very pleased to receive 20 Gurkha Grand Reserve cigars for my birthday in February. I've smoked three of them since then and I've decided to save the rest of them for very special occasions. I figure that these smokes are so good that they can only get better by aging mellowly in my well regulated humidor.

The Grand Reserve cigars that I got were Churchills, with a length of 7.5 inches and a ring size of of 52. Each cigar was enclosed in a glass tube and sealed with a generous dollop of brownish red wax, which was easily opened with a pull tab. After removing the wax, all I had to do was to remove a plug in the end of the tube, along with a small foam chip, and my cigar was ready to smoke. Gurkha has a reputation for innovative packaging and presentation of their sticks, and the Grand Reserve was certainly offered in a very attractive fashion.

The feel of the Grand Reserve Churchill was pleasant--it was firm but not hard, and in fact felt a little springy. An almost seamless Connecticut shade wrapper enveloped excellent aged and blended Dominican filler, and the cigar had been treated with a secret infusion process involving Louis Xlll cognac. The stick certainly smelled like tobacco, but I detected a faint scent which reminded me of almonds when I gave it the sniff test.

The burn was flawless, and I developed about 1 1/2 inches of almost snow white ash before it dropped off into my ashtray. The draw was effortless and consistent, and this cigar remained cool until I smoked it to completion. This stick was so good that I must confess that I inserted a toothpick in the end of the cigar when the nub got so short that I couldn't hold it with my fingers. I wanted to savor every last bit of this one, and I'll tell you why.

I classify the Gurkha Grand Reserve Churchill as being somewhere between light and medium bodied, which perfectly suits my tastes in cigars. The flavors were presented very subtly and well balanced. Sweetness from the Connecticut wrapper was present, nicely complimented by hints of vanilla and almonds, with just enough pepper to give the cigar its body. The finish was balanced and satisfying, with no lingering aftertastes.

The Gurkha Grand Reserve Churchill can be purchased for $12 a stick, but if you buy a bundle of thirty, they can be had for $10 or less. Although I rarely spend that much for a cigar, I'll probably always have a few of these cigars in my humidor because they are really that special.

 Is it the best cigar I've ever smoked? I'm inclined to say that it is, but my cigar experience is relatively short, because I've only been smoking them for two years or so.

At any rate, I highly recommend these cigars, as I think they provide a great smoking experience.

Recommended: Yes

Cigar Name: Gurkha Grand Reserve Churchill
Cigar Rating: A must - sensational
Price per cigar ($US): 12