Ghurka - Hate them or love them and why?

ForceR

In my time smoking, I have seen some extreme reactions from mild-mannered BOTL who have strong opinions about Ghurkha cigars. Do you hate them or love them and why?

0patience

I like the ghurkha rogue.
As for the rest of their line, there is some decent stuff, but problems with construction and all, I never really find myself grabbing one.

As for loving or hating them, I don't really give them enough thought to say one way or another.

kswildcat

To many good sticks out there for reasonable price to fight construction issues. Of the very few I smoked they seemed to be pretty bland. I refuse to buy them..

The good news is, if you like them they can be had for very little $. I'm cheap just not that cheap

johnnyB

So as a  newB maybe my palate still needs to develop further. But that being said one of my first orders from C.com was the ghurkha mild & mellow sampler. It helped me to find that I like a little more strength in a cigar. I think the ghurkha symphony is a great cigar,even on an empty stomach.out of the 12 cigars in the sampler only had construction issues with one.
Still need to do more research before I can say I love or hate them.

avengethis

I have not had one that didnt have burn or construction issues.  The flavors I got out of them was not good enough to warrant fighting their issues so I dont smoke them.

pross

I think their issue is that they market (and price) a sub-par stick with consistent construction issues as a super premium.

I have had a couple I enjoyed the flavor of, and some that are the worst cigar I have ever tasted.

I am insulted by their over the top marketing telling me they are the best stick on the market when they are an overpriced daily dog rocket at best.

Crisius

I've only had one Ghurka, The Red Witch. It was good, I wouldn't mind trying others. But my current opinion of them is decent. But like any brand, I'm sure there are some unappealing cigars they make as well.

0patience

Crisius said:

I've only had one Ghurka, The Red Witch. It was good, I wouldn't mind trying others. But my current opinion of them is decent. But like any brand, I'm sure there are some unappealing cigars they make as well.

I just realized you are up by Aberdeen. Not too far away.

miller65rod

Ghurka is Ghurka. I get sales newsletters from about 25 stores online and nearly every time someone is having s Gurka blow out sale with about 20+ different blends it seems. I have never bought a Gurka per say to be buying it. I have gotten free ones in samplers etc. I have smoked a few, they are bland IMO. I have about 6 Ghurkas in my humi mostly Perfecto's that been there from day one. I have smoked 2 of them. I never had one blow up etc. However i have seen this happen. The ones I have smoked have smoked very well. I have friends that love them for the price and enjoy smoking them. I never gravitated there I guess.

My wife taught me a long time ago that when something is on sale all the time there is a reason its on sale and many times not for the good. I never went the Ghurka route when I started smoking. I went to forums and read reviews and started buying quality inexpensive cigars and went from there. There are plenty of good cheap smokes out there. I just don't see Ghurka as one of them for me.

Do I hate them, NAH... Do I love them NAH as well.  If you gave a choice between an 8 dollar Ghurka and an 8 dollar Crown Heads (as an example), I am not even thinking about buying the Ghurka. Their reputation alone keeps me away. 

Obviously though they must be selling a boat load of stogies since they are everywhere.

WaterNerd

Crisius said:

I've only had one Ghurka, The Red Witch. It was good, I wouldn't mind trying others. But my current opinion of them is decent. But like any brand, I'm sure there are some unappealing cigars they make as well.

I have a few. Pm me your info and I'll send some your way 

peter4jc

I think they're the best and smoke them every day, just because they have such cool artwork on their bands.

ForceR

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

Woodguarden

Overpriced, mediocre, poorly constructed - enough said

Crisius

Depends on what you like, my personal favorite that is on the cheaper end is the 5 Vegas Gold, it's a nice light cigar. Just don't tell @Eulogy. He "loves" 5 vegas.

Usaf06

peter4jc said:

I think they're the best and smoke them every day, just because they have such cool artwork on their bands.

Good to know, after I send 20 to Steve I'll send you the rest

Bob_Luken

If you find any cigar that you like, you should un-apologetically smoke it. If you consistently find problems (construction, or taste) with any one brand, you might ought to avoid it. That's my take on all cigars but, that second sentence, for me, relates specifically to Gurks. 

SleevePlz

ForceR said:

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

What price range, gauge, and flavor are you looking for? I'll throw out the Room101 Payback and Tatuaje Tattoo. $5 robustos that smoke like $10 sticks.

ForceR

SleevePlz said:

ForceR said:

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

What price range, gauge, and flavor are you looking for? I'll throw out the Room101 Payback and Tatuaje Tattoo. $5 robustos that smoke like $10 sticks.

I love the Tatuaje Tattoo. I've never tried the Room101. Thanks for the suggestion!

ForceR

Usaf06 said:

peter4jc said:

I think they're the best and smoke them every day, just because they have such cool artwork on their bands.

Good to know, after I send 20 to Steve I'll send you the rest

Feel free to send them my way.

Usaf06

SleevePlz said:

ForceR said:

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

What price range, gauge, and flavor are you looking for? I'll throw out the Room101 Payback and Tatuaje Tattoo. $5 robustos that smoke like $10 sticks.

And La Palina Classic

avengethis

DPG Blue when you find them on sale.

pross

Usaf06 said:

SleevePlz said:

ForceR said:

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

What price range, gauge, and flavor are you looking for? I'll throw out the Room101 Payback and Tatuaje Tattoo. $5 robustos that smoke like $10 sticks.

And La Palina Classic

Gran Habano Vintage 2002 is one of the better bangs for the buck also.

miller65rod

Gran Habano Vintage 2002 @pross

Let them sleep for a year or so and then see what they are like. They do improve.

jsnake

I like Gurkha and have smoked all of them except the HMR. If I were to buy cheap cigars I would buy more. But I am really into the quality of amazing boutique cigars. Gurkha has tons of construction and quality issues. It has been mentioned they claim their cigars are worth $750 a box but you can get them on sale for $40 a box. They hold themselves in high regard and that bothers many people given most of it seems like marketing gimmicks. 

I know people from the company and they are great people. I will smoke them still.

Dark_Roast

I bought some Centurian from CCOM and they sucked! First cigar I tasted ammonia. I stay away from them. IMO they are the worst cigar I have ever smoked. F-Gurka! IMO. 

First_Warrior

I've tried a number of Gurkhas. Construction issues and bland taste dominated almost all of them.The only one that I truly like is the Cellar Reserve.

jgkamin

Junk cigars, a million different lines that are all sub-par, way too much time trying to trick the consumer with smoke and mirrors. Fancy packaging, a catchy Name and calling it a $100 stick (but always 95% off) doesn't make it a $100 stick...it's a $5 stick!

kswildcat

5 Vegas offerings are far better then Gurkha. Flor de  los Antilles can regularly  be had at a steal. 

The amount of good sticks that are consistent in flavor and construction for 8 bucks or less is pretty much endless if your patient and shop smart.

Crisius

kswildcat said:

5 Vegas offerings are far better then Gurkha. Flor de  los Antilles can regularly  be had at a steal. 

The amount of good sticks that are consistent in flavor and construction for 8 bucks or less is pretty much endless if your patient and shop smart.

5 Vegas is a good, tasty smoke and pretty cheap too. The Maduro though was pretty bland.

Don't think I've had a Flor De Las Antillas though.

Guitarded

ForceR said:

I've had a couple of issues, but it doesn't seem to be THAT bad. I personally like them for the exact reason you are all wary: the price. In our market, in upstate NY, finding a stick of the same gauge for close to the same price is almost impossible. We often pay $9+ from the small places around town. Anyone have other suggestions in the same price range, gauge, and flavor?

Maybe you could try the Ave Maria line from AJ Fernandez. Great prices from CCOM and a large selection of sizes and samplers. The Connecticut wrapped are on the mellow side ( I like the Immaculata with coffee in the am) and the others have a bit more kick. Always well constructed and consistent flavor to me. Good Luck

0patience

Check out the Torano line.
Great construction and flavor at a reasonable price.