While tobacco growing and cigar making companies are spread out all over the world, there’s a special type of company we all know and love, right here at home: the local cigar shop. But with independent shops located across the country, it can be difficult for them to coordinate. That’s why the Tobacconists Association of America (TAA) was created. It’s an organization that allows brick and mortar cigar retailers to join together to discuss the industry, hook up with suppliers, and, as a side bonus, gain access to special exclusive cigar blends like the Gurkha Heritage.
The Gurkha Heritage cigar was blended up to celebrate the TAA’s 50th anniversary.
Over the decades, the TAA has helped cigar shops share information, solve problems together, and offer limited edition smokes like this. These cigars tend to be a way for a blender to offer a special “gift” to the retailers who join. Of course, cigar smokers are the real beneficiaries here.
Gurkha Heritage
The Heritage cigar itself features a Ecuadorian Habano Rosado wrapper (aka a “Natural” wrapper), a Nicaraguan binder, and a blend of Dominican, Pennsylvanian, and Nicaraguan long-fillers. This blend is a collaboration between the blending team at American Caribbean Cigars in Nicaragua and Gurkha blender and National Sales Director Juan Lopez (of course, the blend also received the blessing of Gurkha owner Kaizad Hansotia as well).
Once you take off the cellophane, foot band, and cedar wrap, you can finally get to the cigar. This thing is better protected than a Disney starlet walking through a crowd at the Mall of America! The Natural version of the Gurkha Heritage puts out medium-bodied smoke with medium-full strength and a ton of potent flavor. Light it up and take a draw and black pepper will greet you, followed by dark roasted coffee, almonds, and sweet citrus.
Now let’s get out of the light and into the darkness.
