Gurkha Cigar Group International recapped the 2024 PCA Convention after the group’s return from Las Vegas, Nevada last week. With overall retailer attendance a little flat at this year’s Premium Cigar Association Convention, Gurkha was proud to wrap up another successful show.
Gurkha showcased several new projects at their booth including the 35th Anniversary and Colección Especial Nicaragua both in 10 count boxes; the 2024 series of Year of the Dragon in collaboration with 4 different trade manufacturers; and Tyson 2.0 Undisputed with an attendance by Mike Tyson.
Juan Lopez, VP of Sales noted:
“The 35th Anniversary and Colección Especial Nicaragua were released as additions to existing cigar lines and we knew our retailers would love them. Our team of sales managers had been asking about these additions for quite some time, and we were pleased to see our retail partners were excited to bring them in to their lineup.”
Gurkha 35th Anniversary in 2024
In 2023, Gurkha announced the celebration of their 35th Anniversary in 2024 with a limited-edition collector’s Ferrari red humidor housing 75 cigars inside. This year, Gurkha continued that line with the 35th Anniversary housed in a 10 count box. Made with El Artista Cigars, Gurkha’s 35th Anniversary can be found in three vitolas: Toro, Pirámide, and Figurado, with an MSRP of $10.95-$11.95 per cigar.
Gurkha Colección Especial Nicaragua
Also housed in 10 count boxes, the Colección Especial Nicaragua is a friend to the Colección Especial released in 2022. While the original has a hybrid Connecticut wrapper and is made out of the Dominican Republic, the Colección Especial Nicaragua is a Nicaraguan Puro made in Nicaragua. Released in two vitolas: Toro and Pirámide, the Colección Especial Nicaragua boasts a $14.95 MSRP.
Gurkha Year of the Dragon
Gurkha was most proud to be able to showcase the Year of the Dragon in it’s entirety for the very first time as “a once in a lifetime collaboration.” The project’s announcement went out in January as an addition to the 15 Count Red Year of the Dragon pre-released in 2023 that began shipping to customer’s stateside in December. The project showcased a numbered, collector’s edition, 200 count humidor and four special projects made with some modern day legends in the cigar industry. Gurkha Cigar Group partnered with AJ Fernandez to create a 6 5/8×52 box pressed cigar in a 10-count commemorative green box set to ship following the PCA Trade Show.
The second collaboration will release in April and is a 10-count black commemorative box, 6 5/8×54 toro cigar by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo. Oliva Cigar Company is making Gurkha’s next collaboration that is set to ship in June in a 10 count, 6 1/2×60 Figurado cigar, orange commemorative box. The final installment of Gurkha’s Year of the Dragon will be made by Oscar Valladares in a 10 count, 6×52 toro cigar, yellow commemorative box.
Lopez added:
“We knew this project was a special one from the beginning, and our retail partners did not disagree. Retailers really loved seeing our collaboration and we loved being able to finally share the cigars. We can’t wait to see the reactions of consumers as they begin shipping throughout the year.”
Gurkha was proud to sell through 70% of their inventory on this special project.
Jim Colucci, President of Gurkha Cigars exclaimed:
“You better place an order now, because when they’re gone, they’re gone!”
Gurkha/LGNDS Tyson 2.0 Undisputed
Retailers were, as expected, lining up their orders in order to get a picture with the baddest man on the planet, Mike Tyson. They also lined up around the booth! The Tyson 2.0 Undisputed was released as a collaboration between Gurkha Cigars and LGNDS. The cigar has two finishes: Maduro, which is encased in a black top box, and Habano, which is encased in a gold metallic box. Each box is completely unique and like nothing you’ve seen before, and retailers took note. The Tyson 2.0 Undisputed by Gurkha Cigars is made with El Artista Cigars and has an MSRP of $19.00-$19.90.
Jim Colucci commented:
“The reception was amazing. We thought Tyson would bring some disruption to the industry trade show, and we were not wrong. Our customers were happy to try the cigar and meet the man behind the brand.”
Most exciting for Gurkha is the future of bringing that momentum and cigar to full market. The Tyson 2.0 Undisputed is expected to hit stores by May and the company has already placed a second order for more boxes and production.
Juan Lopez stated:
“We knew it would be big, but we had no idea we would almost sell through our first allotment of boxes“
In Las Vegas, sampler packs were given to customers including the Tyson 2.0 Undisputed Maduro and Habano, 35th Anniversary, Colección Especial Nicaragua and a mysterious cigar named the Imperial. Could this indicate something new is still on the horizon?
Bianca Lopez, Director of Marketing for the company noted:
“Gurkha is far from done with our releases for 2024. With the trade show in March instead of July, the year is early and we have a lot of months left to work.”
In talking about the Imperial, Juan Lopez stated:
“Be on the lookout for something new later this year. It’s a new project with Las Villas factory in Esteli. They make our Grand Age II currently and have been producing new samples that is wowing our tasting panel.”
Gurkha Cigars are known throughout the world for their premium cigars. The company produces millions of cigars per year that are sold in more than 85 countries worldwide. While Gurkha is known for its exclusivity, it has an impressive array of brands of flawlessly handcrafted, premium cigars created in a variety of strengths, tasting profiles and price-points. No matter what your taste, there’s a Gurkha cigar that’s perfect for your palate.