Gurkha Cigars did a soft launch of their Gurkha Pure Evil the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival this past August and as Juan Lopez, Vice President of Gurkha Cigars notes:
“A few weeks ago we pre-released the Pure Evil at the Rocky Mountain Cigar Festival and it was a great hit. The cigar sold out in the first 30 minutes of VIP festival participants entering. We’re looking forward to hearing how the masses enjoy the cigar next.”
For those that have followed Gurkha cigar for awhile you may recall the Gurkha Pure Evil as a blend on the market up until about 15 years ago when it was discontinued. As is the case now and then, what is new is old and in the case of the Pure Evil, it has a blend that was updated by Damian Tapanes of American Caribbean Cigars in Nicaragua.
The blend is described as:
- Wrapper – Ecuadorian Habano
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler – Nicaraguan
Juan further explained the Pure Evil in a press release:
“This brand was released on a limited basis in 2006. Damian has had the blend tucked away and we tasted it again while visiting the factory in Nicaragua. We were happy to bring back the old favorite with a twist.”
The Gurkha Pure Evil is expressed in three popular vitolas, each packaged in 20-count boxes.
- Robusto (5 x 52) – MSRP $8.95
- Toro (6 x 54) – MSRP $9.50
- XO (6 x 60) – MSRP $9.95
It should be note that while the original Gurkha Pure Evil was a limited edition, this new version is offered as a regular production line by the company.
For this review I sampled 2 Gurkha Pure Evil Toros that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Gurkha Pure Evil sports a silky smooth, medium to dark reddish brown wrapper that has a few noticeable veins but also a very nice vein webbing running through the leaf. The cigar has a decent oily sheen. It feels well packed and does not show any signs of soft spots when pressed between the fingers. It is neatly finished with a double cap.
A single band adorns the cigar, using a black, silver, and metallic red motif. The center of the band boldly displays a holographic skull that exhibits a single puncture in it. A metallic red spade is placed behind the skull and pairs of cross swords are displayed to the left and right. The word Gurkha is printed in metallic red on top and “Pure Evil’ in white on the bottom.
Running the Pure Evil along the nose, I picked up a pungent honey suckle floral note and some baking spice notes along the barrel, while the foot enticed my senses with notes of cocoa and walnut.
Using my CigarMedics Baller cutter, I opened the cap perfectly and proceeded to give it some cold draw puffs that I found to be just a tad more open that I prefer but not wide open by any means. The draw graced the palate with notes of pepper and earth.
With the pre-ight exam looking good, I used my single flame torch to warm the foot to an even orange glow and drew in the first peppery puffs especially on the nose. Follow along as I burn this Evil one to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- Hearty pepper notes on the initial open the nasals
- Thick chewy smoke is drawn on every puff
- A medium grey ash forms on top of medium thick char line
- Tangy Fruit notes join the mix early
- Dark chocolate nuance round out the early profile
- Slight off burn develops but does not require a touch up
- Ash fell in a decent chunk revealing a decent burn cone
- Burnt honey notes deep in first third
- Strength moves up to a solid medium
- Dark chocolate lays in the back ground
- Mild earthy notes
- Sweet aroma
- Vanilla cream enters midway
- Mild spice notes join the profile
- Bitter Sweet and Leather notes in final
- Medium to Full in Strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 25 minutes
Final Analysis
I found the new Gurkha Pure Evil to be a pleasurable cigar that offered an exquisitely well-balanced array of notes and aromas from pre-light down to the nub. It started with a powerful and invigorating peppery burst, but quickly settled down to allow you to truly savor the journey.
I was particularly enamored with the luxuriously rich burnt honey and decadent dark chocolate notes that definitely intrigued the palate, not to mention the later velvety smooth vanilla cream notes that provided a soothing finish.
This is an excellent offering from Gurkha, and if you have not indulged in the brand’s cigars recently, I implore you to acquaint yourself with the Pure Evil. For those new to the world of cigar smoking, this can be one of those cigars that expand your palate and leave an indelible impression.
In my opinion, this cigar is certainly box-worthy, and I rate it a 93.
Point Deductions: (-1) mild wave in burn; (-1) Medium Grey Ash; (-1) Off burn early but no touch up required;
Bonus Points: (-) Complex and Nuanced; (+1) Box Worthy
