Introduced at the 2025 PCA Trade Show, the Gurkha Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar, was one of three Year of the Snakes the company showcased. The other two were by Ernesto Perez-Carrillo, Oscar Valladares and we will have a review of them shortly.
The Gurkha Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar is made in the Nicaragua by Oliva Cigar Co and has blend described as:
- Wrapper – Mexican San Andres
- Binder – Nicaraguan
- Filler -Nicaraguan
The cigar is expressed in a 6 5/8 x 52 box-pressed figurado and comes packaged in 10-count, gloss black humidor boxes. MSRP is set at $19.95/cigar. The company notes that only 750 boxes have been produced.
For this review, I sampled one of the Gurkha Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar, that I received from the company for the purpose of reviewing on Stogie Press.
Pre-Light Examination
The Gurkha Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar is draped in a dark brown. lightly toothy wrapper that exhibits a mild sheen. The cigar has crisp box pressing and has little bit of give along the barrel. There is a slight marbling in the wrapper and little to no veins. It has all but invisible seams. I did feel the weight of the cigar was a tad lighter than I expected. A well-formed cap and foot finish the construction.
Two bands adorn the cigar. Both use a gloss black and holographic gold ink. The primary band boldly displays the Gurkha logo and defines this as The Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar Co. The large secondary band is place below and displays a holographic gold snake.
Running the barrel along the nose, I did not pick up much pre-light aromas.
I sliced the cap about a 1/4 inch down from the tip and proceeded to give it some cold draws that offered notes of cream in addition to a touch of pepper on the lips. I found the draw to be a little less restricted, especially considering the figurado tip.
Using my single flame torch, I ignited the tip of the cigar and drew in the first puffs of creamy smoke to start the journey. Follow along as I burn this snake to ash.
Cigar Review Notes
- The journey starts with a nice creamy smoke
- A mild early popcorn aroma wafts from the foot
- The burn goes off a tad, early in the burn but ultimately corrects itself
- Cedar nuances begin to swirl into the profile after an inch of burn
- The ash dropped in a good chunk revealing a well-formed burn cone
- Moving into the second third there are mild espresso notes developing
- The smoke is smooth with no bitterness or bite
- The nuanced smoke is gently enhanced with walnut notes, deep in second third
- Entering the final, the profile brings forth buttery cocoa
- Mild to medium in strength
- Total Smoking Time was 1 hour and 30 minutes
Final Analysis
The Gurkha Year of The Snake by Oliva Cigar journey begins with a gentle introduction—a rich, creamy smoke that softly envelops the senses. From the foot, a delicate aroma reminiscent of freshly popped popcorn drifts, subtle yet inviting. About an inch in, cedar notes begin to weave into the profile, adding a dry, woody elegance to the experience.
As the cigar transitions into the second third, a quiet evolution occurs: smooth, mellow espresso notes start to enrich the blend, without overwhelming it. The smoke remains smooth, free of bitterness or harshness, allowing the light complexity to shine. Deeper into the second third, the profile is layered with hints of walnut, adding a touch of earthy complexity to the blend.
As the cigar enters its final phase, the flavor crescendos into a smooth, buttery cocoa. Throughout, the strength remains comfortably in the mild to medium range, making for a fairly elegant and balanced smoking experience. I will also say I was expecting a little more boldness but got a more subtly nuanced smoke instead. This is one I would suggest a fiver of.
Point Deductions: (-1) Ash fell often; (-1) Open Draw; (-1) Mild jag in burn
Bonus Points: NONE
