Good brands with bad cigars? Bad brands with good ones?

[megladon8]

I hear that Gurkha is pretty much a terrible cigar company - at least according to this forum. I don't think I've seen a positive thing written about a Gurkha.

But...is there the occasional diamond in the rough? Does this across-the-board affordable brand have a certain blend and size that's actually quite good?


Similarly, what are some legendary brands and blends you have tried and been thoroughly unimpressed with?

 

[Dread]

Ive smoked 40+ Gurkhas, and I can say 90% of their stuff is not worth the price tag. But at the same time the hate on their cigars is undeserved. They really are not that bad, its Gurkhas marketing that is the cause for most of the hate Gurkha receives. Centurian, royal brigade, even the park avenue are real nice smokes.

One Id say I was seriously unimpressed with, and guys that know me from other forums know Ive said this many times. Brickhouse. No its not really legendary but those cigars are just not good in my honest opinion. So much hype and I was very let down.

 

[megladon8]

Ive smoked 40+ Gurkhas, and I can say 90% of their stuff is not worth the price tag. But at the same time the hate on their cigars is undeserved. They really are not that bad, its Gurkhas marketing that is the cause for most of the hate Gurkha receives. Centurian, royal brigade, even the park avenue are real nice smokes.

One Id say I was seriously unimpressed with, and guys that know me from other forums know Ive said this many times. Brickhouse. No its not really legendary but those cigars are just not good in my honest opinion. So much hype and I was very let down.

Thanks for the warning on Brickhouse! While I'm still very interested in trying them out for myself, I'll temper my expectations a bit before I do so

So would you say that it's worth my time and money to drop a few bucks on a Gurkha sampler pack and try a few out for myself?

I was kind of under the impression from the write-ups I've read while scouring the forum that buying Gurkhas is like supporting Nazis - JUST DON'T DO IT.


Oh, and a cigar I was unimpressed with? Cohiba cuban robusto. Found it very flat, to be honest.

 

[Dread]

Id definetly say try out some Gurkhas and construct your own opinion behind them, I dont support the company from a business standpoint at all but like I said they do have some diamonds in the rough. As long as youre getting them for the right price try them out. CI has some nice samplers from Gurkha that are priced right.

And Id recommend you do the same for Brickhouse as well, Im in the severe minority when it comes to my opinion about Brickhouse. Ive seen many more positive reviews than negative about their line.

 

[dpricenator]

From abusiness stand point Gurkah could be the diamond in the rough. Get all the new guys, as well as some seasoned smokers to think you are the ultra exclusive/expensive brand, then put the sticks on sale for 60% off. Now that they are 60% off MSRP, they afre still priced 200% over thier actual value. And considering some buy them at MSRP, they could just be genious. However to me most of thier smokes are like a Yugo, that was sold to you as a Ferrari. I will say, grab some Centurion xxx pefectos, ON SALE, and you'll have a decent smoke on your hands. The reason I say on sale is that nothing Gurkah puts out is worth MSRP, NOTHING!!!!!


For me the NC RyJ line sucks donkey balls. However, the RyJ Habana Reserve is a surprisingly good value smoke, @ 85 bucks a box.

 

[itsme_timd]

FWIW, I liked the Brickhouse. Definitely try it for yourself.

My opinion on Gurkhas is that they make a lot of good $8.00 cigars - they just try to sell them for $25.00. Like Dread said, get a sampler from CI or one of the other big boys where you can get several sticks for $40.00 and try them out yourself.

 

[danthebugman]

I have only smoked one Gurkha myself and though it was okay. I think one of the issues with Gurkha is all the different blends out there...there's like what 100 :grin:? And on that note Rocky Patel is kind of falling in the same boat. It just seems that you could waste so much time/money trying to find the few blends you enjoy that it practically makes it not wroth it :dunno:.

Dan

 

[SkinsFanLarry]

I think a big problem as it relates to Gurkha is the fact that they are now up to 125-130 facings and that turns alot of people off. I personally I'm not a fan of them but I have smoked several I liked.

I would also like to cast a 2nd vote for the Brickhouse, it's really not a bad smoke for the price. It's in the same "budget priced" range as the El Baton and the CAO La Traviata. I'm a fan of the La Traviata cigars but have yet to try the new maduro.

Don't dislike any cigar just because someone else told you they didn't liked it, try it for yourself and than make that determination. I always give every cigar three chances and if after smoking it for the 3rd time I don't like....I won't buy anymore, simple as that for me.

 

[jsnake]

I love Gurkha and I love Brickhouse. I do not ever pay MSRP for my Gurkha Cigars though. I think many people who love to hate Gurkha are hung up on the marketing, packaging, hype, and price. They fail to account for the thing that matters most - the cigar. I have never had a bad Gurkha cigar.

I can buy Brickhouse in Kansas City for $4 and some change. They are delicious and fantastic for the price.

Be your own judge. Try lots of things. Don't let others opinions sway your cigar smoking experience. We all have different palates and you might miss out if you don't keep an open mind. It is great to value an opinion from a BOTL but be your own judge.

 

[JPManning]

My local B&M guy told me once that Gurkha will sell one line to him, and sell the same line to CI for pennies on the dollar. He can't compete when his MSRP is less than the price of the stick online. Then Gurkha started making lines exclusively for online, which you can find on cBid for about 2 or 3 bucks a stick. Those practices are big no no's in the industry from what I gather. As for the cigars themselves, I've had a few that weren't bad, and I've had some taste like a turd.

 

[SergeantStogie]

I think Brickhouse is a great value stogie! And the rest of the guys here have already summed up the Gurkha genius/over pricing issues better than I could. Never refuse to try a cigar based on someone elses opinions though. Try a few. If you like em then you can get them in trades really easy. If you don't then you've only grown as a cigar smoker.

 

[ciggy]

The bottom line...Be your own judge...Smoke what you like and be your own person. Don't let what others say sway your opinion on trying any brand. We all have different taste and you just may miss out on something you'll truely enjoy. After all...That is why were here, right? To express our passion for cigars, not to judge others for there taste in them! :cbig:

 

[tobii3]

Funny history about Gurkha.

Kaizad was a boxmaker.

Big, fancy, schmancy, shiny and bejeweled boxes.

Only they didn't sell for sh*t.

Someone suggested he put cigars in the boxes.

POOF! Gurkha was born.

 

[megladon8]

The bottom line...Be your own judge...Smoke what you like and be your own person. Don't let what others say sway your opinion on trying any brand. We all have different taste and you just may miss out on something you'll truely enjoy. After all...That is why were here, right? To express our passion for cigars, not to judge others for there taste in them! :cbig:

Absolutely, and this goes for all things in life.

I make beer and wine, and this is something I'm always telling the clientèle - don't buy wine to impress your friends, buy wine that you like to drink.

It's your money. Don't waste it.

 

[Jughead]

It's all about you, so smoke, drink and eat what you like but do smoke a Brickhouse you'll be surprised.

JH

 

[Fourtotheflush]

I agree that the only good ghurka out there is the Centurian. Ive had a few now and all but 1 was really tasty! Other than that, Ive given up on trying the cigars that they release weekly. RYJ Reserva real is a good smoke IMO.

 

[Dave]

Gurkha makes some very good cigars. They make better boxes.

I've tried a lot of Gurkha lines while moving through various CI samplers beginning years ago. Here's my short list of those I liked:
1. Titan
2. Beast
3. Black Dragon
Used to like Centurian, Royal Brigade, Legend Anniversary, Nepalese Warrior, Masters Select, Black Puro but recent revisits to each of those were less than satisfying.

Two great values at CI/Cbid are the Park Avenue and Micro Batch TPB-1. Both can be had for under $40 on Cbid and are hidden gems for what they are; a cheap, mild flavorful morning connie and a cheap flavorful corojo lancero.

Brickhouse is the one of the best sub-$5 cigars in any B&M I've been in.

 

[kuzi16]

Used to like Centurian, Royal Brigade, Legend Anniversary, Nepalese Warrior, Masters Select, Black Puro but recent revisits to each of those were less than satisfying.

i think they changed the blend a tiny bit, or the crops did not yield they way they wanted in recent years. the ones you listed stopped being enjoyable to me after 2007 or so. if you have some from 2006 you may still like them.


i feel that the regent is a good smoke but i dont crave them often.

i just generally feel uninspired to buy gurkha cigars.

 

[earful]

When a brand does a lot of mediocre line extensions, the good stuff in the lineup tends to get overshadowed. Conversely, when a middle of the road brand launches a killer product, especially at the right price point, it can create a lot of buzz and refresh interest in the brand.

I'd say Gurkha is a poster example of the former and CAO la traviata/la traviata maduro is a stellar example of the latter. :jitb:

That said, when category brand leaders launch outstanding products at lower, affordable price points, all heck breaks loose. :timebomb:

Witness, the tat reserva broadleaf ipcpr products. wouldn't know the sales but they must be smokin'! :smokingbo

 

[WkndSmoker]

Never had a Gurkha, not to say I would not try one, just do not see them in my normal circle of cigars. I have a Man of War cigar in the humidor, I have heard good things about them and just have not had the chance to smoke it yet. Not holding out on brand, just have not had the chance yet. I look forward to it though.

I was gifted an Acid the other day in a situation where I had to try it, my first ever and while I am against flavored anything, coffee, cigars, etc, the thing smoked dang well and the whole time I kept picked up tobacco notes that made me think...why flavor the dang thing, could be a good cigar if not for the licked a incense cone flavor lingering on the palate, I tasted the cigar the next day.

To each their own, do not be afraid to try something, tasting is subjective, you never know where a good smoke may be.