Gurkha Colorado Presidente. 7.5x50. Good construction with straight lines. Dark Maduro wrap with pronounced veins across. Cut was ok, with the cap slightly unravelling. Lit well. Medium draw pre-light and throughout. Burn was uneven during the first two thirds before correcting.

Taste on the first third was dark cured tobacco, black pepper, roasty. On the second third down the taste mellowed, with the strong pepper becoming a mild herbal taste. In the final third, there was a bitter spice taste. Ash was mostly clean with some marbling. Ash clung over two inches.

This is a fine cigar with a couple of nitpicks. I would have liked an easier draw and a much more even burn. Otherwise, it's a fine smoke, particularly in the first two thirds. Recommended.

From the company:

"Blended by K. Hansotia, Gurkha cigars are Handmade in the Dominican Republic and Honduras. Using only the rarest and finest aged tobacco leaf from several nations and methodically appointing them to each of their blends, you will delight in a multitude of luxurious and unique flavors. Tastefully appointed in artistically themed packaging, and sparing no cost on quality and presentation, Gurkha is often referred to as the 'Rolls Royce of cigars'."

[from jrcigars.com]

Casa Magna Colorado Robusto. 5.5x52. Good construction. Some faint veins and leaf ends, but nothing pronounced. Cut well. Light took some time. A few minutes of roasting was needed to get that nice red ring. Draw was medium pre-light, but better after. Tastes of woods, leather, and ample spice on the intake. Strong tobacco and earthy notes on the exhale. Full-bodied smoke. Excellent burn. Ash was clean with some ring of light gray, clung nearly two inches easily in the first half. In the second, ash was strong at over two inches. This is a superb smoke with just enough punch and spice to rise it above its comparable peers. Highly recommend.

From the company:

"Robusto: #1 Cigar of 2008 by Cigar Aficionado Extraordinario Salomon: #12 Cigar of 2009 by Cigar Aficionado Churchill: #24 Cigar of 2010 by Cigar Aficionado Diadema: #10 Cigar of 2011 by Cigar Aficionado #23 Cigar of 2013 by Cigar Aficionado"

Excellent burn from start to finish

The ash held stronger in the second half.