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Strength:Varies
Wrapper:Brazilian, Connecticut, Costa Rican, Ecuador Connecticut, Habano
Origin:Nicaragua
Shapes:Robusto
Brand:Gurkha

Gurkha Empire Series

30 Customer Reviews 1 Staff Review Video
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Gurkha Empire is Kaizad Hansotia's masterstroke.

This guy has created some gems in the past, as many of you fine gents can attest to. But Gurkha Empire might exceed them all. Here's why, in four easy steps:

Blends.

There are six different blends in the Gurkha Empire Series. Each one is, without exaggeration, utterly fantastic in its own right. From the mellow, chocolatey Empire III blend to the toasty-sweet complexity of Empire I to the orotund, meaty, roasted entree that is Empire VI....and everything in between. 

Size.

Each is a stout 5.5"x52 vitola, a generous size with a thick barrel that delivers the full range of flavor intended from each blend.

Eye Candy.

Yes, I realize to some folks packaging is about as useless as a graverobber in a crematorium. But these beauts become downright sublime all decked out in the shiny Gurkha boxes and slick, colorful double bands.

CI Price.

Any dumbass can make a great cigar if price is no object. It takes a special brand of dumbass to deliver it to your door, all wrapped up in a tidy package with bow, at a killer price. And being that kind of dumbass is one of my specialties.

If this deal doesn't get your blood up, my first recommendation is to check thy pulse because you may be dead. Secondly it would break my heart, Fredo, thus I might have to remove you from our junk mail list and send you out on the proverbial dinghy. (Wait, I didn't mean that. I got caught up in the moment. I'll keep sending you junk mail even whether you want it or not.)

Empire I:

Employs a dark Honduran Habano wrapper and aged, long-leaf ligeros from Nicaragua and Peru to deliver a bold array of sweet, earthy nuances with a touch of black pepper on the finish. Medium.

Empire II:

A 6-year-old combination of Cuban-seed long-leaf ligeros from the Dominican resides within a dark Connecticut wrapper. The flavor is earthy and Cuban-esque with sweet tobacco and cedar on the finish. Medium.

Empire III:

Superior Costa Rican Maduro wrappers combine with vintage Dominican and Honduran long-fillers to promote a rich core of chocolatey goodness finished by a toasty and sweet finish. Mild to medium.

Empire IV:

A jet-black Brazilian Arapiraca wrapper conceals a bold recipe of Nicaraguan and Dominican long-leaf ligeros. Big, meaty flavors coat the palate followed by a rich series of oak and toast. Medium.

Empire V:

A complex mixture of long-fillers from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico mingle within a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper to deliver a buttery array of cream, sweet tobacco, cedar, and white pepper. Mild to medium.

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  Size Pack In Stock MSRP Price Qty Cart
Strength:Medium
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Habano, Whiteboard
Origin:Nicaragua
Filler:Nicaraguan, Peruvian
 I (Robusto) (5.5"x52) BOX OF 20 In Stock$220.00$69.95
Strength:Medium
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Connecticut, Whiteboard
Origin:Nicaragua
Filler:Dominican
 II (Robusto) (5.5"x52) BOX OF 20 In Stock$220.00$69.95
Strength:Mild-Medium
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Costa Rican, Whiteboard
Origin:Nicaragua
 III (Robusto) (5.5"x52) BOX OF 20 In Stock$220.00$69.95
Strength:Medium
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Brazilian, Whiteboard
Origin:Nicaragua
 IV (Robusto) (5.5"x52) BOX OF 20 In Stock$220.00$69.95
Strength:Mild-Medium
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Ecuador Connecticut, Whiteboard
Origin:Nicaragua
 V (Robusto) (5.5"x52) BOX OF 20 In Stock$220.00$69.95
  Related Product   In Stock MSRP Price Qty Cart
Strength:Varies
Shapes:Robusto
Wrapper:Brazilian, Connecticut, Costa Rican, Ecuador Connecticut, Habano
Origin:Nicaragua
Filler:Dominican, Nicaraguan, Peruvian
 Gurkha Empire Series 12-Cigar Flight Sampler Out of Stock $132.00 $34.99    
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Showing 1-30 of 30 Reviews
Customer Reviews of “Gurkha Empire Series”
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“Have tried the IV and the VI so far. Excellent gars. Unique in each blend. Have yet to try a bad Gurkha. Well worth buying.”
CL of Rogers, AR
“A friend gave me the #5, WOW the flavor this cigar had was amazing!!! This could be my new favorite cigar and with CI's price it could be an everyday smoke for me.....”
J of J WCamp Springs, MD
“These are excellent. The construction is flawless, the draw is just right, and they burn slow and cool. I lit one up right out of the box (couldn't wait) the description on CI site couldn't say it better, they are as they state.I ordered a second box, and have put them on autoship as long as they carry them in stock. I have been buying quite a lot as late ( I have 6 humidors) and have yet to recieve a bad box or bundle of anything I have ordered. Kudos to CI, I will keep coming back for more.”
DM of Murrieta, CA
“These are excellent.(Empire V1) The construction is flawless, the draw is just right, and they burn slow and cool. I lit one up right out of the box (couldn't wait) the description on CI site couldn't say it better, they are as they state.I ordered a second box, and have put them on autoship as long as they carry them in stock. I have been buying quite a lot as late ( I have 6 humidors) and have yet to recieve a bad box or bundle of anything I have ordered. Kudos to CI, I will keep coming back for more.”
DM of Murrieta, CA
“I tried the sampler and must say I really enjoy the Series I. I prefer a mild to medium smoke. These are definitely medium but very smooth. Great burn and great taste. Now Gurkha makes 3 of my favorite 4 cigars! ”
JE of BElizabethville, PA
“Huge fan of all things Gurkha, and the Empire Series does not disappoint. Though I enjoy them all, the IV is by far my favorite. So densely packed, yet smokes like a dream; and the flavor is outstanding! Hmmm, so tasty...I will be ordering some more of these.”
GF of Tega Cay, SC
“The first of the Empire series I tried was the III. I'm partial to anything with a Costa Rican madura wrapper and this cigar didn't disappoint. In my view, this is an excellent cigar with nothing but good characteristics from the first touch of the match until it's burning your fingers. I'm looking forward to the other 5.”
MC of M Leesburg, VA
“Very nice cigar, the VI. Nice, earthy pre-light aroma and a nice firm ash. The draw was just slightly....very slightly...hard but made for a nice slow smoke. The burn required the barest bit of attention which did nothing to detract from the excellent flavour.”
MC of M Leesburg, VA
“These are simply superb. I have tried the Empire II, IV, and VI so far and all are unique and excellent. I am partial to the VI. The bang for buck here is off the charts. I did, out of two boxes, find one that had a draw problem but not anything that couldn't be fixed easily. Burn is even and slow. While these have all been good out of the box, letting them lay down a while will show improvement in an all ready great smoke. Don't wait to try these!”
JG of San Diego, CA
“Picked up a 18 pack sample of these a few weeks back and I couldn't be happier. All of the cigars light up easy, have a smooth slow draw and last a long time. I guarantee that they will be a part of every order I make from CI.”
MS of Brentwood, CA
“After smoking all of the Empire Series, starting with Empire I, Empire IV was hands down, heads above the rest, THE BEST ONE. It was huge with flavor. I had to buy a 5 pack of just them.”
CS of Whitehall, PA
“I've been a strict maduro fan. I just learned I haven't found that blonde I like. The V is incredible. Bought a sampler of all 6. Thought I would smoke the dog first. Snipped it, then sniffed it. I'm thinkin another Connecticut wrap. Wondered what the VI smelled like. Toasted, then lit er up. Guys this is a great cigar. Pure tobacco, clean, bold, hints of pepper, overruled by that great tobacco flavor. Smooth, leaves taste from the tip of the tongue to the throat. I'm beginning to see what all the rave is about on the Connecticut wrappers. Put this in your humidor and give it to the guys who are afraid of those big dark cigars. Or smoke em every day. It really is a keeper”
RW of Fayetteville, PA
“Bought a sampler pack to try these. I smoked a III and IV and was totally impressed, awesome rich chocolatey flavors, the IV having a little more "oomph" than the III. The other 4 varieties went to a few friends at the cookout and received a ton of compliments as well. These blends will hold a permanent place in my humidor. Fantastic.”
KS of Johnston, RI
“One word wow!! these are so great I got the III , They are so smooth with a nice Chocolate flavor.”
AC of SPRINGDALE, AR
“These cigars (I brought a sampler of them all), are the best looking and tastiest cigars for the price. People will swear you spend hundreds of Washington's for these, but at CI prices they are a steal. Expect rich flavors and a bit tight draw, slow burning and even draw. My favs are the IV and VI.”
MF of Rincon, PR
“Wow I don't write fan mail often but after smoking the VI I had no choice. Perfect construction perfect draw even burn slow burning. This may be the best cigar I've tasted for the price. This cigar is top 5 hands down. May b even top 3. And you can't beat the price! Pretty much amazingly perfectly beautiful.”
DP of Beaumont, CA
“Wow I don't write fan mail often but after smoking the VI I had no choice. Perfect construction perfect draw even burn slow burning. This may be the best cigar I've tasted for the price. This cigar is top 5 hands down. May be even top 3. And you can't beat the price! Pretty much amazingly perfectly beautiful.”
DP of Beaumont, CA
“The VI is simply amazing. Only problem, it had to end.”
RA of Burbank, CA
“The Empire Series number 6 is an awesome cigar. Deep dark brown oily wrapper for openers. Very well made. Solid and uniform. Great draw, great burn too. Loaded with rich spicy flavors and stays that way from foot to nub. Never got hot or harsh. The best Gurkha I've ever had. Reminded me of the 5 Vegas Triple A, witha slightly different flavor profile. Very good stick.”
JW of Plainfield, IL
“I have been smoking cigars for 30 years and the Gurkha VI is one of the best I think I have ever smoked. Very oiley slow even burn, great taste this is a cigar smokers cigar.I cannot find anything negative to say about this fine cigar. Years ago I bought cigars from a different retailer and was not happy with product or service, I stumbled across CI and have never received a poor quality product and service is unbeatable. I buy all my smokes from them now.No I do not or ever have worked for CI, keep up the good work guys.”
RM of Cleveland, TX
“I just received a 5 pack of the series 3. I must say, this cigar is truly unique, I have never had a cigar that was even close in flavor. The description on this cigar is as exactly how it tasted, but also had complexity and strength. I am a Gurkha lover, and will definitely order a box at this price, and I am ordering 5 packs of the rest to see if there are any others I can't live without. A truly unique cigar by Gurkha. After I finish this post I am smoking another one! If you like Gurkha, this is a must try! ”
RR of Fort Worth, TX
“I've had the III & IV and both are already in my top 10. I had stepped away from Gurkha for awhile because I wasn't impressed with alot of their sticks. With this beautiful piece of art I'm a life time fan of theirs. With a perfect burn and lots and lots of smoke...lovely! Do yourself a favor and try these if you wanna experience cigar bliss.”
JS of Baltimore, MD
“This order of cigars is so far close to or at the very top of my list. I have smoked the Gurkha Empire I, II and III so far. All of them have been very good cigars. The Empire II had some disappointing uneven burn issues that came and went. The flavor was such a wonderfully sweet light chocolate flavor with a little bit of white pepper in some spots. The smoke tasted so good that I felt like eating the cigar. Seriously. I decided against eating the cigar, of course. The Empire III had a more subtle sweetness with more of a cocoa flavor. Pretty even burn. Even though I had some uneven burn issues with the Empire II, I still would consider buying a box of the Empire I, II and III. That's saying something really positive because I have never really wanted to buy an entire box of cigars other than the Partagas Black. We'll see how the rest of the series goes. ”
KC of Duluth, MN
“first review gurkha empire series great cigars great taste great burn great ceasers ghost great review”
RH of Buffalo , IN
“Holy Crap! Got the 18 sampler pack for Christmas and they are all gone. I am a big fan of stronger cigars and the number 5 has reopened my eyes to mild smokes. My tastebuds are usually screaming for La Glorias but the number five is one of my new favorites.”
SM of trussville, AL
“The Gurkha Empire Series` V is without a doubt one of the best cigars made. When you smoke one of these, make sure you have plenty of time because it last a long time. With every draw down to the end you get a great tasting cigar. I'm not good at describing the different tastes you will encounter. Whatever they are is a treat to your smoking experience. I had a couple of these included in a sample package I purchased. Next time I will order a box of the Empire Series to see how the other one's smoke. ”
DM of Taylor, MI
“I ordered a box of the IV, and they are very good. Draw was a little tight in some, but I'd rather it be a little tight than dry. I regret smoking these too fast now. I'm in between orders and had to resort to Swisher Sweets from the PX. It was a great smoke. I will order another box pretty soon.”
TB of Fob Warrior, AE
“Purchased the empire series and have smoked I and V thus far. Both cigars live up to the Gurkha name as being good cigars. These are not in the mild category, but I don't think their too much for a smoker who wants to try something stronger. As of today, I haven't smoked a bad Gurkha yet. Oh yes, make sure you have time to smoke these since they burn even and slow.”
DM of Taylor, MI
“I have never run into a Brazilian wrapper I didnt like, that said, the VI is a bold and full cigar with tons of flavor. It burn great and has a very firm draw thus making it only a borderline 90. It rivals CAO Brazilia (wow)”
TT of Eugene, OR
“Tried my very first Gurkha, the Empire III. My taste runs more mild to medium, and this Gurkha knocked my socks off! Burn and draw were excellent with great full taste. I may not buy them very often but they are a quality smoke.”
BD of Palm Coast, FL
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Gurkha Empire

Posted by Keith

Gurkha puts out a new blend every 10 minutes or so. Indeed, there's an army of different Gurkha handmades out and about….a veritable Empire of blends. I suspect Gurkha’s Empire Series, however, will pass the test of time. The blends are varied and unique, each made of high-quality materials and expertly made. And best of all, cost is exceedingly reasonable – 3 bucks! – so there’s a ton of value in these sticks.
 
With that out of the way, let me introduce all 6 of the newly released Gurkha Empire Series blends. Each blend is different within the series, and each bears a name from I to VI (in case you don’t speak ‘Roman Numeral’ that’s 1 through 6). Gurkha owner Kaizad Hansotia has a native gift for packaging – and it’s evident here. Like a gorilla drawn to a shiny object, I’m sucked in to the vortex of these bright, colorful bands and boxes, not to mention the lovely wrappers and well-made, densely packed sticks themselves. Super attractive all around, but far more than a pretty face. They taste great too – each in its own way. In fact, most of them come out guns-a-blazin’, delivering flavor in droves.
 
 
Empire Series I (Lavender):
Empire I boasts a dark, slightly mottled Habano wrapper grown in Honduras with an exotic blend of Nicaraguan and Peruvian long-fillers. Robust, earthy and leathery flavors are present all along but dominated by notes of spice and sweetness. Well made with ample flavor, but more straightforward and one-dimensional than some of the other blends.
Rating: 87
 
Empire Series II (Blue):
Sporting a dark, toothy and super-oily Connecticut leaf, Empire Series II is an enticing creature. Spark it up, and it brims with rich caramelized notes and a long, toasty finish, Empire II is complex and very interesting. A heavy, hearty smoke that’s full of character.
Rating: 90
 
Empire Series III (Gray):
Empire III combines a dark, leathery Costa Rican maduro leaf and an aged blend of Dominican and Honduran long-fillers. The result is a surprisingly mellow profile chock-a-block with palpable sweet cocoa, cedar and roasted nuances. This rich and slow burning, mild to medium-bodied maduro proves that full-flavored and full-bodied don’t always cohabitate.
Rating: 91
 
Empire Series IV (Black):
Wearing a dark-brown Brazilian leaf with a somewhat waxy texture, Empire IV is not the belle of the ball when it comes to appearance. Fortunately, the flavor profile tells a far different tale. From start to finish, this handmade commands attention. Heavy spice notes up front settle into to a round, balanced smoke featuring nuances of leather, espresso and earthy flavors. Slightly sharp at moments, Empire IV makes amends with abundant flavor and impressive complexity. MMM, MMM, MMM.
Rating: 90
 
Empire Series V (Green):
Draped in a silky Ecuadorian Connecticut wrapper and filled with an intricate blend of Nicaraguan, Mexican and Honduran long-fillers, Empire V is remarkably smooth and balanced with notes of tobacco, nuts, oak, cream and pepper. Markedly different than its brothers, Empire V delivers a smooth and flavorful mild to medium-bodied experience with an impressively clean finish.
Rating: 92
 
Empire Series VI (Yellow):
Empire VI combines a leathery Brazilian maduro wrapper overtop Dominican and Nicaraguan ligeros. I love the smell of ligero in the mornin’! This medium to full-bodied maduro unleashes a series of powerful blasts of spice, complemented by notes of coffee, cocoa, roasted nuts and a long, spicy-sweet finish. Rich, tasty and bold. 
Rating: 91