Markbb:

I'm both the Patel and Gurkha fan, and to smoke one or the other depends on what I'm drinking, now I'm a straight up guy no mix or on the rocks.....I tend to like a good bourbon like either Turkey or Knob creek...so I'll go with a full bodied smoke with my bourbon just seems to add another dimesion in taste

I definitely agree... I've got a bottle of Jameson's 12 Year sitting around that I only pull out for pairing with a cigar if it's a super strong one. Most of the time the Gurkha will be the better choice for that in my experience.

That said I've only tried the Rocky 90 and 92. Gurkhas, while expensive if bought in singles or by the box, seem to be THE cigar to practically give away in samplers and whatnot, so because of that I've just ended up trying a wider variety of those than I have Rocky's blends.

Man... that makes me want to go try some more RP's... my local tobacconist has a bunch of the Olde World Reserves, which looked like an interesting blend. I'll have to stop by tommorrow after work and sit down to smoke one.

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In this kind of town, say you kick someone in the head. They'll just, well, they'll likely sue you... but mad? No, they don't get mad.

~ Gogol Bordello "Punk Rock Parranda"

madurofan:

I also take it from your reviews you are more of a mild-medium guy which is certainly understandable.

Actually I tend to lean more towards stronger cigars, but I don't like them just because they are more full strength. If a cigar is well made, with a good, complex flavor profile, I don't really care what strength it is. For example, I love most Pepin Garcia blends, and those have a tendency to be more full strength with lots of black pepper flavor to them. But they also have other great flavors that appear throughout the cigar. On the other hand, I don't like the Joya de Nicaragua Antano because it is nothing but spicy pepper the whole way. I really enjoy a Cusano 18 because it's flavors are great, even though it's a milder cigar. When I said too many lines, I mean they put their name on to much stuff. With that many lines there is no way those guys can monitor the quality of their cigars. I know they develop the blends, and then are pretty hands off, but if I am putting my name on something I want to make sure it's a good quality product, and that I know what is going on with it at all times. It gives off the appearance that all they care about is making money, and not quality.

For what its worth, I like both Gurkha and Rocky. For different reasons of course. For example, if I want a cigar to knock my socks off and leave me drooling, I'll reach for a RP Sun Grown, whereas if I want to relax and let the world slip by me, I'll reach for a Gurkha Warlord.

Joe

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"Beliefs are neat. Cherish them, but don't share them like they're the truth" Bill Hicks

Bsneed51:

madurofan:

I also take it from your reviews you are more of a mild-medium guy which is certainly understandable.

Actually I tend to lean more towards stronger cigars, but I don't like them just because they are more full strength. If a cigar is well made, with a good, complex flavor profile, I don't really care what strength it is. For example, I love most Pepin Garcia blends, and those have a tendency to be more full strength with lots of black pepper flavor to them. But they also have other great flavors that appear throughout the cigar. On the other hand, I don't like the Joya de Nicaragua Antano because it is nothing but spicy pepper the whole way. I really enjoy a Cusano 18 because it's flavors are great, even though it's a milder cigar. When I said too many lines, I mean they put their name on to much stuff. With that many lines there is no way those guys can monitor the quality of their cigars. I know they develop the blends, and then are pretty hands off, but if I am putting my name on something I want to make sure it's a good quality product, and that I know what is going on with it at all times. It gives off the appearance that all they care about is making money, and not quality.

Well yeah if you like Pepin's blends you definetly like full-bodied. Pepin is by far my favorite blender. Pepin is another that has many, many lines. Don Pepin Garcia, 601, and Tatuaje are all his. There are a few others I can't think of right this minute.

i wanna say he had a hand in some 5 vegas cigar too... i could be wrong though.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

Thats the one that was escaping my mind. That is one of his lines.

As far as I know Pepin has a hand in: Don Pepin Garcias, Tatuaje, 601, Padilla(formerly, but they have since split), San Cristobal, Ashton Benchmade, 5 Vegas Miami, Habana Leon, Vegas Cubanas, Little Havanas, Old Henry, El Centurion, Cigar.com Corojo Label, CI Legends, and a few other limited releases. I consider Pepin different from the other two because while he helped in creating the blends for all of these cigars, he didn't slap his name on them. For most of these cigars he was more like a consultant. I also consider it different because he rolls most of his blends within his own factory, El Rey de los Habanos, and he keeps a small staff on hand to insure that quality is maintained. Also, if I'm remembering what I read correctly, all of his rollers have acheived a certain high level of rolling skills to work in his factory. FYI....after I typed this up I verified alot of this info to his wikipedia page. It's a good read if you have a few minutes (I don't know if linking to other sites is allowed here.)

Good points Bsneed, especially that he does in fact have his own factory. I'm not positive but I believe DPG, Tatuaje, and San Cristobal are his the rest he acted as a consultant as you said.

madurofan:

Good points Bsneed, especially that he does in fact have his own factory. I'm not positive but I believe DPG, Tatuaje, and San Cristobal are his the rest he acted as a consultant as you said.

Tatuaje is owned by Pete Johnson. I am not dure which; but San Cristobal is owned by Altidis or General. DPG he owns.

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Smoke em if you got em.

hmmm thanks for the info phish.

madurofan:

hmmm thanks for the info phish.

heck thats why we keep you around.

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Kuzi's cigar catalog blending 101 developing your palate

LOL

Have only smoked 1 Gurkha so cant give that great of a response but I love Rocky Patel's. Espesially the Decade. But yes, more complex and spicy. But what about the construction on the Decade. Absobetly silky smooth and perfect draw. Awesome cigar.

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“The end of a good smoke is a little saddening. In some regard, it’s a bit like losing a best friend who had time to sit and listen.”

Got to say I like them both. My other favorite brands are probably CAO and 5 Vegas. Smoked a Gurkha Nepalese Warrior tonight and it was excellent

I realize I'm commenting on an old, dead thread, here, but I just wanted to say this was a really interesting discussion. I've had neither brand -- in fact, I'd never even heard of them before this week, were they around 10 yrs. ago? -- but I have some samplers of both on their way.

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