Gurkha Cigars: Who Actually Makes Them, Factory by Factory
A brand bought for 149 dollars that now runs cigars out of at least seven different factories. Here is which line comes from where.
Shop Gurkha Explore Premium CigarsGurkha is one of the most widely sold and least well explained brands in the category. It does not own most of the factories that make its cigars, it works with a remarkable number of them, and which factory made which line changes the cigar completely. That is what this profile is for. Our Gurkha collection carries Ghost, Cellar Reserve, Royal Challenge, Colección Especial and the Year of the Dragon releases.
We also correct two things you will read elsewhere: the founding date, and who runs the company.
Two corrections
The founding date. You will read that Gurkha dates to 1887 and traces to Nepalese Gurkha soldiers under the British Raj. Cigar Aficionado's own profile does not support that. It describes Kaizad Hansotia buying the brand for 149 dollars from a man selling cigars out of a hut, and debuting it in duty free in 1990. Gurkha's own site says the brand was reborn in 1992. Treat 1887 as brand lore rather than a verified date, because that is what it is.
Who runs it. Kaizad Hansotia resigned as chairman of Gurkha Cigar Group. Jim Colucci, previously president and chief operating officer, became chief executive. Hansotia's own professional profile has continued to describe him as CEO, which is how the error spreads. Gurkha stated it would remove K. Hansotia branding once existing inventory depleted. The company's current ownership structure is not disclosed.
The head office is at 6600 Hiatus Road, Tamarac, Florida.
Four Gurkhas in stock
The two Ghost wrappers, the Royal Challenge and the Real.
The factories, named
This is the part nobody publishes, and it is the most useful thing to know about the brand.
| Period or line | Factory | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 to 2009 | The Toraño family | Dominican Republic |
| After 2009 | Louis Cuevas | Dominican Republic |
| Acquired May 2017 | American Caribbean Cigars | Estelí, Nicaragua |
| Treinta, Nicaragua Series, San Miguel, since 2019 | Tabacos Valle de Jalapa S.A., known as TABSA, an AGANORSA factory | Estelí, Nicaragua |
| 125th Anniversary XO | PDR | Tamboril, Dominican Republic |
| Various, including Year of the Dragon | Tabacalera El Artista, A.J. Fernandez, Tabacalera La Alianza, Oliva, Oscar Valladares | Nicaragua and Dominican Republic |
Why this matters more for Gurkha than for other brands
With a single factory house, once you know the house style you can predict a new release. With Gurkha you cannot, because a TABSA made Nicaraguan puro and a Dominican made cognac infused cigar have nothing in common beyond the band. Read the factory before you read the marketing, and treat each line as its own brand.
The lines and their blends
| Line | Blend | Sizes | Made in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cellar Reserve | Dominican Criollo 98 wrapper, Dominican Olor binder, long aged Dominican filler | Koi 4x58, Solara 5x58, Hedonism 6x58, Kraken 6x60, Prisoner 7x54 | Dominican Republic |
| Grand Reserve | Cognac infused. Five year Connecticut shade wrapper, three year Dominican binder and filler, glass tube | Corona 5x42, Robusto 6x50, Torpedo 6.25x52, Churchill 7.25x52 | Dominican Republic |
| Heritage Maduro | Mexican San Andrés maduro wrapper, Brazilian Arapiraca binder, Brazilian and Nicaraguan filler | Robusto 5x55, Toro 6.5x54 | Nicaragua |
| Treinta | Ecuador Habano Rosado wrapper, Nicaragua Corojo 99 binder, Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 filler | Robusto 5x52, Toro 6x54, Magnum 6x60 | TABSA, Estelí |
| Nicaragua Series | Nicaraguan Corojo 99 wrapper and binder, Corojo 99 and Criollo 98 filler | Robusto 5x52, Toro 6x54, Magnum 6x60, Belicoso 6.125x52 | TABSA, Estelí |
| San Miguel | A Nicaraguan puro of AGANORSA tobacco with a shade grown Corojo wrapper. A full remake of the earlier Dominican version | Petite Corona 4.25x42, Robusto 5x52, Toro 6x54 | TABSA, Estelí |
Also in the range: Ghost, Colección Especial, Royal Challenge, Real, the 35th Anniversary and the Tyson 2.0 collaboration. Cognac infusion in the Grand Reserve is worth flagging plainly: it is a flavoured cigar by design, and if that is not what you want, the TABSA made Nicaraguan lines are the opposite end of the catalogue.
The Cellar Reserve range and the anniversary
Year of the Dragon
The 2024 Year of the Dragon is the clearest illustration of how Gurkha works, because the company made the multi factory approach the concept. It is a five part series in which every cigar comes from a different factory: Tabacalera El Artista, A.J. Fernandez in a 6.625 by 52 box press, Tabacalera La Alianza in a 6.625 by 54, Oliva in a 6.5 by 60, and Oscar Valladares in a 6 by 52. Each release came in ten count humidor style boxes, 2,000 boxes per release.
Tabacalera La Alianza is E.P. Carrillo's factory, and the Oliva release came from TABOLISA. Buying two of the five and smoking them side by side tells you more about what a factory contributes than any article can.
The award
The Gurkha 125th Anniversary XO placed number nine on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 of 2013 with 94 points. It was a 6 by 60 at 10.99 dollars, with a Brazilian wrapper, an Ecuadorian binder and Nicaraguan, Brazilian and Dominican filler, made at the PDR factory in Tamboril.
What we notice first-hand
Gurkha attracts strong opinions and most of them are formed from one cigar. That is the trap. Someone smokes a cognac infused Grand Reserve, decides the brand is not for them, and never tries a TABSA made San Miguel, which is a Nicaraguan puro of AGANORSA tobacco and an entirely serious cigar.
Our recommendation is to ignore the brand as a unit and pick by factory. If you like Nicaraguan puros, go to Treinta, Nicaragua Series or San Miguel. If you like aged Dominican, go to Cellar Reserve. If you want a flavoured cigar, the Grand Reserve is honest about being one.
The Ghost is the one that moves fastest here in both the Gold and the Connecticut, and the Asura at 6 by 54 is the size people come back for.
Gurkha at Cigar Inc., live
The bottom line
Gurkha is not one brand, it is a portfolio sourced from many makers. Read the factory, pick the line that matches what you already like, and judge each one on its own. The Ghost is the easiest entry, the TABSA Nicaraguan lines are the ones enthusiasts respect, and the Cellar Reserve is where the aged Dominican tobacco is.
Not sure where to start? Our Cigar Finder narrows it, or call and we will point you at the right factory.
Keep exploring
Shop Gurkha at Cigar Inc.
Ghost, Cellar Reserve, Royal Challenge and the Year of the Dragon releases. Order online or visit our Woodland Hills location.
Shop Gurkha Visit Our Woodland Hills StoreFrequently asked questions
Was Gurkha founded in 1887?
That date is brand lore rather than a verified fact. Cigar Aficionado describes Kaizad Hansotia buying the brand for 149 dollars and debuting it in duty free in 1990, and Gurkha's own site says the brand was reborn in 1992.
Who is Gurkha's CEO?
Jim Colucci, previously president and chief operating officer. Kaizad Hansotia resigned as chairman; his own professional profile has continued to describe him as CEO, which is how the error spreads.
Where are Gurkha cigars made?
In many places. Historically the Toraño family and then Louis Cuevas in the Dominican Republic. Gurkha acquired American Caribbean Cigars in Estelí in 2017, and since 2019 several lines are made at TABSA, an AGANORSA factory in Estelí. Others are made by El Artista, A.J. Fernandez, Tabacalera La Alianza, Oliva, Oscar Valladares and PDR.
Which Gurkhas are Nicaraguan?
Treinta, the Nicaragua Series and San Miguel are all made at TABSA in Estelí. San Miguel is a Nicaraguan puro of AGANORSA tobacco.
Is Gurkha Grand Reserve infused?
Yes. It is cognac infused, with a five year Connecticut shade wrapper over three year Dominican binder and filler, in a glass tube. It is a flavoured cigar by design.
What is Cellar Reserve?
A Dominican line using a Criollo 98 wrapper, a Dominican Olor binder and long aged Dominican filler, in Koi 4x58, Solara 5x58, Hedonism 6x58, Kraken 6x60 and Prisoner 7x54.
What is the Year of the Dragon series?
A 2024 five part series in which each cigar was made at a different factory: El Artista, A.J. Fernandez, Tabacalera La Alianza, Oliva and Oscar Valladares, in ten count boxes, 2,000 boxes per release.
Has Gurkha won an award?
The 125th Anniversary XO placed number nine on Cigar Aficionado's Top 25 of 2013 with 94 points, made at the PDR factory in Tamboril.
What is AGANORSA tobacco?
Leaf grown by a major Nicaraguan agricultural operation whose TABSA factory makes cigars for many brands. It is well regarded, and a cigar built on it is generally a serious one.
Why do Gurkha cigars vary so much?
Because they come from different factories with different tobacco and different rollers. The band is the only thing several Gurkha lines have in common. Pick by line and factory rather than by brand.
Which Gurkha should I try first?
The Ghost Asura at 6 by 54, in Gold or Connecticut. It is the one that moves fastest here and the one people come back for.
Does Cigar Inc. ship Gurkha nationwide?
Yes, to states where we are permitted to ship. Call 1 818-719-9885 or email Info@Cigarinc.com for boxes or specific sizes.
For adults 21+. Please enjoy responsibly.
Cigar Inc. · 21900 Burbank Blvd UNIT 265, Woodland Hills, CA 91367 · 1 818-719-9885 · Info@Cigarinc.com
