TheGurkha Cellar Reserve Especial 18-Year Solara is built around the idea that mature tobacco should bring refinement as well as richness. The blend pairs aCorojo wrapper with a Dominican Olor binder and 18-year-aged Dominican filler, giving the Especial a deeper personality while allowing the well-aged tobacco at its core to remain the real attraction.
At5" x 58, the Solara is a broad Robusto that puts more emphasis on the filler than the shorter Koi Perfecto. That extra tobacco gives the aged Dominican leaf room to show itself, while the Corojo wrapper provides enough spice and aroma to keep the blend from becoming too soft. The profile isearthy and woody with restrained cocoa and spice, complemented by the rounded character and subtle sweetness that mature Dominican tobacco can provide. It's rich and medium-to-full, but considerably more composed than its substantial ring gauge might suggest.
The Solara is a good choice for the smoker who wants to explore what aged tobacco contributes to a blend without committing to a long cigar. The 58 ring gives the interior tobaccos plenty of presence, while the five-inch length keeps the experience manageable.Give this one an unhurried pace and let the aged Dominican leaf do the talking—there's more to the Solara than the impressive “18-Year” on the band.
